http://news.com.com/2100-7337_3-5131787.html?tag=nefd_lede
Bios maybe replaced by EFI and Microsoft are helping to develop it.
Poorly written article but neverless, the thought that MS might have a hand in something like that is pretty scary.
Also the bit about low level 3rd party drivers being loaded before the OS worries me. Naturally this will all be closed source and if two of the drivers don't play nicely how the hell will you be able to troubleshoot it.
I'm all for ditching the BIOS as it stands maybe moving to something like http://www.openfirmware.org/, if it works for Apple and Sun then why not.
But the thought of a platforms firmware being designed by that platforms most aggressive software developer is something that fills me with dread.