[rights-requirements] does this product use XrML?

[Bob Glushko <glushko@SIMS.Berkeley.EDU>]

Does anyone know if XrML is in this new appliance (excuse me, I meant to
say "computer") from Microsoft and HP?

note to John E-- did anyone at H-P consult with you on this? I thought
you were H-P's "chief scientist for DRM"

bob




New 'entertainment' PCs restrict copying 
By Joe Wilcox 
Staff Writer, CNET News.com 
September 3, 2002, 5:58 AM PT 
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-956285.html

Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard on Tuesday released
additional details 
about digital entertainment PCs coming for the holidays. But new anti-
copying technology could hamper sales, say analysts and potential 
buyers.

The new consumer computers run Windows XP Media Center Edition, a 
variation of Microsoft's flagship operating system. Besides normal PC
functions, Windows Media Center PCs offer a second user interface 
through which people can access the operating systems' digital media
features via a remote control. HP, as well as Samsung, will start 
offering the new systems sometime before the holiday-shopping season,
with HP's models selling in the high $1,500 range to around $2,000.
Microsoft sees Windows Media Center PCs as ideal for college students
or young urbanites living in cramped spaces where a combination 
computing and entertainment system might be more appealing than 
separate devices. Besides digital photo, music and movie features 
already available with Windows XP, the new PCs also would serve as TV
tuners and digital video recorders (DVRs) for copying TV shows to the
computer's hard drive.

But Microsoft has included copy-protection with the operating system
that uses encryption to lock recorded TV shows to the PC. Already, 
consumers can legally record television programs to VHS tapes for 
personal use and view them on another VCR in the household. Microsoft
has taken a more conservative approach by thwarting the sharing of 
programs recorded digitally. That strategy might make sense as 
Microsoft attempts to attract Hollywood movie studios with its digital
rights management and anti-copying technologies. But consumers may not
react favorably to the copy protection, say analysts.

--
Robert J. Glushko, Ph.D.
http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/~glushko
School of Information Management & Systems
102 South Hall
University of California, Berkeley CA 94720-4600