Windows Vista uses a new DVD/CD format that nothing else supports. So, if you are making DVDs or CDs for friends on a Windows Vista machine then your friends probably won't be able to read it unless you've manually changed the disc writer settings to "Mastered" each time you burn a disc.

This is, of course, standard operating procedure for Microsoft: Introduce some new whizbang format (documents, disks, etc) into their latest products in an attempt to force the rest of the world to use their latest software. I don't care how much better someone at Microsoft thinks it is... If the rest of the world can't read the disc its nothing more than a worthless piece of aluminum foil glued to a coaster.

Update: Ubuntu Linux 8.10 can read LiveFS formatted discs.

Labels: windows