Quote Originally Posted by Agent
...alternative...
I used to be in the systems business and I can remember the efforts we went to in order to create systems with GDI-bypass drivers

Around DX7 - things began to change and DX8 (+/- .1) was the first time that I can remember putting systems in for test using the 'drivers supplied'

DX9 seems to have pulled a lot of the market right around and developers seem genuinely happy programming in this environment

Microsoft's core strength in application design environments will be a pretty strong pull toward PC/Xbox360 as it would seem that a lot of 'Cor blimey guv - never seen that before !' awaits developers for 'alternative platforms'

If the Xbox 360 tools develop at a serious rate of knots + the product itself is largey unchallenged in Western Europe over the next 24 months + the new development environment offered by Longhorn is truly powerful/leading/next-gen...

...all of which are likely...

...then surely development houses will see massive profit in working the DX way ?

I remember leaving college thinking that Pascal and Z80 Assembler rooled...

...but times change don't they