The upcoming Microsoft OS will run a check to ensure the copy was legally purchased. If it comes up short, the shiniest part of the OS will not be available. The Aero display also won't be available to those who buy Windows Vista Basic, the low-end consumer version of the operating system.

Those who are not running genuine Windows will not be able to take advantage of the Windows Aero user experience," a Microsoft representative told CNET News.com on Wednesday. The move is the latest salvo in Microsoft's broad attack on those who use unauthorized copies of its operating system. In the fall of 2004, Microsoft began testing the Windows Genuine Advantage program, designed to verify that a particular copy of Windows is legitimate.

But it's not just pirates who will be blocked from Windows' fanciest graphics. The Aero display also won't be available to those who buy Windows Vista Basic, the low-end consumer version of the operating system. And even those with higher-end versions won't be able to see the fancy graphics if they don't have enough memory, lack sufficient graphics horsepower or have a graphics chip that doesn't support a new Vista driver.

What puzzles me is why vista requires so much horse power to get those GUI effects when OS X does all of those effects using far less horsepower...

nb411> It bothers me that the most talked about new feature is the fancy gui. That is by far the least interesting thing to me about this next windows. I can't stand the thought of having my work slowed down because 2gb of ram isnt enough to look at websites anymore or look at websites and have photoshop open.

I want to know why it will be better and how it can improve my productivity and gaming experiences. I bet after I install Vista for the first time, I turn all the fancy shit off in the first ten minutes. Another thing that bugs me is that when in 2D mode (Windows) your graphics card is using minimal power (~60watts) and when you're gaming of course it's chewing far more. I don't want my graphics card under 100% load 24/7 and costing me more money in power bills.

100% AGREE! I turn all the fancy shit off (including the desktop wallpaper) in the first ten minutes too :) I hate to have slow PC....

I'd love to see Vista fall flat on it's ass, and then see Apple come out of the blue with OS X support for PCs.

It bothers me that the most talked about new feature is the fancy gui. That is by far the least interesting thing to me about this next windows. I can't stand the thought of having my work slowed down because 2gb of ram isnt enough to look at websites anymore or look at websites and have photoshop open.

I want to know why it will be better and how it can improve my productivity and gaming experiences. I bet after I install Vista for the first time, I turn all the fancy shit off in the first ten minutes. Another thing that bugs me is that when in 2D mode (Windows) your graphics card is using minimal power (~60watts) and when you're gaming of course it's chewing far more. I don't want my graphics card under 100% load 24/7 and costing me more money in power bills.