Blu-Ray STILL not mature / easy to use?

[TheInternal]

Wow...

I figured being this late to the game on getting a blu-ray drive, things would be easy. I'm dreadfully wrong, it seems.

After scouring forums, I've tried numerous free solutions. None worked.

I've tried a trial of TotalMediaTheatre 5 which said my system wasn't HDCP compliant, so it wouldn't play.

I've tried a trial of CyberLink PowerDVD 12 which crashes my NVIDIA driver and sometimes BSODs my computer.

The little Cyberlink Blu-Ray & 3d Advisor says my software player requires an upgrade and that my video connection type: Digital (without HDCP) isn't BD ready. WTF...

My brand new system:

Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
Asus P8Z77-V Pro
Intel Core i5 3570k
4 x 4 GB Samsung RAM at 1600MHz
2 x Gigabyte Geforce 670 GTX in SLI
Primary drive: Samsung 830 SSD 240GB
Storage drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 1 TB FALS
LG Blu-Ray burner

and the only old part:
Dell 2405 FPW 24" screen connected via DVI

They've had years to make blu-ray work easily with everything out there... why the hell isn't it? I seldom watch disc-based movies anymore, but I don't understand what they are thinking by making blu-ray such a pain in the ass to play back compared to DVDs or streaming Netflix or Hulu...

 

[Nothinman]

The movie industry doesn't want it to be easy because then it's easy to pirate too. They want you using tightly controlled set top boxes, not your PC which they can't totally control.

 

[TheInternal]

yeah, I know Nothinman... just... holy monkey balls. When will they stop being greedy bastards trying to force their will on consumers rather than adapt a more reasonable strategy of reasonable price points with ease of use? -hair pull-

On a side note. It looks like combining AnyDVD with TotalMediaTheatre5 produced a solution that (so far) works. I'm pretty sure AnyDVD conflicts with some laws in the USA though (all those ones saying circumventing DRM, even on products you own or have a legal right to use can't be circumvented). Sigh.

Not to mention the cost... around $150 in software needed in addition to the $50+ for a drive... that's just disgusting...

 

[Slammy1]

Still cheaper and better to get an STB, though I have PowerDVD and haven't had any problems with play back.

 

[Nothinman]

When will they stop being greedy bastards trying to force their will on consumers rather than adapt a more reasonable strategy of reasonable price points with ease of use? -hair pull-

Probably not in my lifetime. I would guess it'll take at least the current generation of rulers of the movie industry to die before their grip is lessened. And that depends on the following generation not to have been trained/brainwashed by them to perpetuate their anti-consumer tactics.

 

[MontyAC]

If you are willing to pay, get AnyDVD HD. Then use Windows Media Player Classic to play your blu-ray disks on computers that are not HDCP compliant.

 

[TheInternal]

I've tried Windows Media Player Classic with no luck... though admittedly, I didn't yet try pairing it with Media Player Classic.
AnyDVD HD in itself isn't enough... I'd still have to pay an extra $100 for a software player (if Media Player Classic doesn't work). AnyDVD is about $100 US. Software player is about $100. I Tried DAPlayer with AnyDVD, and it didn't work, so I'm pessimistic Media Player would. Worth checking though.

Slammy - The only screen I currently own capable of 1080p is my computer monitor. set top box would be wasted on my old CRT television... which would cost at least $500 to replace with something bigger / that was HD.

Catch 22.

 

[Jodell88]

Use VLC to play the disks?

 

[MontyAC]

Media Player classic will play the blu-rays fine once AnyDvd decodes the disks. That's how I am able to watch blu-ray disks on my 27" 1440p Korean monitor, which is not HDCP compliant. I think you can do a trial run with AnyDvd.

 

[KAZANI]

When will they stop being greedy bastards trying to force their will on consumers rather than adapt a more reasonable strategy of reasonable price points with ease of use?

The companies will stop being greedy when consumers decide to be less spendthrift and stop buying at those high prices and under those stifling copyright terms.

 

[Oyeve]

I use macbluray player on my pc. Works ok. Just plays the movie. Free too.

 

[tommo123]

it's not free but try anydvd HD. or other software to backup your blu rays onto your PC 1st. then no more playback probs. HDCP is moot at that point

 

[KentState]

Unless you are going to rip the Blu-rays or need the drive for some other reason, save the hassle and just buy a stand alone player. It will be much cheaper and do just as good of a job.

 

[Steltek]

I've tried Windows Media Player Classic with no luck... though admittedly, I didn't yet try pairing it with Media Player Classic.
AnyDVD HD in itself isn't enough... I'd still have to pay an extra $100 for a software player (if Media Player Classic doesn't work). AnyDVD is about $100 US. Software player is about $100. I Tried DAPlayer with AnyDVD, and it didn't work, so I'm pessimistic Media Player would. Worth checking though.

Slammy - The only screen I currently own capable of 1080p is my computer monitor. set top box would be wasted on my old CRT television... which would cost at least $500 to replace with something bigger / that was HD.

Catch 22.

Both VLC and Media Player Classic will play blurays in combination with AnyDVD HD - I've used both combinations successfully on my desktop many times (though MPC is by far the better choice now, in my opinion, as VLC's recent upgrade was a major backslide).

After installing a BDROM/DVDRW combo drive in my brother's older HP laptop, Media Player Classic and VLC both did initially have problems with bluray audio during playback (random static, loss of audio, audio out of sync, etc). However, a BIOS update eventually resolved the problem so it wasn't just strictly a software issue in that case.

 

[abaez]

I don't think you can do HDCP over DVI. So you're out of luck until you try AnyDVD.

 

[MrChad]

The Blu-Ray and 3D Advisor has told you exactly what your problem is. How much easier do you want it? If you want to argue that system requirements for Blu Ray are draconian and unnecessary, fine, but the Advisor software makes it pretty easy to make sure your system is ready for BD playback.

 

[MontyAC]

The AnyDVD HD has a 21 day free trial. I would suggest running that with Media Player Classic. I played the latest blu-ray disks with no problems.

 

[lopri]

I don't think you can do HDCP over DVI. So you're out of luck until you try AnyDVD.

?? That can't possibly be true considering that I've been using DVI for my PC like forever. First HDCP-compliant video cards (G80/R600, I think?) also did not come equipped with HDMI ports, but DVI ones.

But yes, it can be a hassle to watch Blu-Ray on PC.

 

[MrChad]

?? That can't possibly be true considering that I've been using DVI for my PC like forever. First HDCP-compliant video cards (G80/R600, I think?) also did not come equipped with HDMI ports, but DVI ones.

But yes, it can be a hassle to watch Blu-Ray on PC.

HDCP over DVI is hit or miss. In this case, it's likely that his monitor (which I think came out around 2005), is missing HDCP support.

 

[pauldun170]

Unless you are going to rip the Blu-rays or need the drive for some other reason, save the hassle and just buy a stand alone player. It will be much cheaper and do just as good of a job.

I personally use XBMC with plugins and "stuff" to play bluray discs on the computer. Takes a moment for the movie to play but it beats having to sit through all the crap on the disc using a standard player.
That being said..
I'd recommend to most people to buy a stand alone player if they must buy bluray movies.

 

[wirednuts]

its why netflix is so popular. if bluray were cheap and easy to use then everyone would buy it. but streaming video is easier and so the industry moves on.

 

[Zorba]

I personally use XBMC with plugins and "stuff" to play bluray discs on the computer. Takes a moment for the movie to play but it beats having to sit through all the crap on the disc using a standard player.

Do you need AnyDVD or similar to run Blu-Ray with XBMC? I currently use PowerDVD but don't really like it much. Mediaportal will do Blu-Ray now but you have to have AnyDVD, which I don't want to buy when I already have a working solution.

 

[Binky]

The obvious solution is obvious.

 

[pauldun170]

Do you need AnyDVD or similar to run Blu-Ray with XBMC? I currently use PowerDVD but don't really like it much. Mediaportal will do Blu-Ray now but you have to have AnyDVD, which I don't want to buy when I already have a working solution.

http://lifehacker.com/5621471/how-to-enable-blu+ray-playback-in-xbmc

 

[Oyeve]

The obvious solution is obvious.

Obviously.