It's quite possible there'll be a version of DX10 for XP since being there are still going to be quite a few people who won't (or can't) upgrade to Vista. If we look at the history of DirectX, we see that when DX9 came out, it wasn't going to be just for Windows XP, it was also built for those who were still using Windows 2000.This is just conjecture though so I could be wrong. I would hope that they make DX10 for XP as well as Vista.On a sidenote: If they do indeed make a version of DX10 available for XP, it'll most likely require Windows Validation before you're even allowed to download it.

A little something from MSDN Forums:"Simple question, will Direct X10 only be compatible with Vista?""Simple answer: YesThe necessary runtime depends on the new display driver model that is only available for Windows Vista. Additional you will need a new graphics adapter that is Direct3D compatible."http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost....625387&SiteID=1"Let me help you out. You're cleared to taxi any way you can to any runway you see."

If you read on in that particular MSDN thread, DisabledTrucker goes on to say:"...Eventually either Microsoft will break down and include an upgrade path to DX 10 for it's plethoria of XP users, or DX will fall by the wayside as people wait to eventually upgrade to Vista, if not the next iteration of Windows..."We're just going to have to wait and see what happens then. Like I said before: I hope DX10 isn't only going to be made for Vista.

>If you read on in that particular MSDN thread,>DisabledTrucker goes on to say:>>"...Eventually either Microsoft will break down and include an>upgrade path to DX 10 for it's plethoria of XP users, or DX>will fall by the wayside as people wait to eventually upgrade>to Vista, if not the next iteration of Windows...">>We're just going to have to wait and see what happens then.>Like I said before: I hope DX10 isn't only going to be made>for Vista.>From what I read, the architecture of DX10 is so different from how DX9 and previous versions work that it has to be on Vista to take advantage of certain things built into the OS to support it. But I could be wrong.

I don't think you're wrong. Everything the MS folks have said or written in the last year have emphasized that DX10 will never be available for WinXP because of architecture differences. But, as the current performance issues with FSX have little to do with the version of DirectX being used (and still have everything to do with raw CPU power), that's probably not a big deal for most of us.Doug

> I don't think you're wrong. Everything the MS folks have>said or written in the last year have emphasized that DX10>will never be available for WinXP because of architecture>differences. But, as the current performance issues with FSX>have little to do with the version of DirectX being used (and>still have everything to do with raw CPU power), that's>probably not a big deal for most of us.>>DougWhat I'm always excited about with a new release is when you look at where it could go.For example, take a look at some of the games that came out when DX9 was first released, and compare it to things like Crysis or Half-Life 2 or FSX. You look at Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, even and compare it to the new Rainbow Six: Vegas that's coming out soon. Chaos Theory was considered graphically brilliant when it came out, but the limits of the technology were pushed even farther to provide more.Now, take that growth, and apply it to DX10 with that "artist's render" as a starting point, and it is very very exciting.