Advice Required. Should I buy a DVD-ROM?

[DataOrb]

Well, thinking about getting a DVD Rom Player for my computer.
The Quality of DVD's and the varity sounds very tempting, so does the G400 Playback quality (so I have been told) however I am just not 100% sure that buying a DVD unit WILL be worth it.
I am sure that in the first mounth, I will rent/buy lots of movies, but after that period or so, the unit will start collecting dust... I am just not 100% sure that watching a movie while sitting infront of the computer is an enjoyable expiriance.
Is Spending ~130$ for a DVD Rom player worth it? or is it just another "Nifty" but "not totaly useful" device?
as you see, my mind is not set yet, so if you can please write some of your personal toughts, ideas or Expiriances with Watching DVD movies on a computer (with or wihtout the G400).

Thank you.

------------------
"Excuse me for butting in, but I'm interrupt-driven..."
__________________________________________________ ____
Worstation Specs:
Asus P3B-F w/Celeron@680mhz
160mb PC100 7ns RAM.
Matrox G400 142/190Mhz.
IBM 75GXP 7200RPM 15Gb.
Seagate U8 4.1gb Hdd,
SBlaster Live! Digital.
17" Mag InnoVision 770Ti TrinitronFR Monitor @1152X864
Logitech MouseMan Wheel USB (on Everglide Giganta SE)
Focus 127keys MM Keyboard.
HP SCSI Cd-Rw 7200Si
Aopen X48 Optical Disc Drive.
3Com NIc @ Tevel/3Com Cable Modem
Modded case, the "banshee". 6 fans.
3Com Palm IIIx + GoType + AxxPAC

[DataOrb]

oh, I don't know if I made it clear, but I ment a Computer based DVD Drive...

[Brian R.]

I look at a DVDs as another more powerful storage medium. In addition to movies, there are increasing numbers of software titles being released on DVD. One I have myself is Encarta. Eventually, CDROMs will be phased out since their capacity is going to be outdated. I use my DVD player as a both a CDROM and DVD player. In addition, I think you are overstating the cost of a DVD player.
There are alot available for $100 or less.

[Paddy]

Its my most recent purchase
£70 from scan

[ahartman]

I agree with Brian. I look at it more as a storage medium than a platform to play movies. I bought a stand-alone DVD player for that.

As applications (read: games) keep getting larger, they're going to need to put on larger medium - DVDs.

Also, don't be scared by the 8x (or whatever) DVD speed - I don't remember the ratio but I believe an 8x DVD is roughly the same speed as a 45x CD-ROM. Look at the RPM rates, not the multiplier.

[spoogenet]

Yeah, and then DVD might be replaced by FMD. Something about 20 Hrs of HDTV audio/video on a single disc....sweeeeeeeeet.

)

b

[adamhamilton]

Also, do not worry about having to watch the movie on your monitor. With the G400 cards, it's easy to view the movie on a TV - I have made a 15 meter cable taking the RGB from the second head on the G400 to the RGB (SCART) socket on my TV and the audio out from my sound card through the same cable also to the SCART input at the TV. The quality is excellent!

[Joel]

IMO having a PC now days without a DVD drive is like having a car without an AC. You may be able to live without it but having it makes life so much better.

And the G400's playback quality, using Matrox's provided DVD player, is IMO excellent on both the monitor and the TV when outputed with DVDMax.

Joel

[DataOrb]

well... I really want a DVD Drive, but the money for it can be used for other upgrades, look at my sig, you will see my system specs...
Istead of a DVD Drive I can pick up a 700Mhz Coppermine and clock it at 133Mhz FSB...
so what do you think? look at my sig, what else do you think I should upgrade (NOTE: I DO Plan to buy a 21" Monitor soon... so I am going to make a monitor upgrade).

Thanks.


------------------
"Excuse me for butting in, but I'm interrupt-driven..."
__________________________________________________ ____
Worstation Specs:
Asus P3B-F w/Celeron@680mhz
160mb PC100 7ns RAM.
Matrox G400 142/190Mhz.
IBM 75GXP 7200RPM 15Gb.
Seagate U8 4.1gb Hdd,
SBlaster Live! Digital.
17" Mag InnoVision 770Ti TrinitronFR Monitor @1152X864
Logitech MouseMan Wheel USB (on Everglide Giganta SE)
Focus 127keys MM Keyboard.
HP SCSI Cd-Rw 7200Si
Aopen X48 Optical Disc Drive.
3Com NIc @ Tevel/3Com Cable Modem
Modded case, the "banshee". 6 fans.
3Com Palm IIIx + GoType + AxxPAC

[Wombat]

I have my DVD drive coupled with a 19" monitor, and recently purchased DTT2500 speakers ($200 for 5 speakers + sub, but they're digital, and have Dolby 5.1 support built-in).

However, I admit that I had to replace my CD-ROM drive, and it would have been foolish not to buy a DVD-ROM.

I think you have a personal taste issue. For me, I'm minor audiophile, and having the Digital Out of the DVD passing through the SB Live!, and to the DTT2500, so there's only D->A conversion at the last step, is nice. It eliminates a lot of hiss.

Programs will use DVD's more and more in the future, but with your CD-ROM being fast as it is, you might as well wait until getting a DVD drive to support these programs is a necessity.

However, I watch movies on my computer at least once a week. With the image quality of DVD, and letterbox format, I really couldn't go back to VHS tapes.

Maybe if you could get a decent amount for your Asus CD-ROM drive.......

[DataOrb]

Well... currently I have an AOPen X48 CDROM, and well... I am REALLY Thinking about getting a DVD-ROM now, and, well... just for watching movies...
the Model I am thinking about is the AOpen 1040Pro X10 Slot-Feed DVD ROM Drive.

------------------
"Excuse me for butting in, but I'm interrupt-driven..."
__________________________________________________ ____
Worstation Specs:
Asus P3B-F w/Celeron@680mhz
160mb PC100 7ns RAM.
Matrox G400 142/190Mhz.
IBM 75GXP 7200RPM 15Gb.
Seagate U8 4.1gb Hdd,
SBlaster Live! Digital.
17" Mag InnoVision 770Ti TrinitronFR Monitor @1152X864
Logitech MouseMan Wheel USB (on Everglide Giganta SE)
Focus 127keys MM Keyboard.
HP SCSI Cd-Rw 7200Si
Aopen X48 Optical Disc Drive.
3Com NIc @ Tevel/3Com Cable Modem
Modded case, the "banshee". 6 fans.
3Com Palm IIIx + GoType + AxxPAC

[DataOrb]

well, I have orderd the AOpen 1040Pro Slot-feed DVD Drive (or should I say Pioneer 104S? ).
anyway, it seems like a great DVD Drive, and I can't wait for it to arrive.
however, what DVD Software do you recommend the most to use with a G400?
the Matroc Cinmaster based DVD Max? or perhpas PowerDVD 2.55? or WinDVD 2000 that is?
thanks.



------------------
"Excuse me for butting in, but I'm interrupt-driven..."
__________________________________________________ ____
Worstation Specs:
Asus P3B-F w/Celeron@680mhz
160mb PC100 7ns RAM.
Matrox G400 142/190Mhz.
IBM 75GXP 7200RPM 15Gb.
Seagate U8 4.1gb Hdd,
SBlaster Live! Digital.
17" Mag InnoVision 770Ti TrinitronFR Monitor @1152X864
Logitech MouseMan Wheel USB (on Everglide Giganta SE)
Focus 127keys MM Keyboard.
HP SCSI Cd-Rw 7200Si
Aopen X48 Optical Disc Drive.
3Com NIc @ Tevel/3Com Cable Modem
Modded case, the "banshee". 6 fans.
3Com Palm IIIx + GoType + AxxPAC

[The Rock]

DataOrb:

IMO I recommended PowerDVD 2.55. It's simple, and has worked for me with 3 different video cards without a hitch.

The Rock

[High_Jumbllama]

spoogenet, what is FMD besides Foot and mouth Disease.

Me want link.

[Buuri]

Yeah, and then DVD might be replaced by FMD

.. and then FMD will be replaced by data crystals - inch^3 cube capable of holding 2 months of HDTV quality motion picture.

:
B