Any type of "locked" electronic devices have proven to be less valuable than their "unlocked" counterparts. It is not in the interest of commodity hardware manufacturers to allow MS to essentially lock their devices. A new industry in jail-breaking PC's is just around the corner probably.
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [wlug] How Microsoft Can Lock Linux Off Windows 8 PCs From: Peter Reutemann <fracpete(a)waikato.ac.nz> Date: Thu, September 22, 2011 9:51 am To: wlug <wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz>
Just came across this gem here on slashdot: "Windows 8 PCs will use the next-generation booting specification known as Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). In fact, Windows 8 logo devices will be required to use the secure boot portion of the new spec. Secure UEFI is intended to thwart rootkit infections by using PKI authentication before allowing executables or drivers to be loaded onto the device. Problem is, unless the device manufacturer gives a key to the device owner, it can also be used to keep the PC's owner from wiping out the current OS and installing another option, such as Linux." http://linux.slashdot.org/story/11/09/21/062231/How-Microsoft-Can-Lock-Linux...
Network world has an article, too: http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/next-gen-boot-spec-could-forever-...
I wonder whether we'll have to start paying for "advanced features" like being able to put other OSes on a computer when purchasing one in the future... Does the EULA of Windows then still allow a refund if you don't want the software? Will you be able to install something else on the computer then? Or is this an opportunity to get lower prices on computers if they come with Linux pre-installed (no key necessary, no OEM fee)?
Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cs.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174 _______________________________________________ wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug