I have been reading some articles on the DRM that Vista will supposedly include.  I would like everyones opinoins on these.

"Microsoft is taking some heat over a digital-rights management (DRM) feature it's folding into its upcoming Vista (formerly Longhorn) operating system.

The feature, called Output Content Protection Management, encompasses several DRM-related schemes. The one that's raised hackles in several articles and blogs is a DRM-related check that's performed when playing back video on Vista-equipped PCs. According to Microsoft's description, the feature "makes sure that the PC's video outputs have the required protection or that they are turned off if such protection is not available."

In plain English, this means that Vista machines won't be able to play next-generation, high-definition DVDs in their full, high-resolution glory unless they're equipped with monitors that support a new DRM scheme called High-Bandwidth Digital Copy Protection, or HDCP. "

Techweb article - http://www.techweb.com/wire/software/167101037

It's been quite a show. CES is a computer nerd's dream. Every kind of gadget and gizmo you could imagine is there.

Outside the show there was a Microsoft tent that looked pretty cool.  Windows Vista is EVERYWHERE and looking fine.

Another look from outside.

1080p TVs were everywhere.

Several members from the Windows community there.  Neowin.net, TweakXP.com, OSNN, Bink, Longhorn blogs, and more.

Chris Pirillo and Jen from Microsoft.  Sure, I stole Chris's chair but my feet were sore.

Las Vegas!

Pretty lights..

Tonight Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates presented the keynote address here at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.  WinCustomize.com is there in the press room blogging live from the event right now!

Windows Vista as well as gives a vision on how personal computing technology will go in the future.

During his demo, Mr. Gates was able to integrate his information and data seamlessly across a cell phone, tablet PC, and his desktop PC that was connected to a 40 inch monitor that divided the display into 3 work areas.

During the upcoming announcements, Microsoft showed up the new Windows Media Player which is a lot cleaner than previous versions.  The next Windows Vista explorer provides a host of useful features for modifying data such as being able to crop and do basic editing on images without having to load a graphics editing package.

Internet Explorer 7 was shown off with its Firefox-like tabs but with some very interesting twists.

Much of the push on Windows Vista so far has highlighted a cleaner, faster, more polished look combined with a heavily revamped plumbing underneath.  GDI and the myriad of vulnerable networking APIs are gone and replaced with a new architecture.

Those who were worried that Vista was just Windows XP with a new look have nothing to fear, it's a very definite change for better.

Keep an eye on the coverage in the Articles tab here on WinCustomize.com

Survived the trip to Las Vegas. I hate traveling. And being cramped in a seat for 4 hours is no fun.  To small too tight fitting to be comfortable with. Which brings me to a related issue - young overweight females should not wear tight fitting shirts that don't cover their bodies completely. It's yucky, gross, and just wrong.

As soon as we got to the hotel, ran into Steve and Marcel (Neowin admins) along with other friends from the community.  Went to the Vista lab with them and the others to get the latest goodies on Windows Vista.  A lot of it is under NDA but Microsoft certainly has an ambitious vision going on.

It's ironic but Microsoft has a mockup of IE7 that is clean and simple -- what people really want.  They use the mockup to display screenshots of web pages.  I wish they'd replace IE7's UI with that.

My cell phone died yesterday which really really stinks.  And the hotel I'm in has no internet access unbelievably.  Normally I'd just hook in my SprintPCS Samsung A800 multimedia phone to the laptop and voila.  But without that cell phone, I'm somewhat crippled.

I will try to find a way to get a better phone or some internet solution. After all I'm at CES.

Stardock Magazine is nearing its 10th year anniversary.  In the old days, Stardock Magazine was done as a regular magazine.  The ones from 1996 were done with Page Maker 5 (Which I can't convert with Adobe InDesign).  So here's one from early 1996 as a PDF.  Some of the graphics and fonts are wrong (i.e. the layout errors and such weren't in the actual paper version) but it gives you an idea of what kinds of things Stardock was up to way back then.