CycleWriter:

BTW, I usually take anything MJF writes with a grain of salt. She's often inaccurate, confused or just plain wrong.

Interesting coming from you.

Anyway, I wasn't linking to her article to start a debate about how well the next version of Windows would sell, I was linking to her article to provide another data point that I hadn't seen before, which is that Windows 7 doesn't sound like it's as big a jump from Vista as Vista was from XP. This to me at least makes me think it might come quicker than previous releases since it's a dot release, not a full number release. It at least to me changed my mindset in thinking I was waiting for a full OS release when it might really be more of a feature-pack release.

When they say suggest release mid-2009 that could well be correct, but that might not mean sales...it might mean released to beta.

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Eagles may fly, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines (see bio for exception)

SpoonsJTD:

Interesting coming from you.

What the heck is that supposed to mean? Do I know you?

Anyway, I wasn't linking to her article to start a debate about how well the next version of Windows would sell, I was linking to her article to provide another data point that I hadn't seen before, which is that Windows 7 doesn't sound like it's as big a jump from Vista as Vista was from XP. This to me at least makes me think it might come quicker than previous releases since it's a dot release, not a full number release. It at least to me changed my mindset in thinking I was waiting for a full OS release when it might really be more of a feature-pack release.

Not sure why you felt the need to get all defensive, but I actually appreciated the link. I will take issue with this comment though. Regardless of whether it is a "big jump" it will be a major release if only because it is a full number increment and historically that denotes a full OS release. This will not be a "dot release" or "feature pack release" and I am sure the install for it will prove that.

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HP M9300T HTPC
Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Q9300 2.5ghz Quad-core 1333mhz FSB
4gb DDR2 PC2-6400 RAM
ViXS PureTV-U 48B0 Tuner Card
Hauppauge HVR-2250 Tuner Card
nVidia 8600GT w/512mb DDR3 VRAM
Linksys WT160 Wireless N Router
Linksys DMA2200 Extender

CycleWriter:

SpoonsJTD:

Interesting coming from you.

What the heck is that supposed to mean? Do I know you?

Anyway, I wasn't linking to her article to start a debate about how well the next version of Windows would sell, I was linking to her article to provide another data point that I hadn't seen before, which is that Windows 7 doesn't sound like it's as big a jump from Vista as Vista was from XP. This to me at least makes me think it might come quicker than previous releases since it's a dot release, not a full number release. It at least to me changed my mindset in thinking I was waiting for a full OS release when it might really be more of a feature-pack release.

Not sure why you felt the need to get all defensive, but I actually appreciated the link. I will take issue with this comment though. Regardless of whether it is a "big jump" it will be a major release if only because it is a full number increment and historically that denotes a full OS release. This will not be a "dot release" or "feature pack release" and I am sure the install for it will prove that.

I would also agree that it's a dot release based upon past activities.

• Windows 98 was an update to Windows 95
• Windows XP was an update to Windows 2000
• Windows 7 is expected to be an update to Vista

Take a look at the Windows Team Blog (Which has traditionally "leaked" direction of where windows will be going) and has echoed my thoughts.   http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/05/27/communicating-windows-7.aspx

There were also other press releases from MS directly telling people that they should upgrade to Vista now since the OEM specifications for Windows 7 will be similar if not identical to Vista.

The only thing that MS that can help them out is to accelerate MiniWin Kernel and include that in Windows7 and include Hyper-V in the core that I see any need for a full release.

Apple had it right with OSX. It's been what, like 10 years, since they had a major release? the dot levels keep increasing since there's no REAL DIFFERENCE in the OS except a few tweaks here and there.

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Vista Ultimate x64|MSI Custom Built Low Profile|AMD 5800+|4GB DDR2 800Mhz|4x500GB Sammy SATA2 RAID-5|HPG 1600x2|HDHomeRun|HDMI|SPDIF
- - - - - - - - - -
Comments posted here are not the opinion of my employer.

GSoD:

I would also agree that it's a dot release based upon past activities.

• Windows 98 was an update to Windows 95
• Windows XP was an update to Windows 2000
• Windows 7 is expected to be an update to Vista

That's kind of nebulous, don't you think? Every new release is an update of the previous one, I should think. To use your paradigm, based on past activities I suspect that Windows 7 will ship later than originally scheduled. Much later.

---

HP M9300T HTPC
Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Q9300 2.5ghz Quad-core 1333mhz FSB
4gb DDR2 PC2-6400 RAM
ViXS PureTV-U 48B0 Tuner Card
Hauppauge HVR-2250 Tuner Card
nVidia 8600GT w/512mb DDR3 VRAM
Linksys WT160 Wireless N Router
Linksys DMA2200 Extender

GSoD:

I would also agree that it's a dot release based upon past activities.

• Windows 98 was an update to Windows 95
• Windows XP was an update to Windows 2000
• Windows 7 is expected to be an update to Vista

That's kind of nebulous, don't you think? Every new release is an update of the previous one, I would think. To use your premise, based on past activities I suspect that Windows 7 will ship later than originally scheduled. Much later.

---

HP M9300T HTPC
Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Q9300 2.5ghz Quad-core 1333mhz FSB
4gb DDR2 PC2-6400 RAM
ViXS PureTV-U 48B0 Tuner Card
Hauppauge HVR-2250 Tuner Card
nVidia 8600GT w/512mb DDR3 VRAM
Linksys WT160 Wireless N Router
Linksys DMA2200 Extender

I read the posting -

"This version does not include native support for subscription-based satellite tuners or the H.264 video standard. We test many features in beta releases, and optimize our feature set in the final code for the best user experience.

 We do want the Windows Media Center community to know that Microsoft will continue to improve upon the Windows Media Center experience for our customers worldwide, by adding content partnerships and enhanced features."

And can't help but notice the "This version does not include native support for subscription-based satellite tuners." (Underline is mine)  Also the part "by adding content partnerships and enhanced features." (Underline is mine).

Couldn't they be working with Directv for advanced functionality that is not for general release that would give us the, Directv, PVR features we're looking for?

they could be working on bouncing the signal off the moon and delivering a Laser beam directly to our brain :-) however.. unless you are willing to buy a brand new computer the way things look we won't be getting updated software.  So better save up that $1000 for every little feature which will be only available to OEM's.  For one I have no intention to "upgrade" my current computer with crapware loaded (Dell, HP, Sony or other) pile of junk in various new colors in order to get 2 extra features.

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Vista MC x64 TVPack 2008 - 1.2TB 4GB Ram Core 2 Duo 3Ghz
2x AverMedia Combo PCIe OTA HD\
1x AverMedia A180 OTA HD
52" Samsung 5281F LCD
Xbox 360 Elite

CycleWriter:

GSoD:

I would also agree that it's a dot release based upon past activities.

• Windows 98 was an update to Windows 95
• Windows XP was an update to Windows 2000
• Windows 7 is expected to be an update to Vista

That's kind of nebulous, don't you think? Every new release is an update of the previous one, I should think. To use your paradigm, based on past activities I suspect that Windows 7 will ship later than originally scheduled. Much later.

He likely means version wise and the basic core of the OS:
Windows 95 was version 4.0, 98 was version 4.1, ME was 4.9
2000 was 5.0, XP was version 5.1, 2003 Server was 5.2
Vista was 6.0, and the Windows 7 preview was 6.1 as opposed to 7.0

i.e. most drivers worked between 95, 98 and ME, but had to be rewritten for 2000, XP and 2003, and then rewritten again for Vista

One of the touted features of TV Pack is the ability to remove the DRM from some of the Cablecard recordings once ATI releases a new firmware supporting that capability.  Can anyone expand on that and tell us exactly what that means? What are the criteria for removing the DRM on future recordings with these updates?

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Velocity Micro Cinemagix Grand Theater, C2Q, 2GB, 2 TB, 3 DCT, 2 HDHomeRun
Homebuilt C2Q, 2 GB, 1.5 TB, HVR-1600, FireSTB
Dell E1705, T7600, 2GB, 250GB, HVR-950
WHS, WRT600N, DMA-2100, DMA-2200, XBox360

Hi Ben,
I know it is a little late but I wanted to post a question about OTA in Canada w/ TVPack. Although OTA is not available in MCE 2005 or Vista MCE for Canadians, a number of users are currently using the feature by performing a simple registry hack (thanks Peter Near). Peter has commented that the registry hack is no longer viable w/ TVPack 2008. Jeff Tucker has posted - http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/282984.aspx - that Canada is excluded because there is no guide data provider. I understand why this would be an issue for some, but for the vast majority of canadian OTA users it is not. Can you tell me if it would be possible to enable OTA for Canada in the TVPack? We don't need guide data, Just the same type of registry fix that was employed previously.

Thanks
Hamiltonguy

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My VMC HTCP - Vista Ultimate
ASUS P5Q, Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz
3GB DDR2-800
XFX Fatal1ty 8600
1 X 750 GB,
ATI 550Pro, HDHOMERUN
2GB Flash for Ready Boost

WScottCross:

One of the touted features of TV Pack is the ability to remove the DRM from some of the Cablecard recordings once ATI releases a new firmware supporting that capability.  Can anyone expand on that and tell us exactly what that means? What are the criteria for removing the DRM on future recordings with these updates?

Currently, ANY recoding you make with a CableCard-paired tuner will be protected by DRM.  This is regardless of whether the actual program has any of the "restricted copy" flags set.

In the future, with the TV Pack and the 1.18 firmware from ATI (which is not released yet...), the recordings you make with a CableCard-paired tuner will ony be protected by DRM is the actual program has the appropriate "restricted copy" flags set.

And just when is ATI going to release the 1.18 firmware?  We don't know.  (At this point, is Microsoft beginning to understand why people are frustrated with them?)

--Don

 

dondu:

In the future, with the TV Pack and the 1.18 firmware from ATI (which is not released yet...), the recordings you make with a CableCard-paired tuner will ony be protected by DRM is the actual program has the appropriate "restricted copy" flags set.

I should have a bit more specific in my question... Is there a way to tell ahead of time which programs will have these flags set?

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Velocity Micro Cinemagix Grand Theater, C2Q, 2GB, 2 TB, 3 DCT, 2 HDHomeRun
Homebuilt C2Q, 2 GB, 1.5 TB, HVR-1600, FireSTB
Dell E1705, T7600, 2GB, 250GB, HVR-950
WHS, WRT600N, DMA-2100, DMA-2200, XBox360

WScottCross:

I should have a bit more specific in my question... Is there a way to tell ahead of time which programs will have these flags set?

In my experience with Tivo, only shows recorded from premium movie channels have been flagged and copy protected.

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XPS420 w/ 2 ATI OCURs
HDHomerun
DMA2100 Extender x 2

Montyward:

In my experience with Tivo, only shows recorded from premium movie channels have been flagged and copy protected.

That would be awesome for me as I don't have any premium channels!  I sure hope the new firmware is coming soon.   I really like the new features of TV Pack and the new firmware would put it over the top. Now if only they would fix it so we could get tools like DVRMSToolbox to work...

---

Velocity Micro Cinemagix Grand Theater, C2Q, 2GB, 2 TB, 3 DCT, 2 HDHomeRun
Homebuilt C2Q, 2 GB, 1.5 TB, HVR-1600, FireSTB
Dell E1705, T7600, 2GB, 250GB, HVR-950
WHS, WRT600N, DMA-2100, DMA-2200, XBox360