News - Microsoft flaunts Windows Blu-ray playback over Mac in new advert

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Latest in bizarre stream of videos sees a laptop tout high-def video over a jealous MacBook.

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Read more.

While digital distribution is definitely the future of media distribution. Jobs is kinda throwing the present under a bus, so he can save a fistful of dollars on bluray players/burners and software. It's not as if they're not getting enough moolah for the bloody hardware, either.

Except, erm, it isn't built in :( Which is why we have to fork out >50ukp for playback software for HTPCs :( I\'ll take Windows over Mac, but please, leave the BS where it belongs!

Or add blu-ray support via a service pack or something. Yeah. Do that.

The point is it is included by most people thanks to their partner program.

MS don\'t make a laptop either, you have to shell out extra for that. I\'m suprised they didn\'t try and work the 3D angle...

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Originally Posted by Irien

Except, erm, it isn't built in :( Which is why we have to fork out >50ukp for playback software for HTPCs :( I'll take Windows over Mac, but please, leave the BS where it belongs!

Or add blu-ray support via a service pack or something. Yeah. Do that.

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+1
As someone who doesnt have a blu-ray player of any sort, i have no plans to buy one principally because of the DRM / hardware / software headache requirements to get the thing to a) work and b) output consistently correctly, using my application of choice.

Ironically, it's one thing that i'm sure Apple could get right (the simple user experience).

Legal downloads need a serious push, and quick, since we all know that illegal high quality downloads are here and available now. (I know that HD videos are available, but there is limited quantity, are full of DRM, and just not easy for Joe Public to get on to their TV's).

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Originally Posted by aidanjt

While digital distribution is definitely the future of media distribution. Jobs is kinda throwing the present under a bus, so he can save a fistful of dollars on bluray players/burners and software. It's not as if they're not getting enough moolah for the bloody hardware, either.

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Dont be daft, he'll do a complete u-turn in a year or so and then market BR as if they are reinventing the wheel again, seriously, how many times has Jobs said we dont need this that and the other, and then as if by magic, there it is in the new and improved device..

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Originally Posted by MSIC

As someone who doesnt have a blu-ray player of any sort, I have no plans to buy one principally because of the DRM / hardware / software headache requirements to get the thing to a) work and b) output consistently correctly, using my application of choice.

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I take it you don't play DVDs either since these have DRM too (CSS) plus various copy protection systems (ARccOS and so on)?

Blu-ray is much less of a headache if you use AnyDVD HD.

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Originally Posted by aceuk

I take it you don't play DVDs either since these have DRM too (CSS) plus various copy protection systems (ARccOS and so on)?

Blu-ray is much less of a headache if you use AnyDVD HD.

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To be honest, i don't think I've played a DVD (ie disc in, press play in the menu system and watch the content) in well over a year, probably 2.
I'm not saying that DVDs don't have their place (or Blu-Rays too for that matter) as for some people they are very convenient, not to mention that putting a bought disc into a bought standalone player doesn't seem to be fraught with any legal ambiguities.
For a long while now I've been playing video files only, be it on my PCs, my in-car DVD players (yes its a DVD player, but not playing DVD video), my Western Dig TV media player, my iphone... and it all works so well.
The real advantage to me though is that everything is stored and accessed centrally from my NAS, giving the ultimate lazyboy thing of not having to get up to change a disc, or worrying about things being lost / borrowed / scratched or whatever.
The downside is clearly that even when you fully intend to be honest, legal and proper about the whole thing, the law still seems to be dragging its heals in the 20th century (regarding ripping of content that you have paid for)

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The Windows laptop decides able to watch a Blu-ray movie

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Seems someone missed a word out? Or am i just mis-reading it?

Either way i thought that Short advert was pretty good, made me chuckle anyway!:clapping:

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Originally Posted by Irien

Except, erm, it isn't built in :( Which is why we have to fork out >50ukp for playback software for HTPCs :(

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Yes and no.

Whilst their advert is making use of blu-ray movies, which isnt built in, the ability to read/write the disks, with suitable hardware, is built in.

So its the usual marketing twisted lies based on some tiny bit of truth.

Although, Im not sure that actually requires anything that isnt already there for DVD support, ie UDF format support...

Maybe the "built in" support is just the ability to display a "Blu-Ray" icon on the drive when you insert one?