On Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:20:51 +1000 John Thornton <[email protected]> wrote:
> So, in plain English if I buy a PC under this scheme even if it is blank > with no OS from a shop I will only be able to install Windows on it and not > any other OS either alone or dual boot? No - *if* you can find a PC without OS, then presumably it also does not have a Windows 8 Logo, so presumably its not locked down, that is *if* you can buy a PC with no OS in Australia. As a matter of fact, there may well be an opportunity here for a OS free PC's to become more available and for the awareness for them to become much higher in the Community. Note that today, by far most Linux users have bought a PC/Laptop with Windows on it knowing that they will install Linux on it. So it did not matter if it had Windows, although they would have preferred if it did not. But if PCs are now locked down to Windows, there will be more urge for potential Linux users to demand OS free PC's. So if properly "managed" by the Linux Community this may well be a blessing in disguise for Linux. I also think that there are already too many Linux users that no manufacturer will be able to provide unlocked mother board to build OS free equipment from. Remember the Windows only printers and modems - they did not last very long, admittedly PCs are a different thing. Daniel. > > _______________________________________________ Free-software-melb mailing list [email protected] http://lists.softwarefreedom.com.au/mailman/listinfo/free-software-melb
