More Windows 8 news

***aeromed202*** · May 4th, 2012, 19:20

Windows 8 dropping the ability to play DVDs

By Tecca | Today in Tech – 8 hrs ago

If you're planning on watching that DVD on your next flight, you'll have to shell out the extra cash for DVD s …
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.
This article was written by Fox Van Allen and originally appeared on Tecca

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It's mean business to announce you'll be disenfranchising millions before unit one is made. Just MHO.

**Ome Joop** · May 4th, 2012, 22:17

What about FREEWARE players?
I'v e got Videolan installed on all my PC's!

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

***hey_moe*** · May 5th, 2012, 02:57

I have played with Windows 8 for a right good while, and I am very disappointed in what MS has done. To me it is cartoonish and a total waste of tech talent. I try and keep up with all the new stuff MS releases but I will be passing on this OS system. The interface reminds me more of a Play station or one of MS consoles.

***stansdds*** · May 5th, 2012, 04:58

Originally Posted by hey_moe

I have played with Windows 8 for a right good while, and I am very disappointed in what MS has done. To me it is cartoonish and a total waste of tech talent. I try and keep up with all the new stuff MS releases but I will be passing on this OS system. The interface reminds me more of a Play station or one of MS consoles.

That may actually be the target audience; console gamers, who are the next generation of computer users.

***aeromed202*** · May 5th, 2012, 06:40

That is definitely part the target buyer grouping, people who want to play, be entertained, socialize, and critically are always able to touch the screen. Nothing wrong with all that, but again I strongly hope that the more conventional computer users will not be left in the dust because I think there is for the foreseeable future a continued need for basic keyboard/mouse type interfaces as well as more serious computer based endeavors. I, for one, don't fancy leaning over to poke or smear my screen if I prefer or need a desk top. Hopefully MS and others will agree.

***stiz*** · May 5th, 2012, 14:19

well they do have to keep to tradition of doing 1 bad one, 1 good one, 1 bad one ....

***Gdavis101*** · May 5th, 2012, 15:19

8 should be like going back to the hassles of Windows Vista if they keep their pattern up.

***Terry*** · May 6th, 2012, 03:55

At least Vista will play DVD movies without extra software. This is just the result of no competition.

***Lawman*** · May 6th, 2012, 04:52

It's just a part of the "cloud computing"-strategy.

***stansdds*** · May 6th, 2012, 05:48

Originally Posted by stiz

well they do have to keep to tradition of doing 1 bad one, 1 good one, 1 bad one ....

Just like the Star Trek (original tv series cast) and Indiana Jones movies.

**aeronca1** · May 6th, 2012, 08:06

Originally Posted by hey_moe

I have played with Windows 8 for a right good while, and I am very disappointed in what MS has done. To me it is cartoonish and a total waste of tech talent. I try and keep up with all the new stuff MS releases but I will be passing on this OS system. The interface reminds me more of a Play station or one of MS consoles.

Same here, a PASS. In fact that screen above almost mimics a program I used back in the commodore 64 days, lol.