Recommendations for DVD viewing software?

leo8877 · Post by **leo8877** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 4:16 am

Hey all, I just ordered a CD-RW/DVD ROM combo drive and I'm wondering what software I'll need to be able to watch DVDs. I think the drive comes with something (It's OEM, so who knows), but I wonder if there's anything else out there that's rock-solid? Any recommendations?

Edit: Does WMP 10 do all of this anyway?

is_dead · Post by **is_dead** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 1:02 pm

Get PowerDVD. Windows media doesn't come with a dvd codec, you need to get another (surprisingly hard to find free ones). Frequently the one shipped with drives is poor. Power DVD is excellent and its only 20 dollars.

SirReal · Post by **SirReal** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 1:41 pm

PowerDVD is good. If you're going to do a lot of burning, consider the fact that Nero now bundles a viewer as well, though.

leo8877 · Post by **leo8877** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:35 pm

is_dead wrote:Get PowerDVD. Windows media doesn't come with a dvd codec, you need to get another (surprisingly hard to find free ones). Frequently the one shipped with drives is poor. Power DVD is excellent and its only 20 dollars.

Where did you see this for $20? I just went to their site and it sells for $50. Is their a less advanced bundle for just viewing?

Maybe this is it: http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/prod ... plugin.asp

Veloxi · Post by **Veloxi** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:45 pm

Nvidia's NVDVD is probably the best one I've used, and I've used PowerDVD and WinDVD too.

leo8877 · Post by **leo8877** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:47 pm

Veloxi wrote:Nvidia's NVDVD is probably the best one I've used, and I've used PowerDVD and WinDVD too.

Will it matter that I have an ATI card?

Veloxi · Post by **Veloxi** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 4:29 pm

leo8877 wrote:
Veloxi wrote:Nvidia's NVDVD is probably the best one I've used, and I've used PowerDVD and WinDVD too.
Will it matter that I have an ATI card?

According to the system requirements, it supports the "ATI Radeon family." I hope that helps.

leo8877 · Post by **leo8877** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 4:44 pm

Cool, thank you!

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 8:53 pm

According to the Nvidia site, it isn't available to the public - only bundled with certain cards.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:55 pm

Buy a cheap DVD drive for your friends, and keep the free bundled PowerDVD for youself.

Veloxi · Post by **Veloxi** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:21 pm

Blackhawk wrote:According to the Nvidia site, it isn't available to the public - only bundled with certain cards.

I bittorrented it. Check out [deleted].

Site removed. Linking or naming warez sites is prohibited. While the site you named does, indeed, have some freely distributed programs listed, the bulk of it is illegal.

EvilHomer3k · Post by **EvilHomer3k** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:40 pm

Veloxi, please refrain from listing warez sites. It is against the CoC.

EvilHomer3k · Post by **EvilHomer3k** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:47 pm

Check out VideoLan at http://www.videolan.org/. It's free (open source) and works very well. Plays just about any format out there.

Veloxi · Post by **Veloxi** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 12:13 am

Sorry 'bout that, guys. Didn't want to ruffle any feathers.

Rich in KCK · Post by **Rich in KCK** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 12:24 am

A lot of people use ZoomPlayer a free DVD App but it doesn't come with a codec either. I think I have at least a Lite version of just about every big name retail DVDplayer. Between video cards and capture cards and DVD drives it seems I'm tripping over them but when the time came to choosing one for my HTPC I went with Theater Tek. It just melds easier with FFDShow a post processing piece of software. Theater Tek although is more troublesome than Windows XP is about authorizing it if the forums are any indication and it is kind of pricy. Performance wise I'm happy with it though.

RookieCAF · Post by **RookieCAF** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 7:09 am

I was using Media Player Classic the last couple reinstalls, and was happy with it for the most part, but it lacked.. polish. Its a great media player no doubt but I just like a little more.

I just bought a Lite On DVD-RW and it came bundled with PowerDVD 5 in whatever bundleware config it comes with, and its absolutely fine. No Problems.