DVD, Console or PC. What should I get??

[aircooled]

My PC is right next to the TV so that's not an issue.

I've got a Duron 700@950 and Radeon 64 DDR VIVO.

If I get a PC DVD will the picture quality be as good as a stand-alone?

What are the pro's and cons of each? What's a good PC DVD player for $100 or less?

 

[Auric]

Dude! You have nothing to lose by picking up a $25 PC DVD drive (if you don't already have one) and trying it out with a free (er, demo) software player/decoder. The Radeon is excellent for this. Obviously there is a price advantage here but none other.

 

[Yoshi]

With the Radeon all you will need is a DVDROM drive and DVD playback software (bundled with the card I think). The Radeon has hardware DVD decoding built in with the inclusion of the Rage Theater chip.

The TV out quality of the Radeon for movies is great, IMO go for it.

 

[Torghn]

I guess that depends on what you plan on using it for and what your TV and Monitor setup are. I have a DVD player in my computer and love watching movies on it. I have it by the TV so I can sit on the couch and watch on the 19" monitor. I hucked it up to the TV to watch a DVD the other day and turned the TV off 10 Minets into it. The picture quality on the monitor is WONDERFUL, when I hooked it up to the tv it was normal TV quality. My TV is just too old and the resolution is standard TV and can't take the advantage of the extra lines of resolution on the DVD. If you have a HDTV I'd go with the consoul, if you have a normal TV like me I'd get one for your PC, much cheaper and you can hook it up anyway. I really like my Pioneer-115 16X dvd drive, works very well with the Radeons as they have MPEG decoders built into them.

 

[Workin']

<< If I get a PC DVD will the picture quality be as good as a stand-alone? >>

Close enough for most people. Especially if you would get an inexpensive stand-alone.

<< What are the pro's and cons of each? >>

I have both connected to my 35&quot; JVC TV. I usually use the PC, my wife usually uses the stand-alone. The picture quality is pretty much the same (ATI Rage Fury Pro - same TV-out as Radeon vs. 1998 stand-alone Toshiba DVD player). The stand-alone is easier to use - hit the power switch, put in the disk, watch the movie, take out the disk, turn it off. The PC is a little more hassle, but not much. I have an X10 MK19A MouseRemote which controls the PC about as easy as a stereo component, but it still takes time to boot the machine, etc. You'll be able to turn your PC into a DVD player for less than buying a stand-alone, no decent stand alone sells for under about $180 (mine was $500 in 1998), you can get a DVD drive for your computer for maybe half that or less.