DVD Player Software Recommendations

  • Thread starter Thread starter Doug Kanter
  • Start date Start date
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Doug Kanter

I'm looking for software to watch (not record) DVDs (rented movies). Doesn't
have to be freeware - I just want something stable, and I *do not* want to
install & uninstall a hundred different pieces of software in an effort to
find just one I like. So, if you've got something like this which you've
been happy with, I'd appreciate any input.
 
Alex said:
You can try
windows media player - free=
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/
Realplayer - free - upgradable= http://www.real.com
Cineplayer - not free= http://www.sonic.com/products/Consumer/cineplayer/

there is all sorts out there just pick n choose id recomend any of these
but
i havent tryed cineplayer yet.
Click to expand...

Interesting - I already have WMP, but when I pop in a movie, I get a message
saying I need a plug-in for WMP. Clicking on web help takes me to a
Microsoft page, with links to third party providers of these plug-ins. This
computer's hard disk was recently reformatted & XP reinstalled. It played
movies before - I guess the decoder was lost in the shuffle.
 
have you got realplayer

Doug Kanter said:
Interesting - I already have WMP, but when I pop in a movie, I get a message
saying I need a plug-in for WMP. Clicking on web help takes me to a
Microsoft page, with links to third party providers of these plug-ins. This
computer's hard disk was recently reformatted & XP reinstalled. It played
movies before - I guess the decoder was lost in the shuffle.
Click to expand...
 
Windows Media Player and Real Player are okay, but the most user friendly
player for me has been WINDVD. You can google the name to find sites. The
program imitates the front of a machine and there are a number of advanced
features. Right clicking the picture you are watching enables you to
excercise a great deal of control that cannot be found in some other programs
I have tried.
 
Hi,

My best experience with watching DVDs on a desktop or Laptop is
http://www.cyberlink.com thats cyberlinks PowerDVD. It was bundled with a DVD
burner that I purchased. It is just like watching from my flat scree TV.
 
Are you using the original installation of the OS that came with your
computer? If yes, that might be the reason. Whatever multimedia details came
with my Sony laptop are gone now. I'd try to repair with the troublemaking
CD, but it insists on "fixing" everything that doesn't look right. Sure. :-)
 
Alex said:
have you got realplayer
Click to expand...

Yes, but I try to use it as little as possible. Too many weird messages, too
many attempts to contact the outside world, according to ZoneAlarm.
 
yes i am using the original software that came with the computer take a look
at my other posts
 
What makes no sense is that WMP even requires a plug-in, and that they're
all 3rd party things. Why doesn't MS simply build DVD capability into the
software?
 
Most DVD drives come with player software. The OEM versions may have some
limitations, like only making stereo sound. I've seen OEM copies at computer
shows for $5-10US, but the list prices for the retail versions are much
higher.

I'm using WinDVD (www.intervideo.com), but PowerDVD
(http://www.cyberlink.com/) is also good. I think that both are available as
downloadable trial versions. (One warning: WinDVD installs WinCinema
Manager, whether it's wanted or not. As far as I know, it's useless unless
you plan to use a remote control. For me it was worse than useless, as it
conflicted with other software. It's simple enough to remove the shortcut
that causes it to load at startup, so it's not a serious problem.)

Windows Media Player will play DVDs, but it doesn't include the codecs. (I
think it's a licensing issue. The codecs are probably not free.) If you
install one of the packages above, WMP will use the codecs installed with it
to play DVDs. I have read of free downloadable codecs, but I haven't tried
them.


Address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.
 
Bob Knowlden said:
Most DVD drives come with player software. The OEM versions may have some
limitations, like only making stereo sound. I've seen OEM copies at
computer shows for $5-10US, but the list prices for the retail versions
are much higher.

I'm using WinDVD (www.intervideo.com), but PowerDVD
(http://www.cyberlink.com/) is also good. I think that both are available
as downloadable trial versions. (One warning: WinDVD installs WinCinema
Manager, whether it's wanted or not. As far as I know, it's useless unless
you plan to use a remote control. For me it was worse than useless, as it
conflicted with other software. It's simple enough to remove the shortcut
that causes it to load at startup, so it's not a serious problem.)

Windows Media Player will play DVDs, but it doesn't include the codecs. (I
think it's a licensing issue. The codecs are probably not free.) If you
install one of the packages above, WMP will use the codecs installed with
it to play DVDs. I have read of free downloadable codecs, but I haven't
tried them.
Click to expand...

That's the problem, I suspect - the codecs. I've bookmarked quite a few
sources for them, but there doesn't seem to be a living person on this
planet who can explain which ones are needed.
 
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