With DVD players readily available and getting cheaper by the day, using a computer to watch DVD movies is not a common use for IT. Smooth viewing (no stutters in sound or breaks in the picture) and an acceptably high-quality picture need a relatively high specification and therefore expensive computer. Even so, there may be times that an alternative DVD player is useful. What is required?
Similar to the television side, there are essentially two components to watching a DVD on a computer – the bit where you stick the DVD disk, and the stuff you watch the picture on. In other words, the hardware and the software. These are normally distinct and separate items.
Buy a modern computer and you are most likely to get it with a DVD-drive already installed. This is the hardware or piece of equipment where you physically put the DVD movie disk. Occassionally it is a slot in the front of the computer (eg. the Apple iMac) but more frequently a drawer-like device that comes out when you press the button just underneath. Quite why the button is always underneath is a mystery, because when the disk-drawer is 'out' it is much harder to see and press the button. Note that a CDROM-drive cannot read DVD disks, although a DVD-drive can read CDROMs. This is just the march of progress, where the latest equipment is usually able to handle all the predecessors but the older equipment just does not understand the newfangled stuff.
If you do not have a DVD-drive, it is straightforward to buy and install one, and they can be found in Vila for around Vt8,000. Most easily, take out the existing CDROM-drive and put its connectors into the same places on the DVD drive, including the wires for sound (naturally your computer will already have speakers, or you will be expecting a very quiet movie-watching experience).
With the hardware in place, the next component is the DVD player software/application. Once again, there are multiple possible solutions available. There seems to be some odd licencing requirement though, so free DVD player software is not as easy to find as you would think. The better quality DVD-drives are supplied with a recommended DVD player application including a genuine serial number, otherwise you will need to purchase an application from an appropriate vendor. You can get hold of limited or trial editions from computer magazine disks sometimes. Installing the DVD player application should be easy, either starting the install process automatically when the install disk is inserted or by following the instructions provided with it.
With a functional DVD-drive and associated DVD player application, you should be ready to go. Insert a DVD movie disk, and it should start playing automatically. Have a browse through the options available with the software – you should be able to play the movie “full screen” ie displaying over the whole screen, you can also take snapshots, and of course jump to favourite scenes, pause, slow, replay, or browse the DVD's menu. Some DVDs include additional content specifically meant for computers eg. games or links to websites. You could even hook up your computer to your stereo to get that full booming sound instead of tinny computer speakers. But that would be getting nerdy...
Questions? - Merlin Pacific IT provide effective & efficient business IT. Join VIGNET (Vanuatu Internet User Group) email discussions, register at tinyurl.com/zcusl
