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| Authored by: tknarr on Friday, June 01 2012 @ 08:56 PM EDT |
That's not going to fly in the corporate world, though. Corporate desktops
have to be not just a particular version of Windows, but a very particular
install with an exact set of drivers, patches and the like. Any variation has to
go through a long vetting process to check it against every bit of software the
corporation uses before it can be certified as compatible. And there's external
constraints too: if a particular piece of software the corporate requires is
only supported on Windows 7, machines must run Windows 7 until the vendor
supports a more recent version. That's why so many corporations stayed on XP so
long: they had required software that just wouldn't run on Win7. Considering
that most corporate IT departments are at best just finishing up their
conversion to Windows 7, they aren't going to have the budget for a conversion
to Windows 8 for at least 3-4 years.
And there's an even more subtle
catch. When this goes in, more than a few of the management types are going to
look at the purported ability to prevent unauthorized software from booting and
send down a requirement that any hardware must be capable of blocking
anything other than the corporate-authorized Windows image from booting. That
means not only must the machines be capable of booting images not signed by
Microsoft (because the Windows version is too old and isn't available signed),
they have to be capable of blocking versions of Windows that are signed
by Microsoft. I'm fairly sure the IT techs will just go limp here and chortle as
they make life hellish for the vendors: "I'm sorry, HP, but we can't purchase
any of your desktops. They permit booting of unauthorized software, and that's
not acceptable under our policies. What unauthorized software? Windows 8, of
course, It's not on our list, and if your machines can't block it we're not
allowed to purchase them.". [ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
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| Authored by: Anonymous on Saturday, June 02 2012 @ 10:27 AM EDT |
Will Apple computers be affected by this UEFI lockout ?
Don't they use a different mobo ? [ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
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| Authored by: symbolset on Saturday, June 02 2012 @ 02:50 PM EDT |
This is certainly the case. Microsoft has no doubt exposed to HP and Dell
numerous analytical studies showing that by deprecating 30 years of software
investments they can assure rapid adoption and turnover of legacy gear after an
initial painful period. This then would assure Microsoft of eternal control of
the PC platform, as they own the keys.
It's not true though. It will be
roundly rejected. The analysts, tainted by financial incentive to justify a
foregone conclusion, are wrong again.
Just like Stephen Elop the former
Microsoft cornerstone Office division leader took charge at Nokia to lead them
into disaster in phones, Microsoft needs a backup plan to keep the PC OEMs on
course in the face of certain defeat. For this purpose they've already inserted
their man Bill Veghte, formerly chief of Microsoft's cornerstone Windows
division into HP as "Chief Strategy Officer". He's since been elevated in only
four months through head of the recently-acquired Autonomy software division and
then to Chief Operating Officer only days later. By October's Windows 8 release
he is on course to supplant Meg Whitman as CEO and be in place to guide them
into their own burning platform disaster, maintaining full commitment to Windows
even unto the destruction of the company. Yet another embarrassing Board leak
incident should be just the thing to seal the deal and that's easy enough to
arrange. HP's server, storage, networking and software businesses won't save
them as the PC losses will eat all those profits and deplete the cash too until
the company must be broken up just as Nokia is about to be.
Dell will follow
HP onto the rocks of course, racing them into the fire. That will then be the
end of the Windows PC - probably by this time next year, or the end of next year
at the latest. Acer will go that way too, and maybe Lenovo - but I think Asus
will make the turn in time and escape tragedy.
The good news for us is that
Samsung, HTC, Motorola and others are ready to deliver technologies that serve
people in delightful ways. They will set their purpose to create devices that
enable and empower people to do the things they want to do, to delight and
entertain and amuse - and get out of the way the rest of the time. The devices
will not include attempts to control or limit the buyer's choices in any way.
It will be more chaotic, but choice will abound. It will be good for these new
makers also, as these devices come with a feature that Windows PCs don't: profit
margins that feed R&D.
I, for one, welcome this change. It's long
overdue. But there will be many people who lose a lot of money on investments,
and many products that will be unsatisfactory before the right mix of features
is found. [ Reply to This | Parent | # ]
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