A smartphone is a computer - it's not built using a computer - the job it does is the job of being a computer. So, everything we say about computers, that the software you run should be free - you should insist on that - applies to smart phones just the same. And likewise to those tablets.

Richard Stallman’s quote, "A smartphone is a computer - it's not built using a computer - the job it does is the job of being a computer. So, everything we say about computers, that the software you run should be free - you should insist on that - applies to smartphones just the same. And likewise to those tablets," reflects his stance on software freedom and the rights of users to have control over the software they use, regardless of the device. Stallman, the founder of the Free Software Foundation, has long advocated for free software, which means software that can be used, modified, and distributed freely by anyone.

In this quote, Stallman emphasizes that smartphones and tablets are essentially just small, portable computers, performing the same tasks that larger computers do. The key point is that these devices are not inherently different from traditional computers in terms of their function; they just happen to be more compact and mobile. By making this comparison, Stallman argues that the same principles that apply to computers—especially the idea that software should be free and open—should extend to these devices as well.

Stallman’s message stresses the importance of user control over the software that runs on their devices. He believes that smartphones and tablets are too often restricted by proprietary software that limits user freedom, and he advocates for a free software ecosystem where users can modify and adapt the software to their needs. According to Stallman, just because a device is mobile or compact doesn’t mean its software should be any less free or customizable than the software used on traditional desktop or laptop computers.

Ultimately, this quote is a call for consistency in how we view software freedom across all digital devices. Stallman challenges the idea that proprietary software should be accepted on smartphones or tablets, advocating for a broader movement that ensures freedom and openness in the technology people use every day.