[LUG] UEFI Questions

[Neil Winchurst <barnaby@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have been looking at buying a new computer to replace one which died 
recently. I have come up against the Unified Extensible Firmware 
Interface. This is a replacement for the BIOS system we all know and 
love! I have been researching this for some time now and have finished 
up rather confused. Perhaps some of the list member could help please.

1 All new computers seem to have this UEFI setup. Does this mean that 
new computers with the old BIOS system are no longer available?

2 It seems impossible to get a new computer with no OS installed. Even 
those suppliers who will let you ask for one will still install Win 8 to 
'test the machine'.[1] Could this be a problem?

3 Since I use Linux only I would want to install it and remove any 
Windows OS. Is it necessary to disable secure boot to get this to work?

4 Some people will want/need to dual boot Linux and Win 8. Is this 
possible without disabling secure boot?

5 I have come across something called legacy system. Is this the 
equivalent of the old BIOS?

6 Since I would want to use the machine to try out various Linux distros 
as they appear, would the only sensible way be to disable secure boot?

7 Is secure boot really worth the fuss?

Thanks for any help

Neil

[1] It seems that, if you have requested no OS you will actually get a 
30 day trial version of Win 8 installed, which means that secure boot 
will be enabled. No doubt you are expected to find it so wonderful that 
you will happily pay the licence fee within the 30 days.


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