[Echo Talon]

Yes Vista contains DRM code, but if it didn't, you wouldn't be playing back protected media. HDCP is one example of content protection, and without it you wouldn't be playing HD-DVD's or Blu-Ray Disks that are protected. Yes, to view/listen to such protected content you will need HDCP compliant hardware as well (monitor and graphics card) but this is no different than a stand alone HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player; they need to support HDCP and you would need a HDCP supporting TV as well. This and other forms of DRM protection have been featured in previous Windows or their Service Packs, some date back to Windows ME.

[antiRepublicrat]

but this is no different than a stand alone HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player

That's a stand-alone player. I don't suppose you do other things on your stand-alone player, and maybe put in your own video and graphics cards? I don't suppose you run other programs on your standalone player that the player won't like, and therefore delete?

You didn't read that article, did you?