Microsoft Locks Out Linux On ARM Systems Shipping Windows 8

[Bateluer]

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.

Only if the hardware was good and cheaper than just buying the Android/Linux version.

This really isn't worth getting worked up over yet, not until the parts are actually in consumer's hands. Its the Microsoft equivalent of a locked bootloader, which we've been railing against for over a year. And seen some significant progress with too, HTC has pretty much unlocked all their devices now.

 

[Skel]

Only if the hardware was good and cheaper than just buying the Android/Linux version.

This really isn't worth getting worked up over yet, not until the parts are actually in consumer's hands. Its the Microsoft equivalent of a locked bootloader, which we've been railing against for over a year. And seen some significant progress with too, HTC has pretty much unlocked all their devices now.

Hey now, you can't make Win8 DOA unless you get all worked up about every leaked rumor out there.

 

[zoiks]

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

Yep. I feel the same. I've used Linux as my main OS for several years now.

 

[slayernine]

There goes my plans of a tablet dual booting Windows and Android :S

 

[ultimatebob]

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

Doesn't make sense to me, considering that Microsoft has practically no tablet market-share right now. Why are they preemptively trying to piss off the early adopters who might want to try a Microsoft tablet just to dual boot it with Android?

 

[ultimatebob]

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.

I wouldn't think so... considering that a comparable Android tablet would probably be $50 cheaper since the manufacturer didn't need to pay for a Windows license fee.

 

[finbarqs]

well, at least I can install Photoshop CS5 on the tab...

 

[Red Storm]

My interest in a Windows tablet only goes as far as my ability to play Steam games on it. If I can't do that, then there's nothing else I would want or need Windows for.

 

[poofyhairguy]

well, at least I can install Photoshop CS5 on the tab...

And do almost nothing with it as Photoshop was designed to be used with a mouse.

 

[finbarqs]

And do almost nothing with it as Photoshop was designed to be used with a mouse.

I'm pretty sure You can use a wacom tablet on photoshop. And, if you want to shell out 2,500 bucks, you can have the wacom tablet display a 1280x800 image so you can work directly on it.

Photoshop gives people the option to use a mouse, if they can't afford a tablet

 

[dagamer34]

General facts I think we can all agree on:

1) The number of people who would want to buy a Windows 8 ARM tablet and install Linux is so small, Microsoft doesn't consider them in their decision-making process. For example, if we were to say it were 1 million people, 400 million PCs are sold each year, making that group 0.25% of potential customers. That's not really a large percentage, even if they flat out refused to buy their tablet and go elsewhere.
2) Significantly more than 1 million people have managed to screw up their PCs for far sillier reasons than viruses. Heck, some people even delete the Windows folder on their PCs because they "have no use for it".
3) No one complains when Apple locks their boot loader, and they have no expectation of installing Android on iPads.
4) Both Microsoft and the Linux community often act like the other side is the great devil, similar to political parties.

 

[janas19]

3) No one complains when Apple locks their boot loader, and they have no expectation of installing Android on iPads.

Some things Apple has that Microsoft does not: philosophy, vision, exclusivity. In other words, greed is less conspicuous from Apple

 

[BenSkywalker]

Honestly, this takes my interest level in Windows 8, for both platforms, from very high to nil. The idea of being able to fully integrate my desktop and mobile experience across multiple devices was giving me a lot of interest in seeing how this new platform cohesion could work. That said, I was banking on the ability to hedge my bets and be able to dual boot my tablet to Android to make sure I didn't get stuck with yet another lame duck platform. Worse case scenario, I roll back to Win7 on the PC and keep the tablet and phone running Android. Best case would be that MS pulled it off and I swapped over to all Windows based OSs on all my devices.

MS locking down the bootloader will make certain that not only will I not be buying a Win8 tablet, I won't be picking up the desktop version either nor would I even consider a Win8 phone.

1) The number of people who would want to buy a Windows 8 ARM tablet and install Linux is so small, Microsoft doesn't consider them in their decision-making process.

Android *IS* Linux. The amount of people who would be interested in dual booting Android and Linux is likely quite a bit larger then the total number of people currently running a MS OS on an ARM device.

 

[L33tMasta]

Honestly, this takes my interest level in Windows 8, for both platforms, from very high to nil. The idea of being able to fully integrate my desktop and mobile experience across multiple devices was giving me a lot of interest in seeing how this new platform cohesion could work. That said, I was banking on the ability to hedge my bets and be able to dual boot my tablet to Android to make sure I didn't get stuck with yet another lame duck platform. Worse case scenario, I roll back to Win7 on the PC and keep the tablet and phone running Android. Best case would be that MS pulled it off and I swapped over to all Windows based OSs on all my devices.

MS locking down the bootloader will make certain that not only will I not be buying a Win8 tablet, I won't be picking up the desktop version either nor would I even consider a Win8 phone.



Android *IS* Linux. The amount of people who would be interested in dual booting Android and Linux is likely quite a bit larger then the total number of people currently running a MS OS on an ARM device.

Android is BASED ON Linux. And there isn't even a decent build of Android that can work on x86 CPUs. Linux has nothing to offer the tablet market unless it's Android.

 

[dagamer34]

Honestly, this takes my interest level in Windows 8, for both platforms, from very high to nil. The idea of being able to fully integrate my desktop and mobile experience across multiple devices was giving me a lot of interest in seeing how this new platform cohesion could work. That said, I was banking on the ability to hedge my bets and be able to dual boot my tablet to Android to make sure I didn't get stuck with yet another lame duck platform. Worse case scenario, I roll back to Win7 on the PC and keep the tablet and phone running Android. Best case would be that MS pulled it off and I swapped over to all Windows based OSs on all my devices.

MS locking down the bootloader will make certain that not only will I not be buying a Win8 tablet, I won't be picking up the desktop version either nor would I even consider a Win8 phone.



Android *IS* Linux. The amount of people who would be interested in dual booting Android and Linux is likely quite a bit larger then the total number of people currently running a MS OS on an ARM device.

That's a silly statement to make because of course any number is greater than zero. However, ask that same question in a year when Windows 8 is released, and I doubt it will be true.

 

[janas19]

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

You may be able to move away: http://appdb.winehq.org/

Steam is fully supported... The games may not be

 

[poofyhairguy]

Android is BASED ON Linux.

So is Ubuntu, or Redhat, or my router, or anything else people call "Linux." Linux is just a kernel.

And there isn't even a decent build of Android that can work on x86 CPUs.

Um, did you miss the whole "Intel's New SoC" thread a few down? Android on x86.

You want to try it? Here:

http://www.android-x86.org/download

Linux has nothing to offer the tablet market unless it's Android.

The largest mobile OS is a lot to offer.

 

[poofyhairguy]

However, ask that same question in a year when Windows 8 is released, and I doubt it will be true.

So you are predicting WM7 will overtake Android in a year?

Bold prediction.

 

[HFS+]

nothing aginst linux but i am sure most of the world does not know what it is and most android users have no idea that linux is under android

 

[soccerballtux]

What planet do you live on where phones will be replacing desktops?

same one you're on.
Not for corporate use yet, but for home use, definitely.
Nobody PC games. Why buy a PC when you can dock it to a station that displays to your HD monitor and takes USB inputs for mouse and keyboard? A quad core A9 will be sufficient for that. You can already do it and run your own custom stripped down Ubuntu Linux install with about 10 Motorola branded phones. It's about as fast as a netbook if not faster, which is why I'm selling mine to buy one of these on craigslist and run an XFCE or Fluxbox Ubuntu install--
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4092/motorolas-atrix-4g-tegra-2-smartphone-netbook-in-one

 

[Deeko]

The amount of people who would be interested in dual booting Android and Linux is likely quite a bit larger then the total number of people currently running a MS OS on an ARM device.

What is this statement supposed to mean? If its a small number, it doesn't matter if its higher than the number of people that have purchased an item that has not been released (which is obviously 0).

Conversely, one could argue that the number of people willing to buy a tablet that can't dual boot Android is a whole lot higher - compare iPad sales to anything else. Obviously being able to dual boot to Android is not the first thing most people look for in a tablet. And I'm certainly not saying Win8 ARM tablets will sell at iPad levels, just pointing out that the above statement is pretty meaningless.

 

[soccerballtux]

tablets don't need to exist. You just need a phone that docks to a dumb-screen+battery to have your tablet.

 

[Skel]

same one you're on.
Not for corporate use yet, but for home use, definitely.
Nobody PC games. Why buy a PC when you can dock it to a station that displays to your HD monitor and takes USB inputs for mouse and keyboard? A quad core A9 will be sufficient for that. You can already do it and run your own custom stripped down Ubuntu Linux install with about 10 Motorola branded phones. It's about as fast as a netbook if not faster, which is why I'm selling mine to buy one of these on craigslist and run an XFCE or Fluxbox Ubuntu install--
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4092/motorolas-atrix-4g-tegra-2-smartphone-netbook-in-one

While I see the idea of what you’re saying, you really don’t have the correct idea of what’s happening. PC gaming is still alive and well, in fact Star Wars the Old Republic already has over a million subscribers after being released for two days http://www.swtor.com/news/press-release/20111223. Increases in both CPU and video cards sales continue. Even the most powerful phone pales against a laptop or desktop unit, which is the experance people expect when they sit down in front of a keyboard and mouse. You try and hobble that kind of speed it won’t work. The phone and tablet form factors get a lot of leeway in terms of what’s expected speed and power wise as people don’t really compare them to the computer counterparts. Maybe one day far down the road we’ll see more of a shift towards smaller devices, but not in the next generation, or two.

 

[Phynaz]

tablets don't need to exist. You just need a phone that docks to a dumb-screen+battery to have your tablet.

The massive amount of sales would say your statement is mistaken.

 

[finbarqs]

I feel, if people want android on their shiny new Win 8 tablet, then android better step up to the plate. Win 8's advantage is FULL FLASH compatibility, Full Office Integration, You can play desktop games, you can multitask like on a REAL desktop, download, ftp, attach multiple files with ease... hell android better be ready to step up to the plate, and offer what desktop OS can offer the user.

Other wise, don't stick android on there, put Chrome OS instead if you're such a fan of google. Desktop apps and mobile apps are in leagues of their own. And when windows 8 come out, I expect desktop apps will just add the touch feature!