[Discuss] Fighting UEFI

[Richard Pieri]

On 7/28/2012 6:23 PM, Guy Gold wrote:
> IMO, Secure-Boot is going to be a big hit (and I hope I'm wrong).

I'm of the opposed opinion.  Consumers can't be trusted to keep their 
computers free of rootkits and other malware.  They don't care.  UEFI 
Secure Boot will block a rooted Windows box from booting.  It'll block a 
rooted Linux or FreeBSD box from booting, too.

Works for me.


> and then, one day, that system drifts into a Linux user, that wants to
> dual-boot, or nuke WIN all together , and...Oops.. NO GO.

Question: how is this at all different from trying to install Linux on a 
compy with a Sony badge on it?  Answer: not in the least.  Linux has 
never been 100% on Sony kit.  Same goes for every other Microsoft 
partner OEM for the last 20+ years.  If Linux isn't an option at ship 
time then there is a chance that something won't work right.  It could 
be cosmetic like the function keys not working.  It could be a breaker 
like the disk controller not working at all.  It could be anything in 
between.  This is today.  Right now.  Without Secure Boot.  Where's the 
stink about Sony and Dell and HP and Gateway and Acer and Toshiba and 
Lenovo and the rest "taking away our rights" by shipping kit with 
Windows-only hardware in it?

If you try to install Linux on a computer that shipped with Windows then 
you should be prepared for it not to work before you even plug it in. 
I've had too many problems at work trying to install Linux on Windows 
computers due to video and disk controller issues.  No.  If it shipped 
with Windows then it's automatically unsupportable beyond a best effort.

If you buy a computer that ships with Windows expecting to install Linux 
on it then it's your own damned fault when it doesn't work.  You didn't 
do your research before swiping the plastic so you have nobody to blame 
but yourself.  Not Microsoft.  Not the OEM.  Not the retailer.  You.

-- 
Rich P.