Thread: It's about time Microsoft....

What do you guys think of the entire Windows GUI being based off of DirectX 9.0? Rumors have it, and we have discussed this somewhat on the game programming board, that the new Windows GUI will use DirectX 9.0 to render everything.

I think it's about time. GPU's are way faster than the GUI. And this would mean that we would not have such a distinction any more between Win32 GUI and DirectX 9.0.

Of course, building the OS shell on DirectX 9.0 which is a Microsoft invention might send MS right back into lawsuits...only this time it won't be Netscape or Apple sueing them...it will be the makers of OpenGL.

I welcome the change.

Why would OpenGL sue Microsoft for using their own IP? I'm not sure what you're getting at.

As to Longhorn using DirectX, that's not rumor, that's what they're claiming. I haven't heard anything recent, but this article discusses it a bit.

I think he means the makers of alternative API's like OpenGL will complain about Microsofts bundling of DirectX with the operating system (because if it's used by the GUI, there'll be no way to remove it) in the same way the European Union knobs forced Microsoft to release a version of windows without Windows Media Player (which they dubbed Windows XP Reduced Media Edition, and were again forced by the European Union to change the name. Funny thing is they charge the same price for both versions of Windows, so I doubt anyone will use it anyway).

I think it's a good idea and will probably make it much easier to write simple games and good looking UI's. Avalon and XAML are looking like a great platform for writing rich UI applications.

And how the hell would it send Microsoft back into court? It doesn't nullify alternate APIs, it just means that the GUI is powered by DirectX

Lesser things have put them in court. Like when Netscape complained that IE was being distributed with Windows as if the user had no choice but to use IE - and that they did not have to pay for IE separately which gave IE an unfair advantage.

It didn't matter if their move nullified Netscape or not, because Netscape still existed and was being sold...but Netscape claimed it gave Microsoft an unfair advantage over their product.

I think legitimate legal claims could be made against MS if they choose to develop the GUI solely for DirectX 9.0. This would give them an unfair advantage over OpenGL obviously and you and I both know that when they move to DirectX 9.0 for the GUI, everything and anything about the GUI will be so geared towards DirectX 9.0 that GL won't stand a chance as far as desktop GUIs go.

So are we going to then have a choice between using OpenGL as our GUI or DirectX? Perhaps?

I think it spells trouble if they approach this issue as carelessly as they have similar types of issues in the past. I'm sure that they are thinking of this as we speak...so that they do not end up in another legal battle.

DirectX 9.0 is pure Microsoft and so is Windows. IE was pure Microsoft and so was Windows. What's the difference between these two issues. Not much I'm afraid.

Linux, nuff said.

Microsoft's monopoly of the PC market is somewhat disturbing, but I really don't think suing the company for writing software is very fair. Yes it's Microsoft (more like MACROsoft, lol am i rite?) but it would be inane for anybody to take them to court for this.

Perhaps I'm just starving for some innovative new Windows technology.



edit: RoD, no.

The OpenGL board wouldnt sue Microsoft for this, hell they're ON the board.

Originally Posted by Govtcheez

DirectX is already bundled with the OS, isn't it?

Actually I don't think it is, but even if it was, you can uninstall it, unlike say IE which is bundled and can't be uninstalled.

Originally Posted by Govtcheez

So maybe OpenGl should have their own OS? This is silly - MS isn't allowed to use their own program in their own program.

Try telling the European Union that.