Ahh the day of the Dongle. I expect a much higher than average number of people on this list can "roll their own" -- that is certainly not the case in general even amongst linux users. On Sun, Jun 10, 2012 at 7:58 AM, keith smith wrote: > > During the mid 80's software manufactures tried to lock down their > software. What they found was stopping pirating entirely reduced sales. > Who would have known. The thought at the time was that without the ability > to copy and try, some were unwilling to buy. Unintended byproduct. The > other thing that happens was a work around. There were several apps that > would unlock the software and allow it to be installed anywhere. > > If the hardware manufactures lock down their hardware several things are > going to happen. someone will create an open source / free app to beat the > hardware lock. > > Another unintended consequence could be surplus (used) hardware become > unusable. > > Another consequence could be a niche market for unlocked hardware, which > could cause the OEM's to lose market share. > > Yet another unintended consequence is the potential for increased support > by M$. I seem to recall a number of years ago M$ tried to lock down it's > OS and support was a big issue and they stopped the practice. > > If they lock down the hardware, I will not buy Dell or HP any longer. I > will build my own. > > ------------------------ > Keith Smith > > --- On *Sat, 6/9/12, Derek Trotter * wrote: > > > From: Derek Trotter > Subject: Re: Fedora Pays Microsoft Boot License fee. > To: "Main PLUG discussion list" > Date: Saturday, June 9, 2012, 9:13 PM > > > From the article mentioned in the original post: > > Microsoft’s practice is facilitated by the UEFI, or Unified Extensible > Firmware Interface, which allows a manufacturer to lock down the boot > process so that it will only work on their specified conditions. > > What's to keep Microsoft from telling a manufacturer they must lock down > the machine so no other operating system will boot on it if they want > licenses to install windows on their machines? > > On 6/9/2012 17:14, Eric Shubert wrote: > > I don't see how that would be a problem. Please reference exact part of > the article which leads you to believe that. > > BL, there's a lot of misinformation about this. I don't think it's > anything to be concerned about. > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > -- Sent from my super hot-shot dual core 64 bit Gateway running Ubuntu 12 from the chrome/teak/glass desktop in my Luxo Scottsdale condo. Patricia Wilson Apache Junction, AZ Member NRA, ARRL WB8DXX