Trusted Computing board is a rich boy's club http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=26647
A boon, or bananas? By INQUIRER staff: Monday 03 October 2005, 17:05 LAST WEEK WE reported two developments on the Trusted Computing front which, taken together, point a finger towards the future of the PC. The first article, based on recent Intel roadmaps we've seen, show that the firm will introduce two of its own boxed motherboards using the TPM (trusted platform module) bundled with Wave Systems' Embassy Suite. The second related to a document Microsoft had placed on its website showing that Vista will effectively disallow other operating systems from accessing files on a hard drive. The real conundrum here is whether these developments, taken together, are a good or a bad thing and we suspect the answer is that Trusted Computing is like the Curate's Egg - good in parts. So what's the good bit? Again, that varies depending upon whether you're a vendor like Intel, AMD and Microsoft, or a corporate user. Corporate users will buy happier knowing that their computers are even more protected from slings and arrows of outrageous hackers who have turned their networks into mincemeat because they've spotted chinks in the armour which are easily breached. That will no doubt make the members of the Trusted Computing Group rub their hands in glee. The member list on the TCG's web site at www.trustedcomputinggroup.org has its promoters AMD, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Sony and Sun. The contributor and adopter lists are way much longer - think the computer industry and most of them are in there, from manufacturers of chips like ST Micro and NatSemi, to hard drive manufacturers, to BIOS manufacturers like AMI and Phoenix and many another. Not many third party motherboard manufacturers in there, nor third party chipset companies with the notable exception of ULi. Yeah, Dell, Broadcom, ATI and Nvidia are on that list. The Group has divisions including infrastructure, mobile, PC client, server, software stock, storage systems, netowrk connect and module members. Given the number of industry members in the Group and the fact that Intel, AMD and Microsoft are lead members, we wonder whether in a few year's time it will be possible to build machines without using elements of the technology or run applications which depend on the "trusted computing" element. So far, the third party firms like Via, SIS and others do not appear to have declared for or against Trusted Computing. We suspect that they won't have long before they have to make up their mind. Past experience has taught users of Windows, for example, that even if you try to hold up against an OS upgrade, the odds are that eventually you'll have to take that route. Microsoft and the rest of the PC industry all have a very serious interest in making sure you do upgrade, whether it be because of new "standards" like PCI Express, new dual core chips, additional memory or better hard drives. The Group has a FAQ on its web site which says the goal of the group is to support "open industry standards" across multiple platform types. It also has a patent policy. But the one thing it doesn't say is how much more incorporating these standards and patents is going to cost for each PC. And there's another spooky element too. The TCG specifications, according to the FAQ, don't provide all the necessary technical elements required for digital right management. So which does it supply? You won't get the answer to that question unless you're a member of the group. Get it? To be a promoter it will cost you $50,000 a year, contributors will pay $7,500 a year, and adopters pay $7,500 a year. Less than 100 employees? It will only cost you $1,000 a year. But you will have to agree to sign the non disclosure agreements and you won't have any voting rights. If you've got the money, the $50,000 will give you a "permanent seat" on the TCG's board of directors, with accompanying rights including advising on specifications. This club is for the rich boys. Maybe a rich boy or girl who doesn't work for a vendor should shell out $50,000 to get a permanent seat on the board. But do you really think she or he would get elected? ยต You are a subscribed member of the infowarrior list. Visit www.infowarrior.org for list information or to unsubscribe. This message may be redistributed freely in its entirety. Any and all copyrights appearing in list messages are maintained by their respective owners.
