Author Topic: I have a DVD player, what the hell do I do with it? (Read 320 times)

Ripsnort · « **on:** September 16, 2002, 11:21:42 AM »

I don't own any DVD's LOL! Seriously, what to DO with a DVD player on a computer?

LePaul · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2002, 11:42:59 AM »

Give it time

The DVD format holds like 2GB+ of data

I know if you are a developer, the Microsoft Developer Network stuff is going to DVD format soon since it holds so much data

Plus, you can watch DVD movies on the monitor (better than a TV for DPI, etc). Some games have DVD stuff on em

Be patient!

Ripsnort · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2002, 11:45:00 AM »

Okay, thats what I figured "Future"...of course by then, the 16X DVD will be so slow it'll be obsolete by then..hehe!

Lephturn · « **Reply #3 on:** September 16, 2002, 12:09:09 PM »

Exactly why I didn't purchase one with my latest machine. I watch DVD's on my TV. So far only TechNet comes on DVD. I'll go buy one the day my next game purchase actually comes on DVD. Until then I don't need one. With this new machine I bought a new burner and put it in my server box, and pulled the old CD-ROM drive out of the server for this box. The only thing I use that drive for is to install games anyway.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #4 on:** September 16, 2002, 12:37:50 PM »

psst... those DvD players will run normal CDs too (both data and music)

You old guys get so confused by technology some times.

AKDejaVu (not nearly as old... anyone that says otherwise is a liar)

Ripsnort · « **Reply #5 on:** September 16, 2002, 12:56:41 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKDejaVu
psst... those DvD players will run normal CDs too (both data and music)

You old guys get so confused by technology some times.

AKDejaVu (not nearly as old... anyone that says otherwise is a liar)

This I did not know. Thks.

Lephturn · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2002, 01:30:46 PM »

I have yet to purchase a DVD drive for a PC, but yep, I'm aware it will read CD's as well. But, a CD-ROM drive is cheaper.

Although in the US these days, a DVD drive is probably almost the same price as a CD-ROM drive. Up here in the North, the differential is enough that I still would but a CD-ROM instead. Not that I've bought one of those either... the last two optical drives I purchased were both burners.

It's all you need.

Pfunk · « **Reply #7 on:** September 16, 2002, 04:37:02 PM »

Use it as a Cup Holder, if you have a burner and dont watch DVD's on the computer thats about all its worth. I used to sell computers for a retail store and it never ceased to amaze me when customers would come in and ask specifically for a DVD in a Desktop computer. Fisrt question I would ask is to you already own a DVD player? Uh yes? So why do you want one in a COMPUTER. Well my cousins, uncles, brothers, sister told me that more and more software is coming out on DVD and CD-Roms will become like betamax......UH no...save the friggin $50-100 on a DVD for a computer and buy some more RAM or some blank CD's or something. DVD PLAYERS for computers are useless. ohh let me watch this letterboxed movie on a whopping 15' or 17' inch monitor. Tards

Kratzer · « **Reply #8 on:** September 16, 2002, 04:59:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by LePaul

I know if you are a developer, the Microsoft Developer Network stuff is going to DVD format soon since it holds so much data

We've actually been getting MSDN on DVD for the past 18 months.

eagl · « **Reply #9 on:** September 16, 2002, 08:14:52 PM »

I got a trial version of MS's latest developer suite and it came on a single DVD instead of a handful of CDs. It's only a matter of time before games switch to DVD. I remember way back when some games could be purchased as a set of 20 floppies or a single CD, and now with some games and nearly all developer or office suites coming in multiple CD sets, it's just a matter of time before a higher capacity format will be used.

Think of yourself as an "early adopter" and have pride in your role pushing forward the leading edge of technology

bloom25 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2002, 10:19:11 PM »

Actually the price difference for a DVD drive is around $10. If you've ever watched a DVD on a computer monitor (if you have a 19" monitor) you know how much better it looks than on a TV.

Except for watching movies, or if you have a DVD writer, there isn't a huge benefit to them though.

For reference, a single sided DVD is capable of holding 4.7 GB of data. (This is also the capacity of both DVD-RW and DVD+RW drives and disks.)

Double sided and double layer disks exist which can hold 4 x 4.7 GB.

Current DVD drives use a 635 nm red laser, but there are blue laser 2nd generation DVD drives which are capable of holding over 1 TB of data (>1000 GB) on a single side.

funkedup · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2002, 06:47:22 PM »

DVD+RW seems like it would be a sweet thing for backups.

beet1e · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2002, 03:45:15 AM »

I bought a £50 DVD player for the computer because I didn't want to buy a £120 one for the TV. And that's because DVD recorders for use with the TV are now on sale. Just waiting for them to come down to affordable levels. Wont be long now...