best freeware dvd player software?

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
I dropped $70 for WinDVD last weekend... Although I have a couple copies of PowerDVD around... But PowerDVD is such a scam... just to get 24bit sound, I'd have to buy add on audio packs... bleh.
 

Broohaha

Banned
Jan 4, 2001
3,973
0
0
i have intervideo that came packaged with my dell lappy but im too lazy to do the install (and i dont know where the cd is)... i just wnat to download this damn thing. anyone?
 

Broohaha

Banned
Jan 4, 2001
3,973
0
0
Originally posted by: Nebor
Originally posted by: Broohaha no i mean software
It still doesn't exist.

let's see what my ol friend mr. kazaa ha to say about that!

---

You may want to worry more about what our ol friend, Mr. Moderator has to say about that. Advocating warez can buy you a free lock on your account.
 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
Originally posted by: Broohaha
no i mean software

i know what you mean. i think the mpeg2 decoders required by dvd players use patented stuff so they cant be distributed for free or something
 

Broohaha

Banned
Jan 4, 2001
3,973
0
0
Originally posted by: dighn
Originally posted by: Broohaha no i mean software
i know what you mean. i think the mpeg2 decoders required by dvd players use patented stuff so they cant be developed for free.

darn you and your competent explanation of things!

oh well guess ill just watch it on my tv.... but i was so comfy on my bed :(
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
I'm not going to quote what you said, so maybe you'll have a chance to get rid of it.... But it could very well get you a vacation. You're advocating piracy. If that weren't dispicable enough (especially to someone who just paid $70 for the software) you're doing it because you're too lazy to look for the CD...

I think you're a pretty good guy, but... :disgust:
 

Ryan

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
27,519
2
81
Originally posted by: Broohaha
Originally posted by: dighn
Originally posted by: Broohaha no i mean software
i know what you mean. i think the mpeg2 decoders required by dvd players use patented stuff so they cant be developed for free.
darn you and your competent explanation of things! oh well guess ill just watch it on my tv.... but i was so comfy on my bed :(

Also, most DVDs come with an Interplay DVD decoder that ususally auto-runs itself when the DVD is put in the dvd-rom - you could try that ;)
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Originally posted by: rbloedow
Originally posted by: Broohaha
Originally posted by: dighn
Originally posted by: Broohaha no i mean software
i know what you mean. i think the mpeg2 decoders required by dvd players use patented stuff so they cant be developed for free.
darn you and your competent explanation of things! oh well guess ill just watch it on my tv.... but i was so comfy on my bed :(

Also, most DVDs come with an Interplay DVD decoder that ususally auto-runs itself when the DVD is put in the DVD-rom- you could try that ;)

 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
The problem is not the playback software, but the codecs. WMP will play DVD's, but it requires you to install codecs. Why? If Microsoft included DVD codecs with WMP they would have to pay licensing fees for every copy of WMP.

The reason no free DVD software exists is that one of two things would have to be true:

1) The entity that produced/distributed it would have to pay licensing fees

-- or --

2) It would be illegal.

Viper GTS
 

thraxes

Golden Member
Nov 4, 2000
1,974
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Thge primary reason why there are no freeware DVD players is the CSS protection algorythm. Due to the DMCA, it is illegal to use the reverse engineered CSS decryption that is floating around on the web. Hence nobody is willing to make the effort and develop a DVD software with MPEG2 codec for free.
 

NogginBoink

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2002
5,322
0
0
Actually, the real reason is that the MPEG2 decoding algorithm requires licensing fees.

Any freeware player you find would only work if you already had an MPEG2 decoder codec on your machine and therefore wouldn't be a complete self-contained DVD player.

(although thraxes has a point as well)