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Recommendations for DVD viewing software?
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 4:16 am
by leo8877
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?
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 1:02 pm
by is_dead
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.
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 1:41 pm
by SirReal
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.
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:35 pm
by leo8877
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
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:45 pm
by Veloxi
Nvidia's NVDVD is probably the best one I've used, and I've used PowerDVD and WinDVD too.
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 3:47 pm
by leo8877
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?
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 4:29 pm
by Veloxi
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.
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 4:44 pm
by leo8877
Cool, thank you!
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 8:53 pm
by Blackhawk
According to the Nvidia site, it isn't available to the public - only bundled with certain cards.
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:55 pm
by Kasey Chang
Buy a cheap DVD drive for your friends, and keep the free bundled PowerDVD for youself.
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:21 pm
by Veloxi
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.
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:40 pm
by EvilHomer3k
Veloxi, please refrain from listing warez sites. It is against the CoC.
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 11:47 pm
by EvilHomer3k
Check out VideoLan at
http://www.videolan.org/. It's free (open source) and works very well. Plays just about any format out there.
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 12:13 am
by Veloxi
Sorry 'bout that, guys. Didn't want to ruffle any feathers.
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 12:24 am
by Rich in KCK
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.
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 7:09 am
by RookieCAF
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.