I've eventually found some articles. Have selected some interesting parts below. However, one feature that hasn't racked up many column inches is the new version of Microsoft's graphics API (application program Interface), DirectX 10. All current games and hardware use DirectX 9c, but with Vista comes a whole new API. Unlike previous versions, DirectX 10 (or Windows Graphic Foundation as it was known at one point) will be totally new and therefore have limited - if any - backwards compatibility with the current crop of DirectX 9 cards. Microsoft has stated that DirectX 9 will be supported side-by-side to an extent with a new version 9L, but it won't have the same power as cards operating fully with DirectX 10. still look good, PC gaming can only compete if it has an overhaul, which DirectX 10 should provide. One of the biggest criticisms of PC gaming is that games can look so different depending on the hardware you have installed. By unifying some of the underlying technologies in the hardware and the software that the games are written on, this should change for the better.
The audio stack in Vista is completely new. Microsoft moved sound card drivers out of the kernel, which means they can't crash the whole PC. This choice has improved performance enough that rewriting the stack - in 32-bit floating point operations rather than 16-bit integers - didn't slow it down. Gone are the incomprehensible sliders of the XP sound controls; these are replaced by volume controls for your speakers, phone line, microphone, line in and CD audio. And there's a huge improvement if you ever use headphones with your PC; the new OS lets you choose the volume level for each application separately, which means that you can turn your music up without being deafened by system sounds. Better for gaming? Windows XP is the gamer's OS. Forget consoles, forget pocket gaming systems: XP is where it's at. With XP's dominant position in the gaming world, Vista's going to have to go a long way to improve on XP. However, with the release of RC1 the signs are good. Starting with the basics, Vista comes with an expanded suite of built-in games. The familiar faces are all there, but they've been given a makeover and now use Vista's new graphics tools. New games include smoothly animated Mah Jong tiles and an educational game for children. There's nothing revolutionary, but the new look and feel and additional titles make Vista's out-of-the-box gaming experience more than equal to XP's. The new Games Explorer should show the majority of games you've installed, making them easier to find and launch. Ari ----- Original Message ----- From: "Raul A. Gallegos" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 9:45 AM Subject: Re: [Audyssey] Gaming on Windows Vista? The answer is simple. MS is doing what it always has. Look at the current Windows. XP has been out for some time now, yet there were still service packs for Windows 2k which in many ways was even more stable than XP itself. Releasing Vista is no different. MS will support XP for a while yet and continue to improve upon it. Eventually Windows 2k support will drop and then XP. By then the next encarnation of Windows will be out I'm sure. * shaun everiss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [2006-11-28 22:21]: > This ofcause puts the question why ms is releasing vista at all when there are 2 more or at least 1 definate service pack of xp coming. > This should give everyone time to adapt to vista, who knows maybe we will be passed vista by then. > Maybe someone will find ways to make the more anoying features of vista go away. > I wander what powertoys will be for vista, since every os so far has powertoys and sometimes kernal toys. > I know sink toy is going to vista, maybe tweakui I only use the old control panel ui as its all I need. > Think I better stop straying. -- Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. -- Genesis 19:22 Raul A. Gallegos ... IliwSsmc _______________________________________________ Gamers mailing list .. [email protected] To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web. _______________________________________________ Gamers mailing list .. [email protected] To unsubscribe send E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can visit http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org to make any subscription changes via the web.
