This just appeared as a talkback to the BSD report on the story:
I did it
Walter Belork - November 29, 2000 20:03:27
I'm the engineer responsible for the fact that NetBSD will cause a Thinkpad to be totally locked up, unable to boot from any device. The truth of the matter is that Microsoft specifically requested that feature. My own feeling is that they are worried about NetBSD because it is technically superior to Windows 2000, the only OS that they currently regard in that manner. Microsoft gave IBM considerable flexibility in the implementation of the "incompatibility" and I was the actual person who determined to go the most direct route: install NetBSD and the machine won't boot. It's not covered by the warranty either.
Wow... I was about to flame the programmer for being such a fool as to not test for this. But it turns out he is just a jerk (if the above post was true). Engineers are supposed to be responsible, helping, people. This one seems to be a maverick, doing whatever gets him paid. Ugly.
Of course, the post could have been an imposter. We'll see...
Is this true? (Score:2)
This just appeared as a talkback to the BSD report on the story:
Wow... I was about to flame the programmer for being such a fool as to not test for this. But it turns out he is just a jerk (if the above post was true). Engineers are supposed to be responsible, helping, people. This one seems to be a maverick, doing whatever gets him paid. Ugly. Of course, the post could have been an imposter. We'll see...