Blu-Ray and HD-DVD Playback Under XP

An anonymous reader writes "In the last few weeks the first HD-DVD and Blu-Ray drives for PCs have slowly trickled onto the market. Up to now, it has not been clear what system requirements you need to actually be able to play HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs. The operating system was the main cause of concern; many rumors cropped up that the new generation of video discs would not work under Windows XP. Hardware.Info put the question to Cyberlink, the company behind Power DVD, if the lack of a protected videopath in Windows XP would make it impossible to enable HD-DVD or Blu-Ray playback. They have answered the questions, and provide a complete checklist of what you need to play Blu-Ray and HD-DVD movies in HD resolutions on your home PC."

What's not clear?

[fmwap]

it has not been clear what system requirements you need to actually be able to play HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs.

Yes it has, 64-bits and a DRM-ridden OS

I thought we already discussed this?

Re:What a deal!

[winnabago]

Hell, my computer can't even run the diagnostic utility that supposedly tells me how deficient I am. Guess my answer is "no".

The list:

[Anonymous Coward]

• Your soul surrendered to the local Devil-affiliated MPAA representative
• Virgin sacrifice
• An EULA, signed in blood, stating, among other things, that you will surrender your right arm if you watch any of the discs more than 3 times
• Your firstborn son's heart placed on the altar of Fair Use, and his blood sprinkled over your motherboard
• No un-DRMed content within 5 miles of you

"Is my computer BD/HD ready?" command-line tool:

[mypalmike]

echo "No"

Re:Who cares?

[truthsearch]

Your disc player will respond, "Bite my shiny metal ass."

Re:1 goat, 1 long knife

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm right with you on the goat but what's the knife for? I find a cut-throat razor or femshave does the business myself.

The list is incomplete

[pembo13]

they forgot to mention having to put down your soul, as a deposit, just incase you understand.

Surely no-one's going to buy a bluray...

[niceone]

.. after it just killed that aussie TV guy?!

Re:"Is my computer BD/HD ready?" command-line tool

[nine-times]

dammit. apparently my computer isn't BD/HD ready.

Re:does not matter.

[chrisjwray]

"I am in the high end Home theatre market"

We call it future shop in Canada.

I have an idea.

[rice_burners_suck]

Let's make it so that in Windows XP, the video is read off the disc, unencrypted, saved to the hard drive in full resolution, and then played through an unprotected videopath. Then, the RIAA, MPAA, and Microsoft can sue Microsoft for making illegal copies of movies. It doesn't matter that Microsoft will be both a plaintiff and a defendant in this case. When a company is so big, it's not uncommon for one department to do something without another department's knowledge, such as sue itself. Hmmm... if their legal department worked the same way as their software, I wouldn't be surprised at all.

If I was in charge of Microsoft

[Nonillion]

You know, with Microsoft's vast fortune; you think they would be in a position to dictate terms to the MPAA / RIAA, just like they do with computer and hardware manufactures.

MPAA/RIAA: You will provide DRM (digital restrictions management) in your OS and ANY hardware we see fit. People are ripping us off left and right! Piracy is so rampant, we are going broke paying off politicians and lawyers to ram DRM down everyones throat.

MICROSOFT: (with me in charge) Fuck you guys, our customers don't want this DRM shit. It crates enormous overhead and will require everyone to buy all new hardware. Our customers are getting tired of this draconian and Stalinist attitude of yours. You are going to be MY bitch, and do EXACTLY what I tell you to do.

MPAA/RIAA: How dare you speak to us that way we'll sue!

MICROSOFT: (with me in charge) Bring it on bitch! We have been sued by governments, you'll pose no challenge at all.

Sombody mod this guy funny

[Overzeetop]

It would be nice if they supported Linux from the start, especially since the software and drivers clearly exist and there is no extra work involved. It seems that at the very least, it would likely help to discourage the DRM cracking.

This has got to be the funniest thing on /. for quite some time. Release the drivers to the largest group of MPAA-haters in the universe? Do you think for a minute that any self respecting Linux nut is going to put a closed-source, DRM encumbered driver on his or her system for any purpose other than to find a crack for the encryption? Why don't we all just scratch a check for $10,000 to our local poitician and ask him to so "something positive" with the money.

Re:Why?

[really?]

Because this time it goes to 11???

Re:Why would you even want it?

[Vinnie_333]

On the inside of her left forearm there is a brown spot that is clearly visible on the hi-def version.

Great, but I'd prefer not to see the stewardess's brown spot.

Re:Surely no-one's going to buy a bluray...

[syousef]

No you've got it confused. BluRay vs Sting Ray.

One is a dangerous thing that will rip out your heart with a poisonous barb given half a chance, and the other is a harmless-if-not-provoked sea creature.