Another question is whether CPRM would work on all operating systems, he says. Although Microsoft would surely integrate the necessary code into its products, how do you add such a feature to an open-source operating system, he wonders. And if you can't, does that mean non-Windows operating systems could not play new music?
Expect questions about this issue to linger for months, because the ATA standard won't be finalized for quite some time, says Kate McMillan, director of the NCITS Secretariat.
This is a recent proposal, first offered in October 2000, she says. The T13 group may approve it in its February 20 meeting, but then they must post the standard for public review for at least 45 days, she says. Then, opponents and supporters can voice their opinions.
"I'm sure we're going to get some comments," she says.
After that, the T13 group must address those questions, approve the proposal, and send it on to the NCITS for final approval. McMillan doesn't expect a solid standard to arrive until at least May 2001.
"It takes at least six months; and that's if everybody loves it," she says.
PC World Senior Associate Editor Anush Yegyazarian contributed to this report.
For more enterprise news, go to www.pcworld.com . Copyright(c) 2001 PC World.
