A Question About DVD Players for the PC

[brainsmile]

Hey everyone... just wondering if anyone has some suggestions for what to download (free) or buy (cheap) that works well. I just got a dvd/cdrw and need a program to run the dvd's I'd imagine. I haven't actually installed the thing yet. But I'd imagine it's just plug and play. This is for my thinkpad laptop.

I was looking into this http://www.national.com/appinfo/dvd/dvd.html but can't seem to find it to download anywhere

[Hoser]

What version of Windows do you have? If you have WinXP, you can download a DVD codec that will let you play DVDs with the Windows Media Player. Here's a link: http://www.intervideo.com/products/custom/ms/windowsxp/media_pack.jsp. It's $14.95. That's the cheapest way to play DVDs on WinXP. Otherwise you'll have to pay about three times as much. Two other programs, Power DVD XP 4.0 and WinDVD 3 are both $49.95.

I don't know of any 'free' programs for playing DVDs. I did get a program with my ATI card, but it's never worked for me.

[sbp]

The two softDvd programs I've used are WinDVD http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVD_Download.jsp

and PowerDVD http://www.gocyberlink.com/english/products/powerdvd/powerdvd.asp

[brainsmile]

so which is better or... what are their strenghts and weeknesses?

[Ladogaboy]

Wait, what video card to you have with your laptop? Depending on which one you have, the manufacturer might have a DVD player already built-in.

[brainsmile]

any help would be appreciated

I've got the thinkpad R30 with 1Ghz,15Gig HD

http://commerce.www.ibm.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/CategoryDisplay?cgrfnbr=2035724&cntrfnbr=1&cgmenbr=1&cntry=840&lang=en_US

[brainsmile]

thanks in advance

[Grimm]

There is a player on tucows (www.tucows.com) FreeDVD 2.0, never used it, it only gets 3 out of 5, but it is freeware.

It is in the multimedia section, under videotools. Not going to link it because it's better if you pull it off a local server (tucows has a LOT of mirrors).

[whitak24]

Originally posted by sbp
The two softDvd programs I've used are WinDVD http://www.intervideo.com/jsp/WinDVD_Download.jsp
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i have WinDVD on my laptop....not a bad program, although the interface is somewhat poorly designed at times. however, i had no idea that it cost $50 to buy it (i downloaded it off our network at work -- apparently we must have a firm-wide license or something). so i'm not really sure if the program is worth $50.

one other thing to note: WinDVD is enabled w/ macrovision protection. that means that if your laptop has a video out (mine has both composite and regular outs) but the video card does not have a macrovision chip, you cannot hook your laptop up to a monitor (or TV) and watch a movie. so if you were hoping that your laptop would double as a home dvd player (that's what i wanted to do), you should check on the macrovision thing first.

[UnReAL]

power dvd is the best in my opinion... used windvd and hated it, havent tried windows media player yet, but somehow i doubt it's better than power dvd.

[attgig]

i use power dvd.
go to http://www.pricewatch.com/
and do a search for powerdvd

i found one: CyberLink Power DVD software CyberLink PowerDVD software CD-ROM $ 5 $6 & up
5 bucks + 6 bucks shipping..
yeah shiping is a rip off...but 11 bucks for powerdvd is pretty cheap.

[brainsmile]

isn't powerdvd downloadable for free?

[DoPeY5007]

Originally posted by brainsmile
isn't powerdvd downloadable for free? you can get it free with some DVD-Roms, that is how I got my copy