Man, I have an impending sense of foreboding that MS is going to cram this down our throats as fast as they can by eliminating as many other alternatives as possible.

Between Linux and Windows 8, I'd handily pick Linux now.

I've always wanted to downgrade my desktop workstation to a less powerful tablet that can't run third party software.  It's like a dream come true.

Yeah, I guessed I missed that post Doc, but it does not matter as I will never be installing Windows 8. I just think that forcing a user to use an OS based on hardware (even if it can be disabled) is the most disgusting thing I ever heard of. Nothing gives Microsoft the right to even ask vendors to do that, absolutely NOTHING!  Almost makes me want to get rid of everything Microsoft on my PC's and switch to Ubuntu or something. I am that pissed off.

Simple:

MS sells the OS and certain keys to allow certain modifications. The OEM's are told "If you go beyond Windows 8 boot only" you lose the "MS Certified stcker"

Consumers are marketed the "Microsoft Certified" sticker: "Our laptop/desktop is MS Certified but company X's isn't."

What do most consumers know? They just want a warranty/guarantee for something they don't understand. Most use email, Google, word processing, simple presentations, facebook. You think they want or need Linux. They probably think it's a "Peanuts" character.

The sticker is more of a totem than anything else... to ward off evil vampire viruses.

Good lord people!

THIS WAS NOT DESIGNED BY MICROSOFT.  They are using an EXISTING security chain in UEFI to do this.  They are not blocking out Linux by making their OS more secure.  You should be able to disable UEFI Secure Boot on any machine (depending on the OEM) to install Linux.

Making MS out to be the bad guy because they're using something already available to computers is retarded.

Not an Apple fan either then I take it 

It certainly can, Tom. The "Transformer AiO" will boot to W8 and with the click of a button switch to Linux.

As for the other MS OS's? Don't know.

I know Doc, I was just trying to say I would never have any reason to install Linux, and if they block other MS OS's from being installed, then that's just another reason for me to never buy Windows 8.

Hmmm, the sad thing about all this, well for me anyway, is that I was watching a tech show on TV where they were saying that Win 8 provides much better multi-core support to AMD processors in the new 'Bulldozer' range... being that I can pick up the top of the range FX1850 x8 @3.6 for just $184.00AUD.

There are other good things about Win 8, like native ISO support and native 3D support, which I'd love, but for me the Metro interface is the killer with regard to my purchasing Win 8 for the desktop. 

I don't care that Aero has been ditched - I redecorate with WB, IP and Winstep Xtreme etc, anyhow - and I don't care about dual booting as I have 2 spare PC's on which I could install XP and vista, but I do care about Metro being the default UI at startup and it cannot be disabled.  I don't want to have to deal with that mess... period.  I want an OS with a start button and menu that I can get straight into from the get go without having to jump through Metro hoops to get there... and being that some of those hoops are hidden/not clearly identified is patently stupid.

For me to purchase Win 8, MS would have to make Metro optional for desktop PC's... so I can make it go away.  Alternatively, MS could do me a really great deal [pay me to take it] and a 3rd party dev creates a 'get the f**k off my desktop' tool instead.  Other than that... I'm sticking with Win 7.

What the OP article is saying that some new hardware in PC's developed for Windows 8 will not allow dual boot to older Microsoft OS's if I read it right.  I just find it hard to accept that anyone should be allowed to do that.

Trouble is, when a company has become as big as Microsoft has, it almost becomes a law unto itself... and I think the reason MS has included its own, older OSes in that 'no dual boot' list is to prevent accusations and/or charges of stifling the competition, eg, Linux.

On a more positive note, or should I say a more hopeful one, given the adverse reaction to Metro for desktop PC's, I'm sure there are 3rd party developers who will come up with disabling software to make Win 8 more like Win 7 [without Aero]. When that happens I would consider purchasing it because there will be contingencies for the various items MS has stripped out of Win 8.  In some cases that won't even matter to me because some of the stripped items I would never have used anyway.

Oh well, we'll see!  In any event, Metro HAS to be able to be disabled, if not gone entirely... as in an option not to install it at setup.... not that I'll hold my breath on that one.

Oh I don't think Stardock will have too much to worry about, nor the gaming/skinning communities, for that matter.  Hardcore, skinners and customisers will always hang on to their earlier copies of Windows to participate in their fave pastimes... I know I will.

As for a software to disable Metro, well there's obviously a market for it, so somebody is bound to jump on the development of one.  Hehe, knowing Stardock, they're probably already working on such a thing... or so one would hope.

I'm worried MSFT will try to brick Windows 7 to force upgrades.  Dumbest thing they could do, but I've learned to never underestimate corporate stupidity.