I just posted this in a bunch of threads on the Intel Software Network Graphics forum, in response to a lot of heated discussion that’s been going on there. There’s also the video I did with Intel’s Chuck DeSylva, explaining why there are not and will not be any WDDM drivers for Intel 915 integrated graphics to run all the fancy “Premium” UI features (eye candy like 3D tab flipping and Aero Glass) in Windows Vista.
I’d really like to put this to rest soon… 
Here’s what I wrote:
OK, guys, here’s the deal.
There’s “Vista Ready” and “Vista Premium Capable”. Microsoft decides which is which:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/capable.mspx
The 915 graphics chip is “Vista Ready”. It runs Vista just fine. It is NOT “Vista Premium Capable”. From the above Microsoft site:
Some Windows Vista Capable PCs have been designated Premium Ready. These PCs will provide an even better Windows Vista experience, including the Windows Aero user experience. Features available in specific premium editions of Windows Vista, such as the ability to watch and record live TV, may require additional hardware.
Confusing? Yes. Deceptive? Well, some people think so, and have brought a lawsuit against Microsoft for this exact issue:
In fact, since that lawsuit, Microsoft has gone back and made a change to that paragraph I quoted. Read about what it used to say:
http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2007/04/09/microsoft-redefines-vista-capable
So.
To everyone who bought a laptop with Intel 915 graphics, because it was labelled “Vista Ready”, you were NOT deceived. It IS “Vista Ready”. It runs Vista just fine.
But.
If you somehow thought that “Vista Ready” meant that you could run the cool 3D tab flipper, and the fancy “Aero Glass” high end 3D interface, you were wrong.
I’m sorry you didn’t understand what you were getting when you bought a system with an old, low end, legacy graphics chip. I’m sorry the Microsoft marketing material and logo labels confused you. I really am. I wish none of us had to deal with this.
Is Intel ever going to release a “beta”/unofficial driver for 915 graphics?
I’m not the “official” person to answer this, but I’d say “no”.
Why?
Because it’s an old, low end, “legacy” part. There aren’t any people at Intel dedicated to writing new drivers for this part. Intel laid off 10% of its workforce last year - 10,000 people. Ten thousand. The rest of us that are left are trying to get all the work done. Obviously, we can’t do the same amount of work. Some things have to get dropped. Decisions have to be made about what projects are going to happen, and which ones are going to get cut. Like I said, I’m not the “official” person to say, but my guess is that there just aren’t people sitting around, collecting a paycheck, that could be thrown at writing an unofficial “beta” driver. Wouldn’t it cool if it happened? Of course. Would Intel like to do it if we had the resources? Certainly! But we live in the same reality that you do, and we have to make our budget balance just like you do. We can’t always do everything that we’d like to do.
I hope this serves as a “final word” on this discussion. If you have more questions, please do continue to discuss it here, email me, whatever. But I’m hiding anything or holding anything back - I’ve laid it all out on the line, here, and I hope it helps you guys understand.
And if I could buy everyone a drink to make you feel better, or a brand new “Vista Premium Ready” computer to run the Vista eye-candy, I would. But there’s that whole “reality” thing…
TinyScreenfuls Feed (this blog)
It would be nice to see some type of driver. The ole 915 can run the Aero interface, I had several Vista-beta systems with the 915 running Aero just fine with no problems what-so ever. Well the system did run a bit warmer temp-wise on the 3 tablets and 1 laptop I tried the reg hack on, which I think is a main reason why it may have not been done. Windows Vista no longer allows you turn on LDDM via a simple reghack since it looks at your hardware.
It would be nice, but its also another excuse to get some new hardware.
What a SELFISH centric and not a customer centric point of view. YOU will get the consequences YOU deserve.
If the company loose more customer regarding this issue, YOU is going to be another 10% that will loose your job.
Use you brain.
hey there,
i think keeping the demand for the 915G graphic driver to support Aero Glass is increasing, Intel should do something with problem being faced by a number of us. Rest as they say is all on them.
Lets See…..
Why then is Intel still selling an old, low end, “legacy” part ? I believe there are still more than 10000 unsold 915 chipsets by Intel alone.The Aero glass worked fine 915 chipsets in vista beta but Microsoft made sure it would not work in the RTM version by usind XPDM drivers instead of WDM drivers and intel refuses to supply the supply the right drivers yet also says minimum for Aero is 533 Mhz memory which the 915 supports.Absolute rubbish, I will not be buying another intel product if this is the way intel chooses to support it’s customers unfortunately I can’t say the same about Microsoft.
HI, PLEASE READ THIS PETITION:
http://www.petitiononline.com/intel915/petition.html
nice speech ,but we are not dumbs to beilive this ,so release a driver will be nice
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT INTEL 915 WHICH UNFORTUNETLY I AM USING IN WINDOWS VISTA ULTIMATE THE FINAL VERSION, AERO INTERFACE FOR ME DEOSN’T WORK BUT WHEN I RUN MY WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER IN FULL SCREEN MODE DISPLAYS GLASS AT BOTTOM & MEDIA CENTER DISPLAYS FULL AERO INTERFACE. ITS JUST THE MAIN THEME WHICH CANT RUN BECAUSE WDDM IS UNAVIALABLE. BUT LET ME ASK YOU WHAT ABOUT NVIDIA THAT CHIPSET IS COMPARED IN THE GMA 900 DOCUMENTATION, IT HAS A WDDM DRIVER THEN WHY NOT US. AMD IS EVEN NOW PROVIDING WDDM/LDDM FOR THERE OLD LEGACY PRODUCT BECAUSE THEY THINK CUSTOMER POINT OF VIEW THEN WHY CANT INTEL? WE ALL KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT INTEL 915 CAPABILITY THAT AERO IS EASYLY SUPPORTED. SO WHY NOT RELEASE ONE? IF INTEL THINKS WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS BUDGET OREINTED THEN WE WILL ALSO DO THE SAME QUIT INTEL PRODUCT AND GO FOR AMD WITH ATI CHIPSET, BETTER GRAPHICS AND ALWAYS THERE FOR THERE CUSTOMER.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
And Beryl software on Linux runs equally impressive effects on the same chip! How do they manage for long Memory Tables or Hardware scheduler? Any idea? The reasons given by Intel are not so true, Ya they have restrictions due to which they cant realease an official version, but they can release an unofficial one. Moreover, Its Microsoft who seems to me the real culprit here since they had put strangely high restrictions on the hardware requirements for the WDDM model. I dont understand why they di it, when the interface was running smoothly in beta versions on the same chip!
I JUST WANNA SAY THAT INTEL 915 WHICH UNFORTUNETLY I AM USING IN WINDOWS VISTA ULTIMATE THE FINAL VERSION, AERO INTERFACE FOR ME DEOSN’T WORK BUT WHEN I RUN MY WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER IN FULL SCREEN MODE DISPLAYS GLASS AT BOTTOM & MEDIA CENTER DISPLAYS FULL AERO INTERFACE. ITS JUST THE MAIN THEME WHICH CANT RUN BECAUSE WDDM IS UNAVIALABLE. BUT LET ME ASK YOU WHAT ABOUT NVIDIA THAT CHIPSET IS COMPARED IN THE GMA 900 DOCUMENTATION, IT HAS A WDDM DRIVER THEN WHY NOT US. AMD IS EVEN NOW PROVIDING WDDM/LDDM FOR THERE OLD LEGACY PRODUCT BECAUSE THEY THINK CUSTOMER POINT OF VIEW THEN WHY CANT INTEL? WE ALL KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT INTEL 915 CAPABILITY THAT AERO IS EASYLY SUPPORTED. SO WHY NOT RELEASE ONE? IF INTEL THINKS WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS BUDGET OREINTED THEN WE WILL ALSO DO THE SAME QUIT INTEL PRODUCT AND GO FOR AMD WITH ATI CHIPSET, BETTER GRAPHICS AND ALWAYS THERE FOR THERE CUSTOMER.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
I think this is the only choice left…….
Bye Bye INtel
I’m pissed off at intel. They did a major disservice to vast numbers of their loyal customers by not supporting a very, very new video chipset. I remember Ati rage pro drivers that enjoyed backward compatibility drivers from windows 95 all the way to windows xp. And now we buy notebook with i915 video in 2007 and already finds the video chipset to be out of date in the same year???
There’s just no excuse for the greed and the lack of consideration from both Microsoft and Intel in this issue.
Serves them right. Microsoft has built themselves a monstrocity of an os with vista and is now seeing their core customers withholding their new IT expenditures and looking elsewhere for their OS upgrade options.
Intel….. hmm…. i’m sure their greed-oriented marketing strategy will come back to hunt them. I’m going to make sure the future notebook purchases for my office will be an amd/ati based machine!!!
Screwxx You, intel and microsft!!
All, a 915 petition was released and has only 5591 signatures. Do you think that intel will worry about us, their customers? We were only 5591 complain about this.
Let’s make pression on intel!!!
Please sign the online petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/intel915/petition-sign.html.
Given the fact that this whole issue is blowing up, in terms of mainstream coverage, talk of class action lawsuits, I’ve decided to lock this comment thread. The discussion has run its course as it pertains to Intel Software Network and this blog. I’m sure there will be other, more appropriate places to continue this conversation. This is no longer the place, and I don’t want to spend any time talking to lawyers about this. I’m just a blogger who tried to start some conversations, and get some answers, and this is beyond me and beyond this blog now.