JOKING
In my opinion, the problem with Open Source and "Proprietary Software" is based in: trust.
If you can't trust in your self, the competition, your wife, etc. You have a problem of "trust". By the way, if you are open to trust in yourself, share your good work, and live to do things well done, there is no problem.
There is many power on hidden things, the catholic church hides key information, but the have to keep the power. Is similar with the software. The Bill(vil:infamous) Gates(gay) needs more and more money, like mac pato. Then he have to hide the code, because he have to keep the secret of the worst OS in the human history.

SERIOUSLY
Somethings must be hidden, good secrets keeps our lives peaceful. But of course, there are some good efforts that are able to be improved with collaboration. This is the time of Team Work, individual heroes are kids fantasy.

Blessings!

I have no idea about that one. You could ask your manufacturer. Alternatively, if it's a brand new computer, the manual will have a complete specification listing somewhere. I know that most laptops are already coming with them, so if its a laptop you bought then there's an even greater chance you already have one. If it's a PC, probably not so much. Some new Intel chips have the frizz chip built into them. All I can suggest is checking out the against TCPA website, since they appear to have a hardware list, although I don't know how comprehensive it is: http://www.againsttcpa.com/what-is-tcpa.html

The thing I find most offensive about this initiative, is the fact that a computer with such a chip is no longer a Turing Machine. I suppose I better explain that one. Alan Turing was the man who practically invented modern day computers. He envisaged a computing platform which became known as the 'Turing Machine'. A Turing machine is a computer that is programmed to do something. And it can become any other Turing Machine by reprogramming it. So IBM PC is a Turing Machine, because it can emulate any other machine by changing the software. With these stupid chips, the PC can't emulate any other machine - because the users can no longer decide what software they want to install on it - only approved software will run.

Another good reason why this sucks... if you're a small programming company, before you can start making money by selling your product - you have to sell so many units to make back the money you've just paid to Microsoft to certify your software. (I say Microsoft, because they started the Trusted Computing Group, and regardless of whoever else jumps on board we best not forget that). So talk about monopoly, now Microsoft would get a share of money for every program ever written. They say it's to stop spyware, and adware... who are they trying to kid... the spyware and adware companies are all massive and wealthy and can more than easily afford the certification. What will suffer, will be innovation... all the amazing freeware you get at the moment would be dead in the water.

I guess that grinding noise you can hear is my gnashing of teeth.....