Microsoft Locks Out Linux On ARM Systems Shipping Windows 8

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Bateluer

Bateluer

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
27,730
8
0
Pretty stupid move of them.

On the x86 side, how's this going to effect the enterprise environments? If you buy PowerEdge systems in bulk from Dell, for example. Are they going to restrict businesses from installing Linux on their servers?
 
Skel

Skel

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2001
6,222
680
136
Bateluer said:
Pretty stupid move of them.

On the x86 side, how's this going to effect the enterprise environments? If you buy PowerEdge systems in bulk from Dell, for example. Are they going to restrict businesses from installing Linux on their servers?
Click to expand...

From what I read, it's only locked on the ARM procs. Which wouldn't block linux as much as it would Android, which I'm not sure why you'd buy a MS tablet to load it up.
 
L33tMasta

L33tMasta

Member
Jul 26, 2006
76
0
61
I'm just gonna throw this out there:

Who cares about Linux? It's bad enough that it's not worth putting on your desktop, but on a Tablet?
 
Oyeve

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,066
883
126
Ms makes oses so yeah, why not block linux? Why by a windows tab if you want linux? Get android or ios. I dont understand you guys sometimes.
 
J

janas19

Platinum Member
Nov 10, 2011
2,313
1
0
Oyeve said:
Ms makes oses so yeah, why not block linux? Why by a windows tab if you want linux? Get android or ios. I dont understand you guys sometimes.
Click to expand...

How can you lock out another OS when you only make one yourself? It seems like you are trying to control what the user chooses to do with their hardware. And fyi, Linux is not a Windows replacement. It is not meant to be. Linux is an OS that offers many features to the user, and for what it does, it does it very well.
 
ThatsABigOne

ThatsABigOne

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 2010
4,422
23
81
L33tMasta said:
I'm just gonna throw this out there:

Who cares about Linux? It's bad enough that it's not worth putting on your desktop, but on a Tablet?
Click to expand...

I find this hard to ignore. If Linux had steam, I would move from M$ right away. :rolleyes:
 
Dulanic

Dulanic

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2000
9,968
592
136
L33tMasta said:
http://hothardware.com/News/Microsoft-Locks-Out-Linux-On-ARM-Systems-Shipping-Windows-8/

Personally, I hate Linux and I think that this move makes amazing sense
Click to expand...

A blank statement like "I hate linux" is pretty short sighted. I don't "use" linux but it is in a huge amount of products out there. I would say the majority of homes out there have some form on Linux in it. Whether it is a router, a smart TV, or another of the many many electronics or systems based on Linux. Linux is extremely versatile and stable.
 
S

soccerballtux

Lifer
Dec 30, 2004
12,553
2
76
this is a joke. This is going to bite them in the rear. Android is the default OS for a phone, Windows would be icing on the cake. If they want to maintain their dominance in the desktop market, they're going to have to allow Windows installs for desktop on phones, since phones will be replacing desktops.
 
poofyhairguy

poofyhairguy

Lifer
Nov 20, 2005
14,612
318
126
L33tMasta said:
I'm just gonna throw this out there:

Who cares about Linux? It's bad enough that it's not worth putting on your desktop, but on a Tablet?
Click to expand...

Seeing as how technically Linux is just a kernel, and that kernel is used in the most popular smartphone OS by marketshare out there, I will be the one to say I want access for "Linux."

Sure made the Touchpad more useful (and will even more after a solid ICS port).

I know of course you were really talking about some desktop Linux-based distro like Ubuntu, and I too will say I would want that one day. For now the hardware is too weak and the apps are not touch-friendly enough, but in five years or so I hope to be able to get a tablet that runs some sort of touch Ubuntu even maybe as a dual boot.

With that said, I think the real "desktop Linux" that was destined to take over the market is Android and now that it is ported to x86 devices I expect it to be really competitive in that space in the next 10 years.
 
S

shabby

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,782
45
91
Skel said:
From what I read, it's only locked on the ARM procs. Which wouldn't block linux as much as it would Android, which I'm not sure why you'd buy a MS tablet to load it up.
Click to expand...

Ya who in their right mind would buy a $600 win8 tablet and try to install android on it? The ideal solution would be to buy a $300 android tablet and try to install win8 on it.
 
notposting

notposting

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2005
3,498
33
91
Well, this only if the manufacturer wants the shiny "Designed for Windows 8" sticker on their ARM-toting device. And it doesn't lock it out, it only locks out OS's not signed by a valid CA.
 
Knavish

Knavish

Senior member
May 17, 2002
910
3
81
Two opinions on this:

1. Almost everyone currently does this with their tablets and smartphones. Why should Microsoft be any different from Apple, HTC, Motorola, etc... I bet that Windows 8 for ARM tablet will *only* be available to manufacturers, not to end users, just like the Windows Phone OS.

2. Maybe a possible future: antitrust action from the government forces all tablet vendors to open their bootloaders for alternative OS installs. Perhaps this would lead to people pirating Windows Tablet images onto Android Tablet hardware (?) ... I can't think of any other negatives.
 
L

lothar

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2000
6,674
7
76
soccerballtux said:
this is a joke. This is going to bite them in the rear. Android is the default OS for a phone, Windows would be icing on the cake. If they want to maintain their dominance in the desktop market, they're going to have to allow Windows installs for desktop on phones, since phones will be replacing desktops.
Click to expand...
What planet do you live on where phones will be replacing desktops?
 
podspi

podspi

Golden Member
Jan 11, 2011
1,982
102
106
On the one hand, I hate being told what I can do with my hardware.


On the other hand, most people don't care about this sort of thing, and need protection against malware. By ensuring the boot process is secure people are (more) protected against themselves.


Here is hoping they have the option to turn secure boot off like many Android phones do. Unlock it and take responsibility, I have no problem with that.
 
P

Pretty Cool

Senior member
Jan 20, 2000
872
0
0
Last I heard, Chromebooks basically do the same thing. Of course to most people if Google does it, it must somehow be good. Sure it is.
 
Jodell88

Jodell88

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2007
8,762
30
91
Pretty Cool said:
Last I heard, Chromebooks basically do the same thing. Of course to most people if Google does it, it must somehow be good. Sure it is.
Click to expand...
People have been installing their favourite linux distros on those things since they've been released.
 
DirkGently1

DirkGently1

Senior member
Mar 31, 2011
904
0
0
I'n not surprised they've locked it down. If they didn't, everyone would buy the devices for the hardware and then install Android/Linux as fast as they could.
 
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