(no subject)

[onceamy]

Something to be seriously concerned about, thanks to the reporting of our very own mjg59:

Microsoft requires that machines conforming to the Windows 8 logo program and running a client version of Windows 8 ship with secure boot enabled. The two alternatives here are for Windows to be signed with a Microsoft key and for the public part of that key to be included with all systems, or alternatively for each OEM to include their own key and sign the pre-installed versions of Windows. The second approach would make it impossible to run boxed copies of Windows on Windows logo hardware, and also impossible to install new versions of Windows unless your OEM provided a new signed copy. The former seems more likely.
A system that ships with only OEM and Microsoft keys will not boot a generic copy of Linux.

Comments

[baggyeyes]

One more reason to look at companies like ZaReason. I wonder how MS's lock-in will affect them?

[siliconshaman]

As as said else-net.. because this worked out so well for Sony and their playstation.

[pixel]

I think my immediate reaction was actual physical discomfort, because omg, what?

On the other hand, seems like a desperate kind of thing to do, yes? I predict practical problems and more unhappy customers.

[blnchflr]

Gah, how galling.

[feathertail]

The article I read said that you could flip a hardware switch to disable this IIRC, like on the Chromebooks ...