Trusted Computing Rollout Hits the Desktop

Alsee writes "Previously appearing in a few rare laptops, ExtremeTech reports on the first major computer manufacturer making a full scale Trusted Computing rollout. Samsung will now install the Phoenix Core Managed Environment (cME) BIOS in every computer they make. Previous Slashdot reports on this BIOS include Phoenix Bios to Incorporate DRM and Microsoft Taking Over the BIOS."

Comments

Not a PC

[FrostedWheat]

So this is the dawn of the Unpersonal Computer? One that hides things from it's users and gives control to other people.

Screw that idea!

Re:Backing up the entire OS

[KrispyKringle]

Not only that, but isn't the whole point of a backup disk to be able to restore your OS and software if the hard drive fails? Sure, you can still use this to restore if the software just gets screwed up beyond the hope of fixing, but if the hardware fails, I'd rather have a CD than another partition on the hard drive.

And seriously, cost of the media? How much could this possibly cost (even if the partition is only the size of a CDROM; 700MB or less)?

Re:Backing up the entire OS

[mu-sly]

What a fucking joke that is!!

Your hard drive gets screwed (hardware failure, for exmaple), so you can't re-install on a new disk because you don't have the installation media?

And I suppose it also has the "feature" that it'll automatically "fix" any "corrupt" (Linux/BSD) partitions it discovers on bootup?

What a stupid, usless waste of hard drive space to save on the price of an install DVD. This just smacks of taking choices away from the user (other than the choice to boycott this kind of shit completely).

I'm sure they will

[Kjella]

...and consumers will buy it because it's a "feature". This wonderful new "trusted computing" will give you access to all sorts of places, simply because we're not going to offer access to anyone else. See?

Kjella

Re:What next.

[sadangel]

When you and everyone else stops patronizing organizations that produce such hardware in favor of open alternatives. Supporting OSS is fine, but something needs to be said for supporting the same ideals in the hardware domain.

The proles are our only hope.

[Thud457]

The general population isn't as stupid, ignorant or sheeplike as us slashdot elitists like to think. If this actually pinches people, they'll kill it off quick enough.

Case in point : DIVX.

It wouldn't hurt for slashdotters to educate people when the chance comes up. To be effective, try to be informed, not shrill.

Re:The proles are our only hope.

[jedidiah]

Trusted computing will hit people right in their wallet. For this reason alone, consumers will revolt. Think of all of the bruhaha that TurboTax caused with their strict licensing management last year.

The "PC revolution" was built on casual piracy. When media moguls try to eliminate that sort of network marketing, they do so at their own peril.

Re:BIOS DRM Labeling

[IANAAC]

It won't matter much, because most people don't care either way.

But people will start to care once stories start coming out of people not being able to run their software that they "brought home from work".

You'll then start to see people actively looking for PC's that don't have DRM enabled.

I'm building a computer...

[Cyno01]

I was gonna buy a Samsung monitor, DVD drive and floppy drive. Now i'll be getting a Phillips, Lite-On and oem brand. Let them know with your wallets people.

Speaking with your wallet...

[Jtheletter]

is great and all but without a massive movement that information doesn't always flow upstream very quickly. In other words speak with your wallet and with your voice. Email is still free (mostly) so everytime your specifically purchase a non-DRM product over theirs write and tell them! Let them know how much $$$ they're losing on a sale-to-sale basis. Companies live and die by numbers and having another level of data tells them even more forcefully that, yes a boycott is in progress, and they're actively losing our money.

Re:Honest question

[back_pages]

Another way to look at it is that there are two kinds of computer users: Those for whom the computer is a big mystery and are constantly plagued by spyware, popups, et cetera; and those who know how the computer works, solve their own problems, and could generally be known as computer enthusiasts.

With DRM infected appliances, the latter is locked out of their own machines to a certain extent. You'll no longer have the ability to solve your own problems but have to rely on the magical mystery software that comes with the computer.

The distinction will probably be slight at first, but I think it's hardly appropriate to call a DRM infected machine a "computer", since there will be technology in place to prevent the owner from doing certain general purpose computations. DRM infected machines will be entertainment/office appliances and horribly undesirable to people interested in their computers.

Re:That's the ticket

[aristotle-dude]

Hmm. The PC hardware platform is more open? What was the name of that firmware Apple uses? Oh that's right. Open Firmware. It had been used by HP and Sun in the past. If you want to make a difference in the world instead of spreading fud about Apple not using open standards for hardware and software, petition PC makers to start using Open Firmware instead.

By actions they have shown active avoidance.

[SuperKendall]

But your PC will - and Apple, by actions they have taken, have shown they are interested in the user having control over the computer. Audio DRM that lets you burn as often as you like, and makes the files your own. Use of Open Firmware and other open technologies (like Darwin or BSD). Lack of product activation on any Apple software.

As we all know "trusted" computing is eaxctly about not trusting the users. Apple trusts the users, and therefore has no reason to deploy a "trusted" platform (which also adds cost, a double whammy).

Basically, Apple is your last large commercial hope. If you want to stop stuff like trusted computing, then head over and support the vendor who is at least trying to head the other way, instead of joining the crowd headed down the path you don't like.