Again there has been feathers flying over a Windows operating system and its implementation of DRM. Again, we are seeing a good old bit of Windows bashing. This most recent kerfuffle has started over a legitimate copy of CS4 that had a DLL replaced with a cracked version to prevent a registration pop-up. The claim is that this course of action caused Windows 7 beta to lock the user out of the folder containing the aforementioned DLL proving that this is DRM in action.
Along with this is the accusation that Windows 7 is in bed with the usual suspects in terms of DRM, to such an extent that the firewall will allow these corporations access where, perhaps, the mere mortal would have no rights. To really put the nail in the coffin, you now are unable to record “What U hear”. Or to put it in Microsoft parlance, “Stereo Mix”. So recording what media player is playing is completely out.
Boo! Boo to Microsoft for this complete travesty. Or is it? As a few other bloggers are pointing out, this may not be the confirmation of the covert links with the NSA. And tin foil hats may not be needed.
To start out, Windows 7 is beta, so to shout foul play just yet is perhaps a little premature. I can’t say why this user could not get back to his DLL’s, but to blame it on DRM is surely missing many other possibilities? And as far as I’m aware if you install any program onto your machine, it has the ability to effect your firewall, as long as you allow it to install.
As for the sound card, well, again we are in beta territory, so lets not assume that the sound card driver has capacity for the feature explained above, and even if this feature is missing, is it impossible that a driver could be written that adds the functionality?
I’m not saying that Microsoft is completely free of any DRM issues, but having used Vista for the last couple of years, any DRM problems have not made themselves particularly apparent. I’m sill able to back up DVDs rip my CDs, in fact everything I used to do on XP. I also remember the DRM stink that was kicked up before Vista was released.
Having used Windows 7 beta myself, I feel it’s a good OS. So lets wait until release before we damn it.