Topic: Finally modular Windows.

[Nemesis]

For a long time I've wanted Windows to be more modular so that you only have to install what you use.  For Windows 8 MS is doing that in a small way.  Though not a good way.

Link to full article

Here is something interesting, you may already know that Microsoft plans to sell Windows Media Center as a separate paid pack, but now the company has just revealed that Windows 8 will also stop the support for DVD playback. This won’t be the case of course, if you upgrade to the Media Center pack that you only will be able to install if you have the Pro edition of the upcoming OS or installing a third-party DVD application, which we have for the tons.

So you will have to pay extra for the media center upgrade and if you didn't by the "Pro" version of Windows you willhave to upgrade to that too.  Not quite what I had in mind.

I wonder if Videolan will be allowed to work without the Media Center programs?  The article does seem to indicate yes (but that can change).

[Dash Jones]

I've run VLC on computers without any Windows Media support or items.  I think it probably would run fine without the Windows Media items.  It means that you might have to find your own DVD drivers however, or if buying from a company perhaps they'll get third party drivers and such instead of MS.