That’s because new computer players that handle hi-def video will be equipped with Protected Video Path Output Protection Management, or PVP-OPM, a content protection scheme that older monitors can’t handle without costly upgrades.
Microsoft was forced to install PVP-OPM on its forthcoming Windows Vista PC, for example, because the film industry, as well as disc and hardware makers, developed a protection program for their content called Advanced Access Control System (AACS).
If Microsoft chose not to support AACS with PVP-OPM, consumers would be SOL.
The problem, however, aside from all the abbreviations, is that PVP-OPM uses something called High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). In laymen’s terms, HDCP is used to help a computer figure out if content is being illegally recorded off of a computer. Unfortunately, if a user’s monitor doesn’t support PVP-OPM, then HDCP considers that a red flag and bars the video from playing on the computer.
Currently NEC, Samsung, Sony and ViewSonic are beginning to produce HDCP monitors, but production is still in early stages. On top of this, Windows users will have to upgrade to the new Windows Vista operating system if they want to watch the forthcoming line of hi-def DVDs on their computer.
