"A few days' testing of Windows 7 has already disclosed some draconian DRM, some of it unrelated to media files. A legitimate copy of Photoshop CS4 stopped functioning after we clobbered a nagging registration screen by replacing a DLL with a hacked version. With regard to media files, the days of capturing an audio program on your PC seem to be over (if the program originated on that PC). The inputs of your sound card are severely degraded in software if the card is also playing an audio program (tested here with Grooveshark). This may be the tip of the iceberg. Being in bed with the RIAA is bad enough, but locking your own files away from you is a tactic so outrageous it may kill the OS for many people. Many users will not want to experiment with a second sound card or computer just to record from online sources, or boot up under a Linux that supports ntfs-3g just to control their files." Re — Photoshop: That Photoshop stopped functioning after we messed with one of its nag DLLs was not so much a surprise, but what was a surprise: Noting that Win7 allows programs like Photoshop to insert themselves stealthily into your firewall exception list. Further, that the OS allows large software vendors to penetrate your machine. Even further, that the permission is responsible for disabling of a program based on a modified DLL. And then finding that the OS even after reboot has locked you out of your own Local Settings folder; has denied you permission to move or delete the modified DLL; and refuses to allow the replacement of the Local Settings folder after it is unlocked with Unlocker to move it to the Desktop for examination (where it also denies you entry to your own folder). Setting permissions to 'allow everyone' was disabled! Re — media: Under XP you could select 'Stereo Mix' or similar under audio recording inputs and nicely capture any program then playing. No longer. http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl... Looks like Windows XP will be hanging around a bit longer for many pc users. Iron Sharpens Iron.

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne... Homebuilt projector: Samsung 1080p panel Pixelworks controller 2 HDMI, 2 Component, 1 VGA Homebuilt enclosure 120" 16:9 screen Connected to: HTPC w/ BD, satellite receiver, XB360.

Yes. Here we go with the DRM rubbish again. These drastic rumors pop up with every microsoft release that comes down the pike. The same crap was alleged against Vista and NONE of it has turned out to be true. This is not a massive conspiracy and Microsoft is not out to control our lives..... geeez If the gent is going to "hack" in the first place, then he should learn now to do it properly.... and not blame the rest of the world if he should fail And.... congrats to Adobe for foiling the attempts of an idiot.

What I don't understand is if the guy had a legit copy of Photoshop when the registration screen came up why didn't he use the serial number that came with his copy to register the software and instead try to remove the screen without registration? Makes no sense he could have registered it and the prompt would have gone away but chose to hack the software to make the registration prompt go away and it detected he was trying to hack the software -- something went wrong and when he failed the problem he detailed occurred. Now if there is a really serious case of DRM in Windows 7 to restrict what users can do (and I read the DRM in Windows Vista which is real was never really used -- Microsoft just put it there if the MPAA and RIAA ever asked them to put it into effect) and you don't agree to the End User License Agreement that should and would contain clauses describing that it is proprietary software (MS might not publish info on the DRM to risk someone finding out how to hack it successfully) don't use it. If your like the majority of users who have to run Windows keep running XP or 98 or any older version of Windows available without the DRM. If you buy a new computer with Windows 7 delete it and install Windows XP using a XP setup disc or install 98 etc using a similar Win 98 setup disc. Otherwise, switch operating systems completely if you can to an operating system that respects users like Linux.

"Yes. Here we go with the DRM rubbish again. These drastic rumors pop up with every microsoft release that comes down the pike." I couldn't agree with you anymore. Whatever merit the DRM argument hopes to sustain will continue to be discredited, unless the folks pushing the argument can articulate some legitimacy beyond the — it's got DRM, therefore, it's NOT to be installed or upgrade to — meme. IIRC, there was even a DRM scare with XP, as far back as 2001. Jabbering Idiots: Everywhere You Look!