On 22 September 2011 13:21, GJB <balle@auspira.com> wrote:

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.

Or a new generation of PCs where Google Chromium sneaks in and takes 50% of the market virtually overnight. Sort of like they did with Android?



> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [wlug] How Microsoft Can Lock Linux Off Windows 8 PCs
> From: Peter Reutemann <fracpete@waikato.ac.nz>
> Date: Thu, September 22, 2011 9:51 am
> To: wlug <wlug@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-Off-Windows-8-PCs
>
> Network world has an article, too:
> http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/next-gen-boot-spec-could-forever-lock-linux-w
>
> 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@list.waikato.ac.nz
> Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug

_______________________________________________
wlug mailing list | wlug@list.waikato.ac.nz
Unsubscribe: http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug