Sometimes I wish Linux was a serious threat to Microsoft...

Maybe then Microsoft might take it's users' feedback a little more seriously.

But Linux is a serious threat. It rules the server market, and it makes them shake in their boots when it comes to smartphones. Windoze survives on the desktop because it is, essentially, a gaming platform. I hate proprietary software more than most, but I have no qualms running Windoze with Diablo 3. I treat it as a game console, so there are no security or privacy concerns. Worst case scenario: I lose my toon.

A developer-rich Slackware should have been patching OpenSSL to fix bugs like some of the other distros. Oh wait...

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Windows does dominate the market because of games, but that may soon change when Steam releases it's Linux client. If game developers would take the time to see there is an open market that is untapped and already waiting to get games.

The whole argument, "We're forced to use Windows by our OEM manufacturer" is nonsense, when it really is, "We're forced to use Windows by our game designers."

The moment Valve releases it's Steam client for Linux and designers port games to Linux, it's going to end up snowballing the whole Windows gaming community, and that power hold Windows has had for so long, is going to finally be broken.

Like it has on the Mac, right?

Macs are overpriced. When you can buy 3 Windows PC/Laptops for the same price as a Mac/MacBook, that do the same amount of workloads, who is seriously going to buy a Mac?

Plus does anyone ever take Apple that seriously?

Although I agree that Apple's products are considerably overpriced, as long as some Americans who are ignorant of options and possess minimal technical ability have money, they'll buy Apple's products. I look at members of my extended family and fully understand why they choose Apple. Apple allows the ignorant to work in relative bliss, but at a significant cost.

I think the whole gaming argument is valid. Mac is an entirely different phenomenon. Most mac users I know are not gamers. They use osx for a different reason. To be honest I don't know/understand what it is (so can't comment on it)

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Microsoft mayx be the Evil Empire, but they are not controlling Secure Boot, you don't have to pay anything to disable Secure Boot, you don't have to pay anything to install Linux, regardless which distribution. Please stop spreading FUD.

I'm not so sure that it's FUD.

Although Linus Torvalds (a Smart Guy) says
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise...8-secure-boot/, Richard Stalman (another Smart Guy) and the Free Software Foundation (FSF) has a different take on the same subject -- see http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/secure-...whitepaper-web (the paper is too long to reproduce here).

"Clever hackers?" Uh, OK, maybe so... well, probably so, lots of clever folks involved in Linux. But, one wonders, why would hacking be required at all? Microsoft does have a long, shameful history of making messes for other folk to clean up and this sure does sound like a astronomic mess. I could be wrong but I'm more inclined to believe the FSF than anything Microsoft would ever have to say about much of anything; you know, if Steve Balmer said the sun was shining I'd have to find a window and check. Microsoft controls the keys, you'll need a key (according to FSF), you're going to have to pony up for it (or, if not you, the distribution), that's going to cost money. That's why we all love Microsoft so.

FUD? Not FUD? I dunno but I am suspicious.

If you don't know something then you should stop spreading your opinion about it and educate yourself about the topic first.
The requirements for getting the Windows 8 logo for x86 hardware make sure that you can disable Secure Boot and, for the case that you actually want to use it, that you can add your own custom keys.
No need to buy anything, no need to hack anything. So statingis, besides from simply being wrong, FUD in its purest form.

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That's just the point here.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_8#Secure_boot for instance. I quote:
You may recall that Microsoft Windows 8 is the first "normal" enduser Windows OS which also runs on ARM-based computers (tablet computers most notably). Linux distros, including Slackware, have been supporting ARM hardware for many years. The ARM based consumer market is where future growth is to be expected and that is exactly where Microsoft is slamming down on us, Linux users and developers.

Custom keys can be added to a computer where you want to dual-boot Windows 8 and a Linux distro, but you will have to pay Microsoft and Verisign for the required certificate. How is that for freedom of choice? In practice, you will not be able to install Linux and dual-boot your computer if it is pre-installed with Windows 8.

Eric

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Let me just say the term "secure boot" doesn't inspire one with confidence, particularly coming from Microsoft, who we all know have a perfect record for security.

I tend to agree with Alien Bob above. There are things you cannot take for granted from Microsoft and that is that secure boot will be optional on all devices. Think of it from Microsoft's point of view... what use is a secure boot if you can turn it off and install any OS of your choice. Of course, we assume Microsoft is worried only about the consumer's system security, right... :what was that icon for rolling eyes again?:

Folks who still believe there's any good coming from that company remind me of those in our South French countryside who still believe the old priest in town is "basically a good man", despite the fact that during the last fifteen years he's repeatedly abused dozens of choir boys.