[Discuss] Fighting UEFI

[Richard Pieri]

On 7/29/2012 1:39 AM, Rich Braun wrote:
> The handwriting on the wall is simple. If this takes off, consumer
> options will be narrowed.

Consumers don't want choices.  They don't care if their options are 
narrow.  They want their shiny appliances and gadgets and they want them 
to be the same as or better than their neighbor's shiny appliances and 
gadgets.

> PCs compatible with Linux will cost more, because sales volumes of
> such models will be lower. And windows machines will cost more too,
> because of slightly lower volumes and increased license fees.

This is FUD.

The server market won't change.  This is kit that won't be going after 
Windows 8 certification anyway thus won't fall under Microsoft's UEFI 
Secure Boot requirements even with ARM-based kit.  The workstation 
market likewise will not change for the same reason.  Changes to the 
consumer market will go largely unnoticed.  Consumers don't care if 
their gadgets and appliances are OS-locked regardless of what operating 
systems happen to be on them.  Android and iOS are clear proof of this. 
  When their old, not-so-shiny-anymore gadgets won't run the latest and 
greatest they'll just dispose of the old ones and buy new ones.  This 
disposable nature of consumer gadgets and appliances will continue to 
reduce the costs of commodity parts.

As for the rest of us?  We're spoiled.  We've been spoiled by the 
commoditization of personal computers.  I include myself in that "we". 
Consumers aren't buying personal computers in massive quantities any 
more.  That commoditization is at an end.  Deal with it.  Crying about 
how Microsoft is "taking away consumer rights" isn't dealing.  It's whining.

-- 
Rich P.