In this case, the FSF is spot on the mark. If Microsoft wants to follow Apple’s lead and build their own computers designed to run only Windows, they are free to do so. But as long as they are acting merely as a software vendor, they should not be allowed to change established standards in a way that requires developers of other operating systems to go through Redmond in order for their software to be installable.
Likewise, device owners should be able to load whatever they like on their hard drives, without having to jump through hoops to do so. It’s not a level playing field when Fedora or Ubuntu, but not Debian or Slackware, can be installed on a Samsung tablet that was originally equipped with Windows, because of signing key issues.
Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.
LinuxToday is a trusted, contributor-driven news resource supporting all types of Linux users. Our thriving international community engages with us through social media and frequent content contributions aimed at solving problems ranging from personal computing to enterprise-level IT operations. LinuxToday serves as a home for a community that struggles to find comparable information elsewhere on the web.
Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved
Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.