Peter Gutmann, a well known software security expert from Australia, has posted a long piece on the some of the problems he sees with Vista. Gutmann's piece is not the typical anti-Microsoft rant; he has done extensive research and consulted with many other reputable experts. His focus on on Vista's new "features" that are designed to prevent unauthorized use of copyrighted content like videos and music.
The article is very long and provides extensive detail, but the key concept is that the Vista code that degrades the quality of music and video if the output device (like a TV or a stereo) does not have the same kind of software content management as Vista. In some cases, Vista will completely disable a video or audio card or certain other kinds of hardware installed in your PC if Vista decides it does not have the appropriate level of content protection.
To illustrate this, Gutmann cites someone who purchased a new HP Media Center computer that came with an HD video that would NOT play on the buyer's flat panel HD TV because the TV was not "Vista compatible." In fact, Gutmann says virtually all audio and video entertainment systems lack the software Microsoft expects.
Gutmann characterizes these new controls as a blatant attempt by Microsoft to monopolize all entertainment content, in the same way that Apple has monopolized music with the iTunes store. It is worth noting that Gutmann is equally unhappy with Apple and the way it has structured digital rights management (DRM) with iTunes content. And I have to agree; I still buy music the old fashioned way, by purchasing a CD, which does not have DRM limitations on it.
Gutmann sees a dreary future for PC users, and predicts that ultimately, Microsoft will fail, because we simply won't bother using our PCs to play videos and music....we'll buy cheap CD/DVD players for $50 that do not come encumbered with all this nonsense. Finally, Gutmann raises the spectre of real damage arising from Vista. Gutmann mentions a medical professional who says he cannot run the risk of having vital medical systems shut down autonomously because Vista software has decided some medical device does not have the correct DRM installed. That's something to think about the next time you or someone you know is checked into a hospital.