Microsoft decided to make some "premium" features in Windows Vista accessible only if you have a high-end video card. Correct?

There was a lot of confusion caused by how Microsoft marketed these features in Vista - "Vista Capable" versus "Vista Premium Ready". Correct?

The gateway that Microsoft uses in the Vista software itself to determine whether you get the "premium" features (Aero Glass theme, DVD Maker, Movie Maker, etc.) is whether or not your video card has a "WDDM" - Windows Display Driver Model - driver. Correct?

Since it's Microsoft's software, they get to determine the criteria as to whether any particular video card can have a WDDM driver. They set the requirements. The cutoff line has to be drawn somewhere. Some cards will qualify, and some cards won't. Correct?

Intel 915 integrated graphics, an older graphics chipset that is aimed at low cost, low power applications like laptops and other mobile devices - NOT PERFORMANCE - does not meet the WDDM driver criteria that Microsoft has set. Correct?

Intel CAN'T write a WDDM driver that somehow magically overcomes the fact that it DOESN'T MEET THE WDDM REQUIREMENTs THAT MICROSOFT CONTROLS. That is a fact.

Lots of you were led to believe, through how Vista was confusingly marketed, that your computers with Intel 915 Integrated Graphics would be "Vista Capable". And this is true. Your computers with 915 graphics will run Windows Vista just fine. That is a fact.

Lots of you are angry, however, because your laptops with Intel 915 Integrated Graphics are NOT "Vista Premium Ready". You thought, for whatever reasons, that "Vista Capable" was the same as "Vista Premium Ready". That is a fact.

You probably feel kind of dumb that you bought a laptop with Intel 915 Integrated Graphics and then you bought Vista (or you bought them at the same time), and now, it doesn't do what you thought it would do (even though there was no marketing and no promise that the Vista Premium features would work!). I know I would. That is a fact.

Now, you're mad. You feel like you got screwed, got burned, got tricked. You feel the need to lash out at someone. You could lash out at Microsoft, but that's like tilting at windmills. And where would you vent your feelings? Maybe you're complaining just as loudly to Microsoft, and I'm just not seeing it. Someone please provide me a link if this is the case.

At the end of all this, I hope you can see how Intel's hands are tied here. We got burned by the unclear Vista marketing just as much as you did, because now we (I) have hundreds of unhappy 915 owners that are angry and need to lash out, so you're lashing out at Intel.

I'm sorry this happened. I'll keep my personal opinions on how Microsoft handled this to myself. I hope that my efforts to explain and clarify what's going on have helped you to understand, if not to dissipate your anger.

You're free to buy laptops with whatever kind of graphics chipset you want in the future. If you value performance, and want to be able to run the "eye candy" premium features in Windows Vista, I hope that you do your homework, and buy a laptop with a graphics chipset that meets the requirements that Microsoft has set forth (hint: other Intel integrated graphics chipsets, beyond 915, do this just fine).

If you decide that performance and these "premium" visual features are important, you might decide it's worth it to spend the extra money to get a dedicated graphics card in your laptop from Nvidia or ATI.

And, deep within the bowels of Intel, I'm sure someone is working on a time traveling magic wand to go back and add features to the 915 hardware spec, then magically transform all of the 915 chips sitting in factories and warehouses and in your homes and offices, so that they meet the WDDM driver requirements, and are suddenly capable of running the premium stuff in Windows Vista.

I'll let you know as soon as that's finished, and ready for release. ;-)

Microsoft Had Doubts About the 'Vista Capable' Label

"Allchin: We really botched "Vista Capable" scheme"

"Now the court has heard that several Microsoft employees also shared Wong's doubts. One employee's email stated that "even a piece of junk will qualify" for the "Windows Vista Capable" sticker, according to court testimony reported in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Corporate vice president, Mike Nash, was also quoted as saying: "I personally got burnt. Are we seeing this from a lot of customers? I now have a $2,100 e-mail machine."

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/buyer/news/164457/allchin-we-really-b.....cheme.html

Its not just old laptops that arnt able to run aero, dvd maker and dreamscene... it is possible aswell since i had the pre release beta and it worked perfectly for the so many months i had it.

nice to know you feel happy about having a rant against everyone here steve.

Vista is a next-gen OS that has next-gen requirements. Gee, I can't run it on my 386-SX25.... I'll blame Intel because they created that too!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Display_Driver_Model