Well said. But, you are missing one important point. Microsoft has contracts with most, if not all, OEMs to deliver no PC without an OS/Windows on it. If OEMs don't oblige, there will be severe consequences. Therefore, almost all PCs sold come with Windows. When Windows 8 starts shipping, the UEFI on all OEM PCs, as mandated by Microsoft, will require a CA key to install Linux. Practically speaking, the bottom line is, MS is indirectly but effectively preventing Linux from being installed on any PC that comes with Windows 8. Consequently, that will eliminate the flexibility that users now have to wipe the hard disk and install Linux, or even to have the option to dual boot like some users prefer to do.
You are right, we don't want MS, or any other vendor including OEMs for that matter, mandating what keys go on a PC. The market wants for OEMs to give complete control of a PC to the purchaser/user. Isn't that what users want, to use their purchased PC any way they choose?Many don't trust the OEMS just as much as they don't trust any other software vendor, especially MS since it has a well know recorded history in monopolizing and controlling the market.
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Re: Appealing to the wrong authority
Date: 2011-09-24 06:27 pm (UTC)You are right, we don't want MS, or any other vendor including OEMs for that matter, mandating what keys go on a PC. The market wants for OEMs to give complete control of a PC to the purchaser/user. Isn't that what users want, to use their purchased PC any way they choose?Many don't trust the OEMS just as much as they don't trust any other software vendor, especially MS since it has a well know recorded history in monopolizing and controlling the market.