Best DVD playing software?

Draeger · 7 Dec 2006 at 19:56

Are you in the PowerDVD or WinDVD camp?.

Or are there alternatives?.

After a reformat of my laptop, I'm reinstalling all my apps and have PowerDVD 5.0 here, but before I bung it on, I wondered if, in everyones opinion, there was a better piece of software out there?.

Cheers. :cool:

nemtizz · 7 Dec 2006 at 19:57

/windvd camp

james.miller · 7 Dec 2006 at 19:57

media player classic + ffdshow. ok it might not be the easiest, but it IS free..

squiffy · 7 Dec 2006 at 20:20

Theatretek + ffdshow

Tony Williams · 7 Dec 2006 at 20:27

I use PowerDVD but Windows Media Player and Media Player Classic I think should suit you. I am sure there are a lot of other programs too.

I would help more but I don't have any DVDs to test.

Draeger · 7 Dec 2006 at 20:35

Ok, stupid question.

Does WMP 11 play DVD's?. :confused:

nemtizz · 7 Dec 2006 at 20:36

Draeger said:
Ok, stupid question.

Does WMP 11 play DVD's?.

Yes.

Tony Williams · 7 Dec 2006 at 20:38

WMP11 does play DVDs. I don't like WMP11 myself though but use it if it works.

Glaucus · 7 Dec 2006 at 20:45

VLC it doesn't contain the crap copy protection that windows media player and other dvd players have. Ie you can watch it on a analogue output to a tv.

Draeger · 7 Dec 2006 at 20:46

Think I might stick with WMP11 then.

The less clutter the better, so if it means that I dont need an additional app installed to playback DVD's, that will do for me!!!. :cool:

*EDIT* VLC?.

Whats that, got a link?.

*NinjaEDIT* No matter, found it.

nemtizz · 7 Dec 2006 at 20:48

VLC is the shizzle.

http://www.download.com/VLC-Media-Player/3000-2194_4-10534878.html?tag=lst-0-1

DavidQ · 7 Dec 2006 at 20:54

VLC is fantastic, it plays everything. Shame it can't cook, I'd love a steak dinner right about now

Draeger · 7 Dec 2006 at 20:58

Okeydokey.

I'll give this VLC a whirl and see how it goes.

Cheers fellas.

MarcLister · 7 Dec 2006 at 21:43

It took 9 posts for VLC to be mentioned?! :eek:

VLC is brilliant, has all the codecs I've ever needed and I don't need to install a DVD decoder like I used to for WMP. :rolleyes:

no_1_dave · 8 Dec 2006 at 14:17

PowerDVD

bledd · 8 Dec 2006 at 14:25

media player classic

opens super fast

make a shortcut to mpc, then rightclickProperties it, change the target to this..

"C:\Program Files\Media Player Classic\mplayerc.exe" /dvd

rename the shortcut dvd then drop it in c:\windows\system32 folder

now start, run, dvd

will open it in dvd playing mode (straight into dvd)

james.miller · 8 Dec 2006 at 14:31

nice. i think dropping the shortcut onto the start menu would be better though

bledd · 8 Dec 2006 at 15:26

thats what i've done for my brother, i just start all programs from the runbox

MarcLister · 8 Dec 2006 at 15:34

Might give MPC a go. I like VLC but I'm always open to suggestions having switched to Sunbelt Kerio from ZA Pro just this week.

Does MPC have its own codecs like VLC or does it need some installed? If it needs its own I'd probably try the CCCP out.

bledd · 8 Dec 2006 at 16:04

been using ffdshow with mpc for years now

can change the view settings to remove the top bar, so looks sleek etc..

http://bleddyn.co.uk/forums/ocuk/mpcview.png