Do DVD players require software to watch DVDs? What's the best program?

[RU482]

I just bought an OEM slot load Pioneer DVD player. Having no past experience with DVD, does a bare drive require additional software to play DVD movies?

If so, what is the best program for this application?

 

[joshg]

PowerDVD, very good and has good support for 5.1 sound

 

[sandorski]

WinDVD is good too. If you have an ATI vidcard or Creative Soundcard there are players made by each of them too.

 

[c0rv1d43]

Intervideo (makers of WinDVD) make the XPacks. The DVD XPack is quite a bit cheaper than buying a full WinDVD or PowerDVD version, and it lets you play DVDs through Windows Media Player. The WMP actually does very nicely at playing DVDs. I just watched Planet of the Apes using WMP on my notebook.

- Collin