general points

Wouldn't it be nice if Microsoft could get together with key hardware manufacturers to provide working drivers whenever a CTP is released? My SoundBlaster Audigy isn't supported in the latest release and the beta 1 version Creative provide on their site completely shafted my installation when I tried runing that. In addition the NVidia GEForce specific drivers for 6308 don't appear to work either though the installation did install a valid driver. These are the big boys, if their hardware can't be used then testers will have little willingness to delve further and make this a better product before final release.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a document somewhere to show what the new CTP did that the old one didn't - apologies if there is such a document which I just can't find. An example is UK DVB-T digital broadcasts. MCE newsgroups and blogs indicated that this would be available in the December CTP but nobody seemed to have much luck getting it to work. Come the February CTP my WinTV Nova-T PCI digital TV card drivers appear to install OK but Media Center doesn't recognise my cards as valid tuners. Trouble is I have no way of knowing if these cards should work, if DVB-T is supported or anything else in fact.

It would be nice... and sometimes they do :o)
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--- Original message follows --- "The Scientist" wrote in message

Wouldn't it be nice if Microsoft could get together with key hardware manufacturers to provide working drivers whenever a CTP is released? My SoundBlaster Audigy isn't supported in the latest release and the beta 1 version Creative provide on their site completely shafted my installation when I tried runing that. In addition the NVidia GEForce specific drivers for 6308 don't appear to work either though the installation did install a valid driver. These are the big boys, if their hardware can't be used then testers will have little willingness to delve further and make this a better product before final release.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a document somewhere to show what the new CTP did that the old one didn't - apologies if there is such a document which I just can't find. An example is UK DVB-T digital broadcasts. MCE newsgroups and blogs indicated that this would be available in the December CTP but nobody seemed to have much luck getting it to work. Come the February CTP my WinTV Nova-T PCI digital TV card drivers appear to install OK but Media Center doesn't recognise my cards as valid tuners. Trouble is I have no way of knowing if these cards should work, if DVB-T is supported or anything else in fact.

Hopefully you communicate your hardware needs with your hardware manufacturer. Of course the older the hardware, the less likely they are to devote resources since it is also less likely to make the manufacturer any $.
You can certainly make your recommendations but it is almost certain to be to late for Windows Vista implementation.
-- Jupiter Jones [MVP] http://www3.telus.net/dandemar http://www.dts-l.org
"The Scientist" wrote in message

But if the hardware manufacturers don't keep up with developments in Microsoft's next big thing they must run the risk of being caught with their trousers down when Vista hits the streets. A bit of encouragement from Microsoft with a "Vista Ready" label they can stick on their boxes if they commit to keeping up with the pace and produce drivers along the CTP pathway and we would all benefit.
If I can't use my sound card with beta 2 then I'm not likely to try out the diverse combination of actions Microsoft need to have their products thoroughly debugged. Having said that MCE2005 is on Rollup 2 and I have to re-boot it every other day at a minimum and certainly wouldn't recommend it to anybody not prepared to roll their sleeves up and get the bugger working again every time the screen locks up. I tend to suspect that all development is geared towards the US market, if it happens to work with UK digital TV then all well and good. Sadly there is no support whatsoever for interactive services. Split screen TV on dual-tuner systems or picture in picture seem years away.