Big Vista DRM issues.

[SPM]

There's a lot of mistakes, such as:

-SACD doesn't play on any PC, not just Vista and doesn't output on SPDIF even with HT equipment

I don't know whether you realise it, but this supports the author's argument. Sony trying to DRM content on SACD format just like Microsoft is trying to do with content with Vista. SACD won't play on anything much (other than the PS3) because Sony as a content provider won't allow it, and can't allow it on SPDIF (because it is an unrestricted full fidelity digital output) without blowing content protection completely. Therefore when content protection is enforced on Vista, SPDIF has to be disabled, turning expensive digital audio equipment into junk, which is exactly what the author is telling us. The thing about Vista is that it is the only general purpose OS that attempts to lock down DRM on the entire system from disc to monitor. The PS3, set top boxes, and HD players might do the same, but they are closed box appliances which are easy to implement DRM securely simply because they are closed boxes.

-the Samsung 275T supports HDCP and therefore would support protected media with Vista and the right video card
-the Samsung 460PN also supports HDCP (and it was first released in June, 2005 so it's obsolete )
-ASIO support sound cards in Vista already exist

As far as I am aware HDCP requires an HDMI interface, and cannot be supported over DVI. If that is the case, then Samsumg is guilty of false advertising. If fact two others ATI and nVidia are subject to a class action lawsuit for such false advertising.

“None of the AGP or PCI-E graphics cards that you can buy today support HDCP [...] If you've just spent $1000 on a pair of Radeon X1900 XT graphics cards expecting to be able to playback HD-DVD or Blu-Ray movies at 1920x1080 resolution in the future, you've just wasted your money [...] If you just spent $1500 on a pair of 7800GTX 512MB GPUs expecting to be able to play 1920x1080 HD-DVD or Blu-Ray movies in the future, you've just wasted your moneyâ€￾.

(The two devices mentioned above are the premium supposedly-HDCP-enabled cards made by the two major graphics chipset manufacturers ATI and nVidia). ATI was later subject to a class-action lawsuit by its customers over this deception.

As for the Samsung 275T, Samsung 460PN and ASIO support sound cards, sure Vista drivers exist, as do XP drivers, the author isn't saying that they don't. The author's point is that once HD content protection is enforced, they will be by specification junk, because like SPDIF the hardware cannot impose end to end DRM therefore will turn into paperweights as soon as what you are paying for when you buy Vista (ie. DRM for audio and HD content) in enforced.

And that's just the first section

Just like Vista.

Quote:
Here is another confirmation. Vista it seems is bad for games.
And yet with decent drivers like AMD's Catalyst 7.1, you might even get a speed increase in Vista.

Not just like Vista - Compiz/Beryl does a lot more graphically than Vista, and runs much faster and with much less hardware resources than Vista.

The slowdown you have seen for Vista is without drivers that actually enforce DRM restrictions on content. This is the base slowdown. Once people have been suckered into Vista, that is when you will see HD and audio content enforcement appear, and then you will see the real slowdowns, and the junking of expensive hardware because the drivers have been disabled because of DRM hacks, and the manufacturer has no incentive to support obsolete hardware.

 

[Dave Baumann]

As far as I am aware HDCP requires an HDMI interface, and cannot be supported over DVI. If that is the case, then Samsumg is guilty of false advertising. If fact two others ATI and nVidia are subject to a class action lawsuit for such false advertising.

No, you are incorrect. It requires a digital connection, so this spans DVI and HDMI. HDCP protected content will not play over DVI if you don't have an HDCP compliant video card and HDCP compliant monitor.

 

[willardjuice]

The slowdown you have seen for Vista is without drivers that actually enforce DRM restrictions on content. This is the base slowdown. Once people have been suckered into Vista, that is when you will see HD and audio content enforcement appear, and then you will see the real slowdowns, and the junking of expensive hardware because the drivers have been disabled because of DRM hacks, and the manufacturer has no incentive to support obsolete hardware.

http://www2.ati.com/relnotes/catalyst_71_vista.html

Catalystâ„¢ 7.1 introduces the ability to playback Blu-ray and HD DVD protected high definition content under Windows Vista 32-bit edition (support for Windows Vista 64-bit edition will be available in a future Catalystâ„¢ release), when used in combination with a software content player from vendors such as Cyberlink or Intervideo and an ATI Radeon X1000 series graphics accelerator (with HDCP support).

AMD's 7.1 drivers already support "this DRM crap" (as you put it), yet sees some performance enhancements over XP in certain games. How do you explain this?

 

[Accord1999]

I don't know whether you realise it, but this supports the author's argument. Sony trying to DRM content on SACD format just like Microsoft is trying to do with content with Vista. SACD won't play on anything much (other than the PS3) because Sony as a content provider won't allow it, and can't allow it on SPDIF (because it is an unrestricted full fidelity digital output) without blowing content protection completely. Therefore when content protection is enforced on Vista, SPDIF has to be disabled, turning expensive digital audio equipment into junk, which is exactly what the author is telling us. The thing about Vista is that it is the only general purpose OS that attempts to lock down DRM on the entire system from disc to monitor. The PS3, set top boxes, and HD players might do the same, but they are closed box appliances which are easy to implement DRM securely simply because they are closed boxes.

No, the paragraph doesn't even talk about Sony and SACD. It, rather tries to blame the lack of output on Microsoft Vista, implying that it would work on another OS. It shows the author's ignorance regarding the things he's trying to talk about. He clearly has no idea about SACD since you wouldn't even be able to play the SACD on a PC to begin with and SPDIF can't even support the output of SACD.

As far as I am aware HDCP requires an HDMI interface, and cannot be supported over DVI. If that is the case, then Samsumg is guilty of false advertising. If fact two others ATI and nVidia are subject to a class action lawsuit for such false advertising.

It doesn't, DVI can support HDCP. This again shows the lack of research on the author's part.

As for the Samsung 275T, Samsung 460PN and ASIO support sound cards, sure Vista drivers exist, as do XP drivers, the author isn't saying that they don't. The author's point is that once HD content protection is enforced, they will be by specification junk, because like SPDIF the hardware cannot impose end to end DRM therefore will turn into paperweights as soon as what you are paying for when you buy Vista (ie. DRM for audio and HD content) in enforced.

Since both Samsung monitors support HDCP, they will still work. ASIO soundcards will still work in ASIO applications. Non-DRM hardware will simply work as before.

Not just like Vista - Compiz/Beryl does a lot more graphically than Vista, and runs much faster and with much less hardware resources than Vista.

Vista runs well with almost any DX9 video card, even Intel's GMA950.

The slowdown you have seen for Vista is without drivers that actually enforce DRM restrictions on content. This is the base slowdown. Once people have been suckered into Vista, that is when you will see HD and audio content enforcement appear, and then you will see the real slowdowns, and the junking of expensive hardware because the drivers have been disabled because of DRM hacks, and the manufacturer has no incentive to support obsolete hardware.

But there is no such slowdown. And if I don't ever play any content, not having any DRM enabled hardware won't affect me at all in the least.