DVD Talk Forum - Microsoft: No HD (Blu-Ray OR HD-DVD) Support in 32 Bit Vista.

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Microsoft: No HD (Blu-Ray OR HD-DVD) Support in 32 Bit Vista.

http://www.neowin.net/index.php?act=view&id=34731

Quote:

According to APC Magazine, Microsoft have cut out the ability to play HDCP content (blu-ray & HD-DVD) on 32 bit versions of Vista.

By far the majority of PCs use 32-bit processors, because despite AMD’s efforts to push 64-bit CPUs into the marketplace early, Intel’s first widely-promoted 64-bit CPU is the just-released Core 2 Duo.

PC users will now have to choose between a PC that can play high definition content (64 bit) versus one that can potentially run older devices that only have unsigned drivers available (32 bit).

“Signed drivers” are ones that have undergone a Microsoft quality-assurance process and received a digital certificate that certifies them as stable for installation on 64-bit Windows.

Microsoft’s move to drop support for playback of studio-released HD movies on Vista is likely to anger the large number of people who were hoping they could use their existing 32-bit PC with an upgrade version of Vista.

The surprising disclosure was made by Senior Program Manager Steve Riley during a presentation on Windows Vista security at Tech.Ed 2006 Sydney today.

So, HD Discs on your computer = New PC for the vast majority of consumers.

Why would you need a new PC? You just need the right software. Theres people playing Blu-Ray movies on PC with Windows XP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitz6Speed

Why would you need a new PC? You just need the right software. Theres people playing Blu-Ray movies on PC with Windows XP.

Yes, and if you read the article, they are talking about VISTA.

If you take that same XP station and "upgrade" it to VISTA, no more HD for you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damed

Yes, and if you read the article, they are talking about VISTA.

If you take that same XP station and "upgrade" it to VISTA, no more HD for you.

There will be software like PowerDVD and WinDVD that will play both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray in Vista. Microsoft just ISNT included the proper software so that it works out of the box. They didnt do that with DVD either, no shock here. Anyone expecting Vista to have a high def video player oem wasnt looking deep enough into the windows playback situation.

I tend to buy new machines rather than upgrade stuff anyway.

Quote:

PC users will now have to choose between a PC that can play high definition content (64 bit) versus one that can potentially run older devices that only have unsigned drivers available (32 bit).

So, who actually uses "signed drivers"? M$'s aren't even always "signed" or "approved". Just seems like another reason Vista is pointless. Kinda like the first version of XP, which turned into Win98.

Can some explain how HDCP is being bypassed in current hardware?

(Since Blitz6 mentioned people playing Blu-Ray movies on their PCs and I had heard otherwise).

Nvidia's high end cards are HDCP compliant and apparently some people were able to get their hands on WinDVD 8 from Japan on the software side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitz6Speed

Why would you need a new PC? You just need the right software. Theres people playing Blu-Ray movies on PC with Windows XP.

Yup. All this means is that Windows won't include a machine licence to decode the discs, just like current DVDs.

Interestingly enough, this is news to Amir at AVS.

Makes me wonder if something isn't being reported improperly.

I just upgraded my old 32bit machine, but may pass on Vista for awhile anyway. By the time a HD DVD drive is affordable I may have a new PC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalfreaknyc

Interestingly enough, this is news to Amir at AVS.

Makes me wonder if something isn't being reported improperly.

Amir also has nothing to do with Vista development. Although it is odd since the media companies would be "his" contacts.

I thought that was weird, especially since the Toshiba player is running on a 32bit processor.