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Microsoft Bans Linux/Android Dual-Booting on Windows 8 ARM Devices

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Re: Microsoft Bans Linux/Android Dual-Booting on Windows 8 ARM Devices

#52

Post by protomyth »

I really don't care about the restrictions on tablets. I figure every OS will have a tablet or two available.

What really bothers me is that ARM-based laptops come under this crud. I have really wanted a modern day replacement for the Psion. Something that gets great battery life and has a decent keyboard. I also want to run a BSD (probably Open), so that is really going to make it a pain.

Re: Microsoft Bans Linux/Android Dual-Booting on Windows 8 ARM Devices

#53

Post by cryptoz »

protomyth wrote: post #52

I really don't care about the restrictions on tablets. I figure every OS will have a tablet or two available. What really bothers me is that ARM-based laptops come under this crud. I have really wanted a modern day replacement for the Psion. Something that gets great battery life and has a decent keyboard. I also want to run a BSD (probably Open), so that is really going to make it a pain.

What's the difference between tablets and laptops? I don't see any differences when it comes to the ability to dual boot. The ASUS Transformer line has been around for a while now, showing that the line between tablet and laptop is blurring. Also, Canonical/Ubuntu seems to be gunning for tablet market share in the future. Do you think they'll have their own hardware?

I don't see any reason to separate out tablets and laptops when talking about dual booting, OS concerns, etc. A tablet is just a laptop with a touch screen and optional rather than mandatory keyboard.

Re: Microsoft Bans Linux/Android Dual-Booting on Windows 8 ARM Devices

#55

Post by amalcon »

tjoff wrote: post #40
nitrogen wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People who argue that phones are computers are arguing the nature of a thing is its identity. It seems you are arguing that the intent of a thing is its identity. Using your argument, if I wrap my desktop PC in a cardboard box with holes for air inlet, air exhaust, and the power cable, and call it a heater, it's no longer a computer, despite having all the bits inside that a computer would have. I'd much rather decid…

Well, the nature of an android phone isn't a computer, it is an android device. To claim that the PS3 is a Cell-powered computer is about as helpful as claiming that my router is a arm-powered computer, it might be true but that doesn't mean that I can run linux on my router - yet I can run linux on an arm-powered computer. I'm not arguing that the intent of a thing is its identity - the manufacturers are, and if you…

Your router probably is running Linux already. Most commodity routers do.

Re: Microsoft Bans Linux/Android Dual-Booting on Windows 8 ARM Devices

#56

Post by tomrod »

tjoff wrote: post #33
nathan_long wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I strongly disagree. >> "These devices are not multipurpose devices". These devices have chips which can run any algorithm you write. They are not hammers, or even calculators. They are computers. They also have GPS, motion sensors, cameras, and microphones. They are multipurpose enough to make phone calls, play games, run maps, and even power satellites: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/spheres_smart..…

No, they are not computers any more than my clock is a computer. Yes, deep within there is a multipurpose chip that performs the calculations but that is abstracted away. Just as your car isn't a computer, it has multiple computers that aid it but it is not a computer and you have no real interface with the computer itself. Just as my clock, just as my phone, just as my fridge. I appreciate the security value of secu…

I'm made quite the cluster out of hacked PS3s. Isn't that in the spirit of Hacker News, anyway?

Re: Microsoft Bans Linux/Android Dual-Booting on Windows 8 ARM Devices

#57

Post by silon3 »

ivanbernat wrote: post #8

I've said this before and I'll say it again: Microsoft isn't doing this to ban Ubuntu / Linux in general, but to prevent Android from spreading. With ICS being a great OS, many (tech) folks would simply dual-boot ICS on their WinRT devices.

Virtualization is better than dual boot anyway. MS better make it run well virtualized.

Re: Microsoft Bans Linux/Android Dual-Booting on Windows 8 ARM Devices

#59

Post by exDM69 »

fpgeek wrote: post #21
exDM69 wrote: post #6

I assume Microsoft will want to have secure booting devices that ship with Windows, because Hollywood and other content producers require a secure OS so their DRM is safer. If they would allow non-secure boot, it might be difficult or impossible to get video and music content licensed from the major producers on the platform.

Because insecure-booting OSes like Windows 7 (and earlier) and Mac OS X have so much trouble getting licensed video and music content...

The situation is a bit different on mobile platforms. Mostly because the field is new and changing, so content producers see an opportunity to require secure boot.

DRM/content licensing was cited by Asus as a reason to ship their Android products with locked bootloaders. I assume the same applies to Microsoft.

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