Windows 8 - Now charging for DVD Playback

[CharlesA]

I don't think people will really buy it as there are so many free alternatives, some of which are far better than windows media center.

Seriously. I've used Windows Media Center a couple times to play DVDs from my library but otherwise I either use Media Player or VLC.

[Merk42]

What sort of horrible company/OS would do such a thing?
Oh wait

[CharlesA]

What sort of horrible company/OS would do such a thing?
Oh wait

Hahaha. I had forgotten about that.

[Copper Bezel]

It's really not better for the consumer in any sense. That's just a marketing line. As far as the precedent of Windows 7 Starter edition, Microsoft's decontenting of the much ridiculed Starter edition did a lot to undermine the netbook sector, to the detriment of all Windows PC OEMs. Granted, netbooks invariably lacked optical disk drives, but the very fact that Microsoft will be selling DVD/Bluray playback in the form of this extra cost pack indicates that they expect to derive profit from this exercise in decontenting. More money for less functionality. It's a losing scenario for the consumer, but also for Microsoft's real customers, the Windows PC OEMS.

It is a losing deal for OEMs. If it changes Microsoft's overhead on sales of the system, then it could be a good deal for consumers. We don't in fact know if it will be more money for less content.

Windows 7 Starter was a ridiculous price grab, yes. Features were actively removed to make the OS unusable, and while use of an external optical drive with a netbook is somewhat uncommon and although that may have saved Microsoft on some codec licenses, there's no defending the gimped video driver and fixed wallpaper. Windows 8's lock-in to the Windows Store for Metro apps is also a ridiculous restriction that hurts consumers and OEMs for Microsoft's benefit. But to be fair, optical drives are going out of fashion, so the reasoning for that one feature still holds.

I also meant only sarcasm in saying that Microsoft was attempting to "educate" consumers. However, there's a side benefit in that they will, in fact, be doing so with this decision. I'd like people to know what they're paying for. It's exactly the opposite of the obfuscation that Microsoft excels in, and I'd really like to see them start seeing end users as the consumers again, instead of OEMs, because that relationship is exactly the problem.

[goldshirt9]

really, who use wmp these days.
there are so many better alternatives that are free.
They must be feeling the pinch

[mamamia88]

I watch my movies on my tv where they belong but if I didn't and I happened to be using windows I would be using vlc anyway.

[forrestcupp]

I don't intend to move from Win7 to Win8 any time soon, but if I do, I'll just use VLC for dvd playback (or, yanno, use my bluray player instead).

That's what I was going to say. There's always VLC.

[alexfish]

What sort of horrible company/OS would do such a thing?
Oh wait

A one that is is giving you the choice , same as Ubuntu , load what you like ,, possible a step in the right direction as far as MS is concerned ,,

Incidental , as what do they provide at default is more important , will you be looking at a blank sceen wondering what to do next... does any one know?

[MisterGaribaldi]

Ok, so how is this any different from every previous release of Windows?

There's not been one single release which INCLUDED a DVD codec. NOT ONE! I've installed and used Windows 3.1, 3.11, WinNT 4, Win95, Win98, Win98SE, WinME, Win2K, WinXP, WinVista, and Win7, and none of them had it. To which version of Windows, exactly, are you folks referring?

I've ALWAYS had to add something (back in the day, commercial DVD playback software) or an open-source product (of much more recent memory, VLC which includes DeCSS) and I can't see why that would change now.

As for people "learning" from non-inclusion, the masses couldn't care less, and the masses -- being Microsoft slaves -- will put up with anything Microsoft does because they're not going to change to anything else.

Some Linux distros include a DVD codec, and Apple has included one ever since they started shipping DVD drives in Macs circa 1995-6. So yes, it's true that Microsoft is the "odd man out" here, but it's never stopped people from buying their products before.

[Bandit]

Good. I welcome Microsoft's decision to educate users on the nature of nonfree codecs and anticipate an appropriately reduced purchase price. The precedent was set with Windows 7 Starter Edition, which didn't include DVD decryption. This is the better route for the consumer, because the necessity of DVD playback depends on the hardware and the user, not the version of the operating system.

I have to agree with this as well.

But then again, I am against software patents all together.
That said and since we still have patents on software, dont see a reason anyone should have to pay for something that they dont use.