Let’s not forget that Apple have been doing this since forever, and there’s possibly even a case that consoles also fit in to this category. It will be quite the legal minefield.
Cas 
But, this is a good thing. Rootkits are a place where malware can live, and can prevent the OS from being able to remove it (on Linux, MacOS and Windows).
Google have already been doing this with (some) Chromebooks, and on theirs it can be disabled. It’ll almost certainly be the same with most Windows machines you buy; it’ll only be the cheap ones (with poor hardware) where disabling this won’t be included.
Exactly the sort of hardware that usually gets a new lease of life with a Linux install on it 
So long as it’s mandated that the feature can be turned off somehow then it achieves what it sets out to do and keeps everybody else happy as well.
Cas
Sure, they once had this leverage, but there is genuine competition now, especially in the area of tablets and phones, in which Microsoft has always been a distant also-ran. If Microsoft doesn’t play ball, there’s always Android, not to mention that someone competent will eventually buy WebOS.
I’m impressed. We’ve had one in the office for a while now, and every time I try to do anything with it I get frustrated. I used OS X for a couple of years in a previous job, and I had no complaints about its UI, but both iPod and iPad interfaces are so unintuitive to me that I’ve started viewing claims that Apple are good at UI design as pure hype.
I read that Win8 would refuse to boot unless the boot loader was completely locked down. Unless the EU forces OEMs to include a hardware switch, I see it as being cheapest for them not to bother.
I read that you couldn’t get the win 8 compat sticker unless it supported secure boot.
Wow, I didn’t know my little comment would sparks such a ruckus. I not too crazy about the idea of a tablet, but I do see some situation, like Cas mention, that it could be useful. So, I’ve been reluctant to buy one, because I don’t see myself using it that much. Except maybe as an e-reader. 
Microsoft is trying to move into tablets with Windows 8. I think they are betting that the PC user will find it easy to switch to the Windows 8 tablet, without having to figure out a new interface. The article I read, said that once you use it on a tablet, you will want to type on your PC screen.
I even posted on Facebook whilst having a poo. Think about the possibilities!
Cas
-1
NO.
You can’t unthink that now.
Cas
+1
Thanks for the ROFL ;D
Surprise surprise, Microsoft isn’t implementing secure-boot to block out Linux, and they recommend that users should be allowed to disable it (source).
Even the Samsung tablets MS gave away at the BUILD conference, the only official Win 8 tablets that are out in the wild, put together in conjunction with Microsoft, allow you to disable secure-boot.
See, no need for tablets 
It does not solve the problem because manufacturers are not forced to implement a way of disabling the secure boot. The cheaper solution for them consists in forcing the secure boot. Microsoft is clever to let them do its dirty job. Don’t be blind.
I encourage people to boycott Microsoft products.
This really seems like a “The sky is falling!” kinda thing. The number of people that is could possibly effect would have to be in the “round-off” error region. Like I just mentioned in other thread, the last time I looked at market share windows was around 91%. Let say that number suddenly drops down to 80%. So you have 20% of people left. What percentage of them are cheap enough to buy hardware that doesn’t allow disabling secure boot BUT are stupid enough to buy a machine with windows pre-installed (i.e. they’re buying a windows license)?
The sky is not falling for those who don’t take care of GNU/Linux.
You forget people who change their operating system but not their hardware at the same time which is more common in countries in which it is difficult to buy a computer with no operating system. If the secure boot prevents the installation of GNU/Linux, it will be a problem for them, it will be a problem for the majority of the new adopters of GNU/Linux, it will be a problem for its future.
It’s not falling for those who do either.
Again, Microsoft are recommending that users CAN disable secure boot. MS do heavy amounts of dog-fooding, and most of their guys are techy guys, who like to install multiple-OS’s, and stuff like that. I’d even bet a lot of MS employees run Linux at home, or on their own servers.
Microsoft does not force manufacturers to provide this feature as an optional thing which could be disabled. If users complain, it will be the problem of the manufacturers, not the problem of Microsoft but it will be fine for it to discourage some users to switch to GNU/Linux. The customers will be less motivated to switch to GNU/Linux if they have to buy another machine or tinker their existing one to disable the secure boot in the case the manufacturer did not provide any easy way to disable it.
I don’t think it’ll be the boot options that will continue to put off users switching to GNU/Linux.
I don’t follow your reasoning. Those who want to buy cheap hardware and don’t want to subsidise Microsoft by buying a licence they won’t use will also be affected.