Not a movie buff...so why DVD?

[Chilis]

What type of software is out there that would coax me into needing a DVD unit to go along with my CDRW? Can't see watching a movie at my desk and don't understand the attraction. Maybe I'm way behind on the learning curve so fill me in...

Thanks!

 

[JohnnyPC]

I'm with you brother. IMHO having a DVD is something I'll never use. There seems to be no software that I need that's released on a DVD. I always get a chuckle when I get somebody that watches a movie on their 19" monitor

 

[oldfart]

For data. I recently put one in my kids PC. I got her the Encyclopedia Britannica on one DVD. Its also available on 4 CD's. The one DVD is much nicer. No swapping CD's in and out.

 

[deerslayer]

So you can say "lookey here jim bob, i got a dvd drive in my computer "

Actually, i think SOME movies have screen savers and stuff on them, possibly the Matrix. I don't really see the necessity of having a DVD drive on your computer tho.

 

[randomlinh]

dvd software never cought on. some games could have used it tho... and office suites, but pretty much it. or if you still need gobs of clipart... we used to have one that was 7 cd's long.. one or two double sided dvd's woulda been nice

 

[Chilis]

Well, at least I'm glad to know that I'm not too "old school" (yet!!!). I can see the encyclopedia or world atlas software regarding storage capacity but not much else. I will sleep better tonight knowing that there's one less thing I'm NOT missing out on

 

[Trader05]

Yeah the Dvd demand on a computer isn't that high at all..probally that's why they are soo cheap. Until the DVD-R drives start to get reasonably at a decent price and most of all at a good speed, probally more people will buy Dvd drives. I can see if you had a computer in your room and not a dvd player for your tv, and used that....the encyclopedia is a good choice tho. Other than that, blah nothing else.

 

[MrDudeMan]

aye i see no need for it really


just get a regular cd rom

 

[corkyg]

Topo USA 4.0 has just been released by DeLorme on DVD.

 

[JellyBaby]

I hope games are available on DVD soon. With retailers forcing the smaller box format on game publishers, the game makers are becoming constrained as to how much game they can include. DVDs will help solve that problem.

 

[jeffrey]

The famous chicken and the egg.

DVD software, for the most part, is waiting for the installed base to grow. However, it will come.

 

[FuManStan]

The thing is dvd drives aren't much more expensive than regular cd drives, so for those building new systems there's little reason not to get one just for technology sake. However there isn't any must have software on dvd which is a real shame, especially since so many games are released on 2 cds nowadays. I did, however, find it handy to watch Batman and Kindergarten Cop on my computer for a Film Music class at school

 

[JBT]

I agree that it would be great if there were more programs on DVD but there aren't. I have a DVD drive i have used it probably twice in its exhistance and i have never been able to sit and watch a whole movie on my computer yet... But they aren't much more than a regular CD- ROM drive so why not have one just in case???

 

[MasterHoss]

I acutally have a "mini HT" in my bedroom. I am college kid and my computer serves as a truely multimedia solution for me. I have a dual monitor set up so that I can watch TV on 1 monitor and use the other to work, research, or just screw around.

I watch movies on my 21" Sony G520 and used to watch movies on a 17" Sony E200... yeah, it's pretty funny considering I have a 61" HDTV back in H-town and watch movies off of it with a progressive scan DVD player but when you're in a 10.5" X 11" bedroom in a college apartment complex, a 21" monitor is large enough to enjoy watching movies or TV on... and with my "9.2" set up, it get's plenty loud.

 

[MikeO]

<< Can't see watching a movie at my desk and don't understand the attraction >>



Yeah, I haven't heard of TV-Out eihter

 

[Sunner]

Why not?

Not that any games use it, but many "real" applications do, and they cost like ~5 more than a CDROM.
Skip that useless floppy and get a DVD instead, skip the past and get the future instead

 

[Woodchuck2000]

I use my PC as a dvd player with the joys of TV out, and it's worth it just for the stunning sound quality.

That said, just about every new PC in the last year or so has come equipped with a DVD drive. I think that once DVD-r comes down sufficiently, using it for transferring files will be a big plus (4.7 gig, anyone?)

Also, dvd software is <slowly> starting to trickle into everyday use - I picked up a DVD version of Baldurs Gate for $10, and it is fantastic compared to the 5 CD original.

Given that the price overhead is minimal, it's definitely worth it.

 

[passign]

interesting, i've seen over 100 movies on my pc

one last night.. and another one tonight

 

[QTPie]

I use it to "back up" DVD movies!

 

[nweaver]

Why?? I was looking for my brother in law, and found a nice sony 12x, and it has a 512k buffer. Reads an 80min cd for clonecd in under 4 mins. everytime. His plextor 24x won't go that fast, and both are supposed to be 40x cd readers.....Read in 4, burn in 4, nice way to go.

 

[AnMig]

I am still hoping for a Playstation 2 / X-Box emulator I believe we will need DVD players then.

I use it to RIP dvd moveis to watch later (netflix)

 

[Mavrick007]

The plus to getting a dvd drive is that you "can" read the software made for it and it's pretty much as fast as most cd-roms(48x cd read vs. 52x/56x?) with only a bit extra cost (most are ~$50 now). I watch all my movies on the tv coming from my Hollywood + card and it looks and sounds great. The other plus is that if you get any DVD ram,+R/w,R, etc or any other data like that it will read it while a cd-rom won't. If you want to save a few bucks, then get a cdrom but I would have at least one dvd rom in one of my machines just in case I need it.

 

[SmirnoffIsTasty]

Slot load drives are sweet, and as far as I know, you cant get a Slot load cdrom.

 

[spanner]

its usefull if you are a college student who has space limitations, also the picture is much sharper on a PC screen compared to a regular tv. And lastly, its the only way to rip a dvd if you are into that kind of stuff but its kinda pointless ripping a DVD that you can just as easily go and rent.

 

[skace]

Why is it such a joke to watch DVDs on your computer? If you have a 21" monitor and high-end speakers are you missing out on anything? On top of that is the fact that a large leather office chair is about the most comfortable thing ever made. I guess it must sound silly, but in college we regularly had 5 people watching a movie on a 21" monitor without any complaints at all. Infact, most people were impressed by the quality of the display as well as the sound.

Aside from that, DVDs are perfect storage, and it will be the practicality of DVD storage that will eventually bring it to more common use with games/applications.

I think some people set their computers up in such a way that it is so uncomfortable that they laugh at the idea of watching a movie in front of them. These people do not realize you can set your computers up in a way that you are very comfortable in front of them. I've fixed many computers where I found myself saying in my head "I can't believe the person can actually sit at this cramped desk and do work (much less watch a movie)".