All Vista loaded machines won’t support High Definition media

All Vista loaded machines won’t support High Definition media

Software giant Microsoft has already launched the Vista operating system for their business customers. The company is now scheduled to launch the Vista in the retail market later this month.

The company has now admitted that a substantial number of PCs running the new version of its Windows operating system will not be able to play high-quality DVDs.

A company representative said that because of anti-piracy protection granted to the Hollywood studios, Vista would not play HD-DVD and Blu-ray Discs on certain PCs.

Dave Marsh, the lead program manager for video at Microsoft added in a statement that a user would require a HDCP to use a digital connection to link with the monitor or television. This is going to be a disappointing deal for the end customers.

This requirement would not apply on analog connections or regular DVD discs. HD DVD and Blu-Ray media is going to be affected by this requirement.

Peter Gutman, a researcher in computer security at the University of Auckland spoke on this revelation: “To downgrade the signal so that the HD-DVD will play, you need a constrictor, but that doesn’t seem to be present in many of the computers that are shipping. Given that it downgrades signal quality, most manufacturers aren’t rushing to include it.”

He further said: “Any computer which has an LCD monitor is potentially at risk of not being able to play this content.”