OEMs Could Be Including Cheap DVD Playback For Win 8 PCs

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[citation][nom]velocityg4[/nom]Why don't OEMs just include quality free open source software or freeware? Like HP could include VLC, Thunderbird, LibreOffice, Firefox/Chrome, Picasa and Gimp. Covering most consumer uses for computers.[/citation]
ask microsoft... it's no accident that those programs are not included by OEMs
 
It is quite funny how Microsoft is advertising Win8 as an all round home PC media centre and then withholds basic DVD playback. Not only should DVD playback be included as standard, but so should basic Blu-Ray playback.
 
[citation][nom]velocityg4[/nom]Why don't OEMs just include quality free open source software or freeware? Like HP could include VLC, Thunderbird, LibreOffice, Firefox/Chrome, Picasa and Gimp. Covering most consumer uses for computers.[/citation]
I say why don't OEMs do people one better, and just install Ubuntu or other Linux distribution? Most of that software is pre installed, and there aren't any licensing fees for any of it.
 
"ask microsoft... it's no accident that those programs are not included by OEMs"

Average computer users are stupid. They don't know how to use Firefox or Chrome instead of IE. I assume that the majority of us have a side gig... And personally, I've encountered MANY people that can't figure out how to bookmark a page outside of IE.

If HP began using VLC as their default media player, how many people would run away to Sony or Lenovo because they know how to use "their" software?
 
[citation][nom]ID10T@mailinatorcom[/nom]"ask microsoft... it's no accident that those programs are not included by OEMs"Average computer users are stupid. They don't know how to use Firefox or Chrome instead of IE. I assume that the majority of us have a side gig... And personally, I've encountered MANY people that can't figure out how to bookmark a page outside of IE.If HP began using VLC as their default media player, how many people would run away to Sony or Lenovo because they know how to use "their" software?[/citation]
Please dont call the majority of people stupid just because they're not pc savy.

this article is about OEMs considering intalling some DVD playback software in their PCs to help boost sales. Win8 remoed this feature, so no OEM win8 pc will be able to play DVDs with media player without the media center pack or some 3rd party software. If an OEM decides to conveniently include a playback software like VLC, people are very likely to not run away cowering in fear of the convenience.
 
Or people with Win8 Pro or higher could just grab the FREE Media Centre add on from MS till the end of this month. Then its $9.99.
 
[citation][nom]velocityg4[/nom]Why don't OEMs just include quality free open source software or freeware? Like HP could include VLC, Thunderbird, LibreOffice, Firefox/Chrome, Picasa and Gimp. Covering most consumer uses for computers.[/citation]
Coz most free software, including some of those you mentioned, are utter crap! Thats why.
Not as crap as the crapware they DO include on OEM PCs though.
 
[citation][nom]SchizoFrog[/nom]It is quite funny how Microsoft is advertising Win8 as an all round home PC media centre and then withholds basic DVD playback. Not only should DVD playback be included as standard, but so should basic Blu-Ray playback.[/citation]
why? including them just increases licensing costs, the vast majority of machines are not used to play DVD's or blu-rays so all that happens is those licensing bodies get a large undeserved income, far better off paying less when you don't need the codecs and then buying playback software if and when you actually need it.
 
[citation][nom]velocityg4[/nom]Why don't OEMs just include quality free open source software or freeware? Like HP could include VLC, Thunderbird, LibreOffice, Firefox/Chrome, Picasa and Gimp. Covering most consumer uses for computers.[/citation]

As far as I know VLC can't come pre-installed with Windows for the simple reason that the MPEG-2 decoder required to playback DVDs can't be distributed legally without paying royalties (like the ones Microsoft has to pay) to the MPEG-LA in several countries. However, since it's not illegal in all countries around the world, it's the consumer that has to download the software from videolan instead depending on if the country he is in allows it or not.

It's also because of this (or at least was , I haven't installed Linux in a while) that some Linux distributions that come with VLC pre-installed don't come with certain codecs and you have to add them manually.

It's because of this sort of loophole that VLC is so popular and why Microsoft can get away with not supplying the MPEG-2 codec with Windows, because people think that VLC is a perfectly legal option and therefore think it's not a big deal that Microsoft is not supplying it anymore by default.
 

I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with Microsoft.

OEMs can't include software like VLC because the codec license holders (such as MPEG-LA) will sue them for royalties.

The reason they don't sue VLC is because VLC makers/owners have no money and are not selling the software for a profit.

MPEG-LA will milk the fat cats, but won't or can't do anything about the non-profit little guys.

Actually, if you go the VLC website, it'll say that you as the user are responsible for contacting MPEG-LA in order to pay the licensing fees if you use VLC (of course nobody does that).
 
Yay. We're right back where we were with Windows XP, when computers came with WinDVD, PowerDVD or some other crap installed. And more often than not, it was the "basic" or "starter" version that wouldn't even stream AC3 or DTS.

I thought MSFT forced the use of its own codecs in Win 7 MC because they got tired of the crap that other vendors were shipping marring the use of a PC as an entertainment system.

And why is this spell checker so useless? It drops about 1/4 of the characters I type.
 
[citation][nom]gravewax[/nom]why? including them just increases licensing costs, the vast majority of machines are not used to play DVD's or blu-rays so all that happens is those licensing bodies get a large undeserved income, far better off paying less when you don't need the codecs and then buying playback software if and when you actually need it.[/citation]
I'll accept the Blu-Ray angle, but not the DVD one. The world isn't the US, where people can stream stuff from a dedicated streaming service.
Most of the people i know do or have played DVDs on their computers, so i don't know where those vast machines of your came from.
 
[citation][nom]godfather666[/nom]I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with Microsoft.OEMs can't include software like VLC because the codec license holders (such as MPEG-LA) will sue them for royalties.The reason they don't sue VLC is because VLC makers/owners have no money and are not selling the software for a profit.MPEG-LA will milk the fat cats, but won't or can't do anything about the non-profit little guys.Actually, if you go the VLC website, it'll say that you as the user are responsible for contacting MPEG-LA in order to pay the licensing fees if you use VLC (of course nobody does that).[/citation]

Actually this is only partially correct. The MPEG licenses are free for individual non-profit use. However the moment you begin selling on a commercial level you're required to pay licensing fees. To give a general idea of why Microsoft doesn't want to this consider the following example: There is no hardware difference between a cheap Chinese knockoff DVD/Blu-Ray player and a name brand one. The only difference is the licensing fees they have to pay. They have to license the file format, multiple video decoders, multiple audio decoders, etc. Imagine having to pay an extra $20-$30 dollars for your OS just to play DVD's or Blu-Ray. You have to admit Microsoft is actually going in the right direction with this.
 
How many of you actually used the native DVD capabilities of Vista or 7? Being unsatisfied with the DVD playback, and complete lack of both native HD DVD and Blu-ray playback, I have used alternatives for years. Upgrading from XP, which has a lack of native support, I already owned decent playback software, which was fully eligible for upgrading. How many people are running out to purchase Windows 8 machines to replace their set top boxes?
 
[citation][nom]gravewax[/nom]why? including them just increases licensing costs, the vast majority of machines are not used to play DVD's or blu-rays so all that happens is those licensing bodies get a large undeserved income, far better off paying less when you don't need the codecs and then buying playback software if and when you actually need it.[/citation]

That would be great if MS passed the savings on to us, but they don't... the savings from not paying for DVD playback licensing goes right into THEIR pockets...
 
Oh and by the way, I know many people who watch DVD's on their computers. I have a vast collection of DVDs and I like the fact that I can take some of them when I travel and watch them on my Win 7 laptop. I also like the fact that I can play them on my Win 7 desktop.
 
The only reason I can think why free DVD/BLU RAY playback is/was being excluded in win8 is to ensure people who are not as technically minded as some, to continue to purchase or use other devices to watch these discs.
A little like games console manufacturers will often deliberately install a very weak under optimised internet browser - they want you to buy their laptops or desktops.
Dvd & Blu Ray playback came with my last laptop, but within hours i was getting nag screens to upgrade it for a new all singing version costing the same or more than a stand alone blu ray player. Simply adding the app to the firewall stopped the pop ups.
 
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