If you’re hankering after a Windows 8 tablet but thought you might also run Android, think again: Microsoft is planning to lock down the boot options on all ARM devices running its new OS.
Computer World reports that Microsoft will prevent ARM system builders from disabling a new Windows 8 feature called Secure Boot. The feature is designed to prevent bootloader attacks, but on most PCs, OEM manufacturers are expected to allow users to disable the feature so they can install alternative operating systems.
No such flexibility for ARM devices, though, as Microsoft won’t allow anyone to disable Secure Boot on tablets powered by the UK-designed processors. In a way, we’re used to mobile devices featuring this kind of security: Windows Phone and iOS devices are always sold locked down, for instance.
But boundaries blur when it comes to tablet devices. This decision means that people will be unable to install Android, or even the soon-to-launch tablet version of Ubuntu, on their shiny new portable Windows 8 devices. Expect some complaints, Microsoft. [Computer World via The Verge]
light487
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 8:33 AM*shrugs*
It’s a Windows tablet.. just like an iPad is an Apple tablet, it still follows the same logic of your previous sentence: “we’re used to mobile devices featuring this kind of security: Windows Phone and iOS devices are always sold locked down”..
If it were an Android tablet, like the Transformer Prime or Galaxy Tab.. then I could understand there would be complaints about hardware locking the boot options.. but this is Microsoft.. people have to be aware that they are in direct competition (or partnership, depending on your worldview) with Apple.
travis
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 8:55 AMAgreed. I hoped they wouldn’t do it, Though this is hardly a surprise & I for one don’t care. I buy Windows for Windows, not so I can put something else on it.
TSH
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 11:46 AMTotally agree. If you want the Transformer Prime that’s not locked down, get the one with Android. It’ll probably be cheaper anyway.
Steve
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 1:03 PM+1 again
Barry
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 8:53 AMNo doubt you’ll be able to root it so you can dual boot it soon after it’s release like many of the other tablets that are available today
MotorMouth
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:50 PMSure, but neither MS nor your tablet vendor will have to support it, so you’ll be on your own. I’m sure that minimising support costs was their reason for doing it. After all, once you buy the thing, they’ve made their money. You’re probably doing them a favour by replacing Win8 with a half-arsed phone OS.
DarkAura
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 9:13 AMGood article.
Its worth noting that Androids devices aren’t perfect in this area. Most originally came locked down to the original OS and it required you to root / exploit before you could play with different options. Its now changing to become the normal because of demand for this option by xda-dev and others.
Light487 point is very valid but i still think its a shame that ms would do this as i don’t by the “Security” reasons for this.
MotorMouth
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:51 PMYeah, why would you? Its not like MS have ever been targeted by hackers.
Timmahh
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 9:40 AMIt’s Windows 8 though! Why would you purchase a windows device so you can put android on it? Makes no sense!
Harun
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 4:20 PMPossibly because Microsoft will be making deals to make as many tablets as possible Windows-only devices.
That’s fine as far as it goes, but it means that there will be a lot of (potentially) good hardware out there that us non-MS types may have wanted, but will not be able to use as we choose.
You don’t have to be annoyed about that, but don’t be surprised that we are.
MotorMouth
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:55 PMWell, that’s your own, stupid fault for being a “non-MS type”, isn’t it? I find that a strange position to take in the first place. OSes are unimportant, it is the applications they run and the devices they support that count. e.g Does Android support USB 3? I certainly wouldn’t buy a tablet that didn’t support USB 3.
Ciaran
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 9:41 AMTablet version on Ubuntu?! Where?!
Vebi
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 10:06 AMWait, why would anyone want Android on their pc?
Vebi
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 10:07 AMOh right, it’s a tablet. Still, why not just buy an android product?
klaw
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 11:29 AMI can see the appeal of a tablet that dual-boots Windows 8 and Android, just like I can understand the numerous Mac users who bootcamp Windows.
It’s cheaper than buying 2 separate devices, and you can use either OS depending on your needs.
Besides, do you really see MS’s bootlocker holding out against the hackers for long? Their Windows 7 authentication didn’t last very long, and there will be plenty of people trying to crack it just because it’s there.
MotorMouth
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 1:07 PMI’m afraid I don’t see any logic in this argument whatsoever. Sure, if you buy a Linux/Android computer or a Mac you could definitely need Windoze but if you buy a Win8 computer, you would never, ever need any other OS. Everything runs on Windoze.
aous
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:16 PMAlternatively, buy an Android tablet like the Asus Transformer Prime and install Windows 8 on it.
aous
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12:17 PMor install Ubunto, or dual boot .. whatever you like.
Rossco
Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 10:35 AM+1. When this option becomes available, I will give it a go. ICS on the TF201 is pretty damn awesome though!