I am a computer consultant and the last few months have been a train wreck for me. I have researched and been plugging at Windows Vista new digital protection schemes and the new DRM (digital rights management) we will be all dealing with soon. Here is my advice from someone that is shocked by how I see things going and the content providers taking our freedoms.
1. Do not buy a new monitor or video card for at least 6 months. All video cards and monitors even if they say direct X 10 compatiable do not have key codes in them yet to view the next gen content. They are useless save your money.
2. Processors are faster than ever but with the lagging cause by this new AACS protection will possibly ruin next generation PC gaming.
3. You will want to by a machine complete from a respected company and be sure it has been heavenly tested with Vista. The tolerance with this new DRM protection has dropped considerably with hardware working together. Thats right there are going to be more screens of death and alot more resetting of PC.
4. This DRM was the reason for Vista delay. Also they did not use much resources to improve security in this new OS because of the focus on this DRM crap.
4.5 This has pissed off companys that do not need DRM because they are using it for business not entertainment or media. Again these resources should have been used for security of business information and your information.
5. Do not buy any hardware from non mainstream companies. WHY???? Because if a company does not pay for DRM license in a year ect their hardware becomes no longer operatable in machines from a year ago to now.
7. All this control will be in your living room too. Cable box,blu ray,hddvd and more will have this control and use of keys.
8. Hardware will be alot more to make with the new DRM requirements. Remember even if the hardware is never used for the content it must be prepared to protect this content.
9. The bios will check 30 times a second on the motherboard to be sure you are not doing any illegal content pirating. Again this will make the system bog down and I feel make hardware lifespan shorter.
We do not know what part of this AACS and DRM encryption will be used but what has been told by me is that they will bring it on slowly and firmly.
I have been in this business for along time. I would recommend anyone wanting to jump into Vista right away to purchase a closed system notebook installed with Vista by the vendor and has been tested.
I am seeing things going the wrong way in technology. This kind of restrictions and having to go back to the drawing board to work around the restrictions will just hurt us with innovation. I hope that people speak out against this when they deal with these restrictions in their home.
Gaming news.
Your warranty is voided if you use generic component cables instead of sony cables.
Rumors are the Xbox 360 premium will become the core for $299 and the HDMI 120 GB will become the Premium.
PS3s are piling up on store shelves.
First level 70 WOW character.
WII still flying off the shelf.
Later gamers
DeathofU
