Hi, I was wondering if you guys have looked at this
http://www.betanews.com/article.php3?sid=1069920675
Phoenix Technologies is going to change the Bios as we know it.
What effects do you think this will have for Alternative Operating Systems?
It is add native "support" for Microsoft products.
I think its Time I start looking for an alternative platform to use like Pegasos,Amiga,PPC etc
Microsoft and its minions can keep the PC >:(
End of PC as we know it
Re:End of PC as we know it
It's in line with DMCA and TPC. Just the logical next step.
As for looking for an alternative platform: do you really believe any of them will survive once any data can be cleanly divided into "secure" data - which can be viewed / used only on "secure" (Windows / corporate Linux) systems, and "insecure" data - which can be viewed on alternative systems but only there?
People still keep telling themselves that it won't be that bad and that they'll just continue using their old systems and that everyone should boycott Microsoft etc. etc.
But as long as stupid things like software patents, the DMCA, and TPC aren't stopped in court, that's how things are going to be.
My opinion. Call me paranoid today, but don't blame me in ten year's time.
As for looking for an alternative platform: do you really believe any of them will survive once any data can be cleanly divided into "secure" data - which can be viewed / used only on "secure" (Windows / corporate Linux) systems, and "insecure" data - which can be viewed on alternative systems but only there?
People still keep telling themselves that it won't be that bad and that they'll just continue using their old systems and that everyone should boycott Microsoft etc. etc.
But as long as stupid things like software patents, the DMCA, and TPC aren't stopped in court, that's how things are going to be.
My opinion. Call me paranoid today, but don't blame me in ten year's time.
Every good solution is obvious once you've found it.
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Tim
Re:End of PC as we know it
I wouldn't trust this article. They confused the words "predecessor" and "successor" 
.
Anyway, things always basically stay the same. OS development isn't going to be made impossible overnight. It's not going to be locked to Microsoft, either, as long as there is money to be made from Linux.
.Anyway, things always basically stay the same. OS development isn't going to be made impossible overnight. It's not going to be locked to Microsoft, either, as long as there is money to be made from Linux.
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Pype.Clicker
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Re:End of PC as we know it
they're only sued (well, only sued so far, but sued anyway) for bad monopolistic behaviour ... i doubt they'll ever make the PC unable to run something else that their OS. That would be undoubtly against the laws they're already fighting with ... i don't think they're that stupid.
But i already said all this ... i'm in "wait and see" mood for this and i don't want to worry about this. If they ever make this the only possible approach for computing then i'll no longer be a computer scientist. period.
I will not try to fight against an enemy that would either be unbeatable or inexistent. That's lost energy. I have better things to do with my time.
But i already said all this ... i'm in "wait and see" mood for this and i don't want to worry about this. If they ever make this the only possible approach for computing then i'll no longer be a computer scientist. period.
I will not try to fight against an enemy that would either be unbeatable or inexistent. That's lost energy. I have better things to do with my time.
Re:End of PC as we know it
Tim, excuse me, but that's the approach I was critizising in my post: All will be good, we have Linux...
(Going into advocatus diaboli mode, and hating myself for it):
Who's the driving force behind Linux today? Who's making money from Linux?
RedHat, IBM, SuSE, and a couple of others. (Excuse me, but I'm not that much into Linux.)
Companies.
Will they be interested in "certifying" their particular brands of Linux, especially if it helps them adding value compared to the other distros?
Certainly.
What's the difference between a stock Unified Linux and a Linux where you recompiled some kernel modules?
The checksum, and the valid certificate.
Which Linux will be recognized by the TCP hardware as a "secure" system?
The company brand.
Where does that leave any home-tinkered Linuxes (including e.g. Gentoo)?
In the same corner as BeOS, AmigaOS, Moebius, Clicker and all the rest: Outside the TCP world.
What's left of the GPL / OpenSource when any tinkering with the sources invalidates your TCP certificate?
Two pages legalese.
Linus Thorvals has announced that he is not fundamentally opposed to DRM measures in the kernel. Major development efforts have been previously jumping on the Microsoft bandwagon (do I have to say "Mono"?).
There are companies, there is profit to be made, you bet they won't hesitate.
(Going into advocatus diaboli mode, and hating myself for it):
Who's the driving force behind Linux today? Who's making money from Linux?
RedHat, IBM, SuSE, and a couple of others. (Excuse me, but I'm not that much into Linux.)
Companies.
Will they be interested in "certifying" their particular brands of Linux, especially if it helps them adding value compared to the other distros?
Certainly.
What's the difference between a stock Unified Linux and a Linux where you recompiled some kernel modules?
The checksum, and the valid certificate.
Which Linux will be recognized by the TCP hardware as a "secure" system?
The company brand.
Where does that leave any home-tinkered Linuxes (including e.g. Gentoo)?
In the same corner as BeOS, AmigaOS, Moebius, Clicker and all the rest: Outside the TCP world.
What's left of the GPL / OpenSource when any tinkering with the sources invalidates your TCP certificate?
Two pages legalese.
Linus Thorvals has announced that he is not fundamentally opposed to DRM measures in the kernel. Major development efforts have been previously jumping on the Microsoft bandwagon (do I have to say "Mono"?).
There are companies, there is profit to be made, you bet they won't hesitate.
Every good solution is obvious once you've found it.
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mr. xsism
Re:End of PC as we know it
like all creations on security schemes, i'm sure there is a bug or hack. But not all BIOSes are going this direction. If they do, we can all ban together to make a free PC platform.ie - no winmodems, no palladium, no "secure" BIOSes.
Wouldn't that be kool? We could make a FHF - Free Hardware Foundation. and Just like FSF it doesn't mean the hardware costs nothing.
sounds phun, i kinda hope Phoenix goes that far
mr. xsism
Wouldn't that be kool? We could make a FHF - Free Hardware Foundation. and Just like FSF it doesn't mean the hardware costs nothing.
sounds phun, i kinda hope Phoenix goes that far
mr. xsism