An interesting detail about Microsoft Aero Glass GUI surfaced on the istartedsomething blog. Microsoft said that the Windows 7 Desktop Windows Manager will support the Direct3D 10.1 API. The company claims that this transition will enable it to reduce the graphics memory footprint by about 50%.

Industry sources who requested to remain anonymous in this article confirmed to TG Daily that the transition in fact is being made. While the main advantage is memory savings, we were told that DX10.1 should deliver some speed improvements as well.  

More than likely, we are still more than a year away from an introduction of Windows 7. But Windows users who plan on upgrading to Windows 7 and spending some money on a new graphics card before then, could see additional value in a DX10.1 card. AMD already offers a wide range of DX10.1 card and Nvidia is expected to roll out such cards later this year or in early 2009.