“Apple Computer fans are upset over a security chip found in a special x86-based PowerMac–a chip designed to prevent people from loading the company’s new Intel-centered OS onto non-Apple machines,” Michael Singer writes for CNET News. “Apple supplied the Intel-fitted PowerMac to members of its Apple Developer Connection, a group for software programmers. The PowerMac includes a microcontroller known as the Trusted Platform Module–TPM for short–that contains a digital signature necessary in order to install the Mac OSX operating system onto the box. An ADC member, who asked not to be identified, confirmed the microcontroller’s existence to CNET News.”

“The ADC source reported being able to install other operating systems like Windows and Linux onto the test box. But it was impossible, the source said, to install software from the DVD containing the Intel-configured Mac OS onto similar x86-based PCs that lacked a TPM,” Singer reports.

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Apple VP Phil Schiller said after Steve Jobs’ presentation announcing Intel-based Macs, that Apple would only allow Macs run Mac OS X and wouldn’t do anything to disallow Windows from running on Intel-based Macs — preferably in a protected environment similar to VirtualPC, but without the need for emulation; running natively on the Intel CPU. That way, computer buyers will be able ask themselves “Why buy a Dell when Apple ‘Macintel’ computers will run both Mac OS X and Windows? This accomplishes two things: it sells more Apple hardware because buyers will like getting “two computers for the price of one” (three, if you could Linux) and it gets Mac OS X into the homes of Windows-only PC users. And once they get a look of Mac OS X, you just know what’ll happen next.

After Jobs’ presentation, Apple Senior Vice President Phil Schiller addressed the issue of running Windows on Macs, saying there are no plans to sell or support Windows on an Intel-based Mac. “That doesn’t preclude someone from running it on a Mac. They probably will,” he said. “We won’t do anything to preclude that.” However, Schiller said the company does not plan to let people run Mac OS X on other computer makers’ hardware. “We will not allow running Mac OS X on anything other than an Apple Mac,” he said.

In addition, Thomas Claburn has reported for InformationWeek, “David Moody, VP of worldwide Macintosh product marketing at Apple, says emphatically that [Apple's decision to move to Intel] does not mean that anyone with an Intel-based PC will be able to install the Mac OS X. However, he notes that while Apple will not sell or support other operating systems with next year’s Intel-based Macs, the company has no plans to prevent users from concurrently installing a second operating system like Windows XP. The possibility of running Mac OS X and Windows on the same Intel box may make Apple hardware more appealing to enterprise customers.”

Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple could use Trusted Platform Module chip to keep Mac OS X off non-Macs – June 14, 2005
Intel-based Macs running both Mac OS X and Windows will be good for Apple – June 10, 2005
Why buy a Dell when Apple ‘Macintel’ computers will run both Mac OS X and Windows? – June 08, 2005