Why OEM's Should Avoid (possibly) Making It Harder To Install Linux.

Posted by Rpim on Jan 24, 2012 3:24 PM
LXer Linux News; By Rpim

LXer Feature: 24-Jan-2012

There has been a lot of worry lately about windows 8 secure boot making it (possibly) much harder or impossible to install certain Linux's (possibly all) on pcs with windows 8 secure boot. So I decided to list the arguments against making it possibly harder or impossible to install Linux's.

There has been a lot of worry lately about windows 8 secure boot making it (possibly) much harder or impossible to install certain Linux's (possibly all) on pcs with windows 8 secure boot. So I decided to list the arguments against making it possibly harder or impossible to install Linux's.

1. Antitrust lawsuits

There is a possibility of by making it possibly harder or impossible to install Linux that this would spark an antitrust lawsuit against the OEM. And I know that basically no OEM would want to be sued something like nearly 300 million.

2. Potentially destroying some users freedoms

This could potentially destroy users freedoms to install certain software that gives them the freedom to change the software just about anyway they like and the freedom to use the software for just about anything they like providing that it is legal.

3. Linux desktop market share is growing

The Linux desktop market share grew by almost 50% last year according to one site. Those users could be likely to not buy from an OEM that makes it possibly harder or impossible to install Linux.

4. Loads of people have signed a statement against it

Loads of people are against OEMS from removing the freedom to install Linux if you look at this site http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/secure-boot-vs-restricted-boot/... . They have committed themselves that they won't buy from an OEM that stops them install Linux. And there are more people who are against it who haven't signed it.

5. Loads of enterprises use Linux on there servers

These enterprises are likely to also want to install Linux on the desktop computers they buy so there unlikely to buy from such an OEM that makes it possibly harder or impossible to install Linux's.

I hope that if an OEM looks at this they will see sense!

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Subject Topic Starter Replies Views Last Post
Rebuttal Jeff91 9 2,620 Jan 30, 2012 11:14 AM
Untitled Rpim 2 1,988 Jan 25, 2012 6:26 PM

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