Windows 8 dropping the ability to play DVDs

[Scorbing]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/windows-8-dropping-ability-play-dvds-171546904.html

Okay, we get it ? DVD is starting to go the way of the VHS tape and film reel. But we've still got hundreds of DVDs in our house, and always pack a few in our laptop case for viewing on those long flights. That's why this news is so frustrating: The upcomingWindows 8 operating system (which you can download and preview now) is dropping the ability to play DVD content.

According to Windows engineering team member Steven Sinofsky (emphasis his), "Windows Media Player will continue to be available in all editions, but without DVD playback support. For optical discs playback on new Windows 8 devices, we are going to rely on the many quality solutions on the market, which provide great experiences for both DVD and Blu-ray." In other words: If you want to watch that Bridesmaids DVD on your next plane trip, you're going to have to pay extra for software that will let you play it, even if your laptop already has a DVD drive. And don't think getting Blu-ray is an option ? you can't play that straight from the box, either.

If you're left scratching your heads, the rationale behind dropping DVD support is simple: It's about the bottom line. Says Sinofsky, "traditional media playback scenarios, optical media, and broadcast TV, require a specialized set of decoders (and hardware) that cost a significant amount in royalties." Windows 8 will allow customers the option to install a Windows Media Center upgrade to allow DVD playback at extra cost, though Microsoft is not saying exactly how high that cost will be.

Will the move confuse customers when Windows 8 hits stores this October? Almost certainly. Will not including DVD playback hurt sales of Windows 8? Probably not at first, but we're willing to bet the change adds to the level of frustration people sometimes have with a new operating system. And when combined with some of the other frustrations of Windows 8, such as a tablet experience being shoehorned into a PC format, Microsoft may very well be playing with fire. There's a reason why so many people are still running Windows XP on their computer, after all.

Another stupid move by Microsoft. Way to go Steve Ballmer.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

they only dropped support for playing DVD's in WMP. but lets be honest, who really ever used wmp for playing dvd's? I always found it limited compared to the other 3rd party options out there such as PowerDVD which is one of the few thing (shock) I'm glad was pre-installed on my computer

[MillionVoltss]

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html works and is open source.

[Brandon H Supervisor]

I honestly don't see this as a problem as most OEMs have always installed a 3rd party program for dvd playback anyway

[articuno1au]

Not to mention the dozens of free codecs that allow it.

This thread: Stupid. Clearly troll bait.

[Wakers]

Good move by MS - it allows them to sell Win 8 for cheaper because they don't have to account for royalties, and it removes a feature that hardly anyone used in the first place - who actually uses WMP to playback movies?

And "there's a reason why many people are still using XP" - yes, they either don't know any better, are stubborn or don't want to spend money on a new OS.

[cropcircles]

I would expect when released there will be the option to play DVD's come on now, wise up.

[Mayhem]

Remember that many people dont know about that, vlc, codec packs, etc

it's simply put and play

[Brandon H Supervisor]

Remember that many people dont know about that, vlc, codec packs, etc

it's simply put and play

yes, put and play using whatever 3rd party dvd app that is set as default by the OEM

[Dot Matrix]

How many threads about this do we need?

[em3]

If it's gonna lower the price of the product then I think it's a great idea.

[Argi]

The other thing to note is that this will help bring the cost of Windows down (albeit a small amount) because of the licensing fees.

[Shadrack]

Wow! It seems like they JUST added DVD playback with Vista.

I thought for sure Apple would do away with DVD playback in Mac OS X long before Microsoft did in Windows. Guess I was wrong.

[jakem1]

This is about the fourth thread on this topic that's been posted over the last few days. Do we really need another one?

[ArialBlue]

You kids and your streaming video and MKVs, back in our day we had to buy these square boxes with gigantic discs in them and insert them into our computers to play video.

[Ci7]

maybe they would offer free codec in app store when you try to play unsupported format in win8?

[alphaomegainfinity]

The surprising thing is Windows Media Center won't be free now.

[tiagosilva29]

Out-of-the-box experience, they said...

[Growled Member]

They are just cutting their own throats.

[Argi]

maybe they would offer free codec in app store when you try to play unsupported format in win8?

DVD licensing isn't free. Part of the cost of Windows includes this price.

The surprising thing is Windows Media Center won't be free now.

As above, presumably part of the cost of WMC will include that licensing fee so that if you do decide you want it, you can pay for it. If you play all your DVDs on a home threatre setup, you won't be paying for what you won't use.

Everyone's just getting worked up because currently it's cool to hate. The number of people actually impacted by this I'd be happy to bet is quite fewer (zero, when you include WMC addon).

[Richteralan]

If it's gonna lower the price of the product then I think it's a great idea.

But does anyone HONESTLY think this will happen?

I don't.

[Argi]

But does anyone HONESTLY think this will happen?

I don't.

Your guessing doesn't really mean much. We don't know how they'll be priced. All that we can say for sure is that the cost to MS will be less because of the removal of DVD licensing fees.

[Josh the Nerd]

But does anyone HONESTLY think this will happen?

I don't.

An upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, the descendant of Windows XP Media Center Edition, is $20 more expensive than the basic home edition upgrade has traditionally been. With Windows 8, they're going back to having one home edition, and I think there's a good chance it will be the traditional $100.