> > http://www.muktware.com/news/3217/did-microsoft-just-kill-ubuntu-tablets > > There is no doubt that Canonical is looking at the ARM based hardware for > its tablets. But Microsoft seemed to have nipped Ubuntu's Tablet in the > bud. The company tweaked its Windows Hardware Certification Requirements to > effectively ban most alternative operating systems on ARM-based devices > that ship with Windows 8. >
This issue was addressed in a whitepaper published by Canonical. It is related to secure boot on desktops, but the argument can be extended to ARM devices as well. (Whitepaper: http://blog.canonical.com/2011/10/28/white-paper-secure-boot-impact-on-linux/ ) > > On page 116 of Microsoft's The Certification Requirements, there is a > clear instructions for hardware vendors that under no circumstance should > the installation of another OS be permitted. > > MANDATORY: Disabling Secure MUST NOT be possible on ARM systems. > If the OEM /ODM includes Canonical's keys, then Ubuntu can be installed on these devices. The other option is to provide a setup utility to add keys for other operating systems (like Ubuntu) etc. The latter option is the more viable solution and the decision rests on the OEM/ODM. > > This is assumingly the platform Ubuntu was looking for. So, does that mean > Microsoft just killed all the possibilities of ARM-based Ubuntu Tablets? > Again, depends on the manufacturers. I would assume that locking down a Windows tablet is the way manufacturers will go, but allowing more keys to be added to the BIOS will also allow Android, Tizen, Ubuntu etc. to be installed on these devices. Best Regards, Rigved Rakshit -- http://mm.ilug-bom.org.in/mailman/listinfo/linuxers
