The seeds were planted way back in 2005 when Intel started the
process of
embedding DRM technology into its Pentium D and 945 chips. After
that, it was only a matter of time before Microsoft - and eventually
Apple - would use this in computers in order to make the entertainment
industry happy.
Sure, they could refuse or drag their feet for a while, but each
year that they renewed contracts, the issue would be brought up again.
Wired reported this future Hollywood request back in 2005
when the DRM news first came out.
Maybe "active management technology" (AMT) didn't have everything it
needed to be used for DRM back in 2005. Hacks to encode the video and
audio signals coming out of the computer were not prevented.
Obviously Intel did not loose their interest in the issue. It
continued with development of various technologies until it had a more
complete solution.
Fast forward three years, and the Pentium D is now a Core 2 Duo
processor that is in every new MacBook model. Intel has
licensed its High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) to
Apple and others. Suddenly the predictions of three years ago are here.
Digitally protected content on a MacBook will not play on a monitor or other
device that doesn't cooperate with the HDCP protection scheme.
We may have known the problem was coming three years ago, but now
that it is here, it is still a shock.
Apple has sold out to Hollywood. Can we blame them? No, people want
the latest and greatest new movies to be on the
iTunes Store ready for purchase.
Did it come with a high price? Yes, we are all soon to be temporary
holders of the movies we buy until the next round of technology updates
sends us back to repurchase again. There will be no transferring or
copying over to the next format. They are working hard to lock us into
their system and lock us out of choices.
Will the
cracking of the copy protection on the Blu-ray discs brings some
choice back, not only to Chinese pirates but also average users? Who
knows? The game is still on.
All I see is that one important talking point for why Macs are
better has been lost. 
