Another attemped power grab by Microsoft

[Ian.MacAllan]

[reasonable objection (or maybe rant)]
For some years now the Microsoft Corporation, under the pretext of trying to prevent copyright violations, has (in my opinion at least) been grabbing more and more control over how "personal" computers can be used. Heretofore their efforts' main effect has been to complicate the lives of their customers by "copy protection" and "activation" schemes, but now they appear to be attempting to control what software can be loaded onto OUR computers. The point of their "secure boot" initiative is to give Microsoft control over what software can be loaded into and then be executed by a PC.

The Free Software Foundation has posted a description of this attack upon OUR rights to use OUR property and of ways to counter it at <http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/secure-boot-vs-restricted-boot/statement>. See also <http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20111017#qa>.

I'm not challenging their right to determine how their customers may use MS software, but this attempt to control how I may use my hardware makes me livid.
[/reasonable objection (or maybe rant)]

If it is not clear to you how this information applies to Xmarks, consider how restricting personal computers to the use of Microsoft software only, which I at least believe to be the intent of Microsoft's "secure boot" initiative, would restrict access to the Internet. Consider also the social consequences of forcing Microsoft license fees into the budgets of the schools, libraries, and non-profit public benefactors who presently depend on free software.

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