HDCP

quantus · Post by **quantus** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 6:26 am

Here's an article about the few LCDs that currently support HDCP:
http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/win ... d_roundup/

Apparently, the new Windows is gonna require new LCDs with this HDCP built in. If you want to see HD on your computer, you'll have to replace your monitors and get one with HDCP. Of course, you could still watch the content on your current monitors, but at reduced resolution which defeats the point of paying for an HD-DVD. Also, video cards don't support it yet either, go figure.

Anyone else think that HDCP is gonna fail in the end just like DVD encryption failed? Just because the links from the player to the displays and speakers are secured doesn't mean that the content on the disk can't be attacked directly. Even if the DVD drive has protections built in, someone's likely to make a DVD drive which can have the firmware "upgraded" to allow digital copying of the content on an HD-DVD. Once it's bits on a HD, it's going to be fair game for transcoding.

Anyways, between the extra cost of buying a new LCD and the futility of actually trying to protect the content, I don't see working in the next few years, and only minimally possible in the longer term. I think manufacturers should save their half-penny per screen for HDCP and thumb their noses at the MPAA.

Oh yeah, if Windows strongly supports the protections on the software level, I think it's going to push more and more people towards linux and other OS's to get around the limitations. I think that MythTV will also get much more popular if this is the road MS chooses.

George · Post by **George** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:19 pm

Remember that the average peson is a mindless slug, with no understanding of technology beyond what the BestBuy salesman tells them. They'll never know what they've lost.

Yes, like DVD encryption, it will not prevent piracy. Yes, the manufacturers shouldn't do it. But it's a classic prisoners' dilema. If all manufacturers cooperate, then MS will be forced to change their requirements. But if only a few drop out of line, then MS will stay the course and the compliant manufacturers get to pick up the market share of the non-compliant ones. In the end, everyone will bow to MS (well, indirectly to the MPAA) and roll out something noone wants and noone will benefit from.

No, it won't help *nix. The number of people capable of installing, configuring, or even using *nix is tiny. And most of them already are.

Post by **Jonathan** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 6:44 pm

I think the market can route around these types of issues as long as there is no monopoly or legal restrictions: see WMA adoption. The question is whether Vista will have enough market share to force the issue. In this respect, Vista's biggest competitor is XP.

George · Post by **George** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:01 am

Hmm, a thought came to me. I wonder how the corporate customers will take this? They have no need to play HD, and they also have the money to throw around to buy HDCP capable LCDs. I wonder if Vista will achieve enough critical mass in the office to force home users to upgrade?

Post by **Jonathan** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 1:19 am

http://www.informationweek.com/windows/ ... =183701993

Launch of Vista pushed back to 2007. They'll ship some in 2006. I believe it will be ready to ship in 2006, but their internal schedule indicates they will miss some critical window to get their OEM partners up and running for Christmas, so they delay the launch to Q1 so as not to cannablize Christmas sales. Some, um, other companies do this all the time.