Don't use Vista for HTPC

It appears that Microsoft has intentionally crippled their new OS so that 'content providers' can decide what you can and can't watch.

Unfortunately- this means that if you have 'high quality' output, Microsoft will intentionally degrade your signal. Yep. Even though you own it, they're going to introduce noise and static. Everything end-to-end has to be 'certified' and 'revokable'. Your sound card, video card, peripherals, everything. The only things supported for this is HDCP. Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any video cards that support it. Even those that claim to will have to have a built-in encryption key- and those aren't even set yet- so they won't work.

The worst part is that people just don't know this. They assume that everything will work- but instead of having more content, they may end up with less. I thought this was pretty well known, but in my day job, I'm an engineer and read this stuff constantly. For over a year now, it has been the online buzz. I guess average Joe just assumes things are peachy. After all, who would assume that you'd go backwards?

I had a hilarious online conversation with a Microsoft employee (I didn't know it until he said so) about this:

Quote:

me>I'm trying to decide if I should use Windows XP or MCE for my HT. I'm going to stay way from Vista because it won't play certain protected content. fanboy>Where did you hear that Vista will disable protected content??? I haven't heard anything like that. Are you certain about that? me>(sent links to those sites above) fanboy>Well, you can buy an HDCP video card. me>I don't have time to educate you on this. I won't be using Vista. fanboy>I work at Microsoft in the Windows division. Not sure you could educate me on Vista. me>Apparently I already did educate you (since you didn't know that Vista won't play protected content). Were you just 'playing' dumb?

According to Microsoft themselves, all the interfaces are going to be protected. Do you hook up your PC to your 5.1 speaker system? You might not be allowed to in Vista if you play 'protected' content- like.. music CDs. Or watch DVDs.

From the Vista Team Blog:

What about S/PDIF audio connections?

Windows Vista does not require S/PDIF to be turned off, but Windows Vista continues to support the ability to turn it off for certain content

Will Component (YPbPr) video outputs be disabled by Windows Vista's content protection?

Similar to S/PDIF, Windows Vista does not require component video outputs to be disabled, but rather enables the enforcement of the usage policy set by content owners or service providers, including with respect to output restrictions and image constraint.

So- don't get Vista thinking it'll have more features for you- until the hardware is 'approved', may end up with less.