And custom-built PCs are already getting priced further and further out of the market for everyone who isn’t rich; mini PCs are slowly taking over the budget segments, and even some of the mid-range as well.
Next step if it’s allowed to get that far would be locking out alternate OSes after upgradeable PCs are all but eliminated except for HEDT.
They could lock out any other os but windows if they wanted. Mobo makers just need to limit to secure boot only, not allow legacy boot. Only allow the Microsoft key and Microsoft to stop signing the Linux shim. Then it’d not be possible to install Linux or anything else really.
Not going to happen short term. But definitely a possibility.
And custom-built PCs are already getting priced further and further out of the market for everyone who isn’t rich; mini PCs are slowly taking over the budget segments, and even some of the mid-range as well.
Next step if it’s allowed to get that far would be locking out alternate OSes after upgradeable PCs are all but eliminated except for HEDT.
They could lock out any other os but windows if they wanted. Mobo makers just need to limit to secure boot only, not allow legacy boot. Only allow the Microsoft key and Microsoft to stop signing the Linux shim. Then it’d not be possible to install Linux or anything else really.
Not going to happen short term. But definitely a possibility.