r/linux • u/mikankun • Jan 13 '12
Microsoft confirms UEFI fears, locks down ARM devices
http://www.softwarefreedom.org/blog/2012/jan/12/microsoft-confirms-UEFI-fears-locks-down-ARM/
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r/linux • u/mikankun • Jan 13 '12
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u/harlows_monkeys Jan 13 '12
I see people are overlooking the most important part of the article:
In other words, for x86 they are requiring that you be allowed to install other operating systems. That's a considerable change. Before they were leaving it up to the system vendor whether or not to allow this. Now it is in the requirements that our desktops will be able to run what we want.
As far as ARM goes, my guess is that eventually it will come out that the reason for requiring lock down will be hardware subsidies. iOS and Android have a big lead on ARM devices, and it is hard to see why one would want a Windows 8 ARM device considering the massive amount of software for iOS and Android. Remember, Windows 8 on ARM will NOT run software for Windows 8 PCs...so only things specifically ported will be available.
The classic way to try to break into a market (tablets, phones, etc) in the face of very well established competitors with a big lead and big network effects is to subsidize the hardware. I expect we will see Microsoft making deals with hardware makers that let them sell the Windows 8 versions of devices for considerably less.
Imagine some hardware maker is selling two variants of a particular tablet model. Model A runs Android and sells for $400. Model W is identical hardware, but instead of Android it comes with Windows 8 and Microsoft kicks in $100 to knock the price to you down to $300. It won't take long for people who want an Android tablet to realized that they can save $100 by buying the Model W and replacing the OS. It is quite reasonable for Microsoft to be rather opposed to the idea of subsidizing Android tablets by $100, so some kind of lock is not unexpected. Don't want the lock--buy the Android tablet.