uk spec dell xps Blu-ray drive?

[vxrmarc]

Hi guys....

I have just purchased a dell xps which comes with an optional blueray drive.....I have just taken delivery of the laptop and after browsing around realised i now want blueray so i can watch films when away...

I now see that Dell have dropped blueray as an option on their xps range (UK not usa) and was wondering if anybody knows how easy it is to install internally yourself??

Do you know what player the dell uses and do i need to worry about installing firmware etc??

Also i see the panasonic drive getting good reports on here so are their any links for uk based companies who can supply them....

I am currently asking dell to take my laptop back and install blueray but am having difficulty and am waiting for an answer...

Has anybody had issues playing blueray films on the xps laptop?

thanks guys
marc

[JoeKickass]

If you can find the part number on Dell's website you should be able to order the drive directly from them. If you can't find the part number, just call and tell them what you're looking for; they can probably source it for you.

As for firmware, it's not likely you'll need to update the notebook BIOS. A blu-ray player as far as the notebook/PC is concerned at the hardware level is just another ATAPI device, and since the model of notebook already supports blu-ray drives you shouldn't need to update.

All then that is required is for you to swap out the old CD drive for the new blu-ray drive (refer to online documentation on your notebook for instructions on how to remove/install an accessory drive) and possibly install a Windows driver (usually provided with the drive, or you can go download it from Dell's website).

Hope that helps.

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by vxrmarc

Hi guys....

I have just purchased a dell xps which comes with an optional blueray drive.....I have just taken delivery of the laptop and after browsing around realised i now want blueray so i can watch films when away...

I now see that Dell have dropped blueray as an option on their xps range (UK not usa) and was wondering if anybody knows how easy it is to install internally yourself??

Do you know what player the dell uses and do i need to worry about installing firmware etc??

Also i see the panasonic drive getting good reports on here so are their any links for uk based companies who can supply them....

I am currently asking dell to take my laptop back and install blueray but am having difficulty and am waiting for an answer...

Has anybody had issues playing blueray films on the xps laptop?

thanks guys
marc

the panasonic drive you are talking about are actually the same that they use normally in XPS. Should be compatible. Best is to search ebay and get one there, that is if you're experienced computer user. Mind that (it depends on manufacturer) you will lose your warranty

[w_tanoto]

Mind you that there are limited stock in ebay, and they are running out of it. From my seller, there was 3, now only one left.

[vxrmarc]

Ah thats great guys thankyou.....

Now bear with me because i am totally new to all this....

The drives on ebay are classed as matsushita i think , is this the same as panasonic????

Do i need to worry about ordering from Hong Kong with regards to regions on the dvd,s??? Obviously uk is region 2 and usa region 1.....does this apply to blueray and will it affect the player if i buy one from hong kong???

Also is this the drive i should consider and is the latest drive considering that really all i want to do is watch films...

Anything else i need to consider?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MATSHITA-UJ-21...QQcmdZViewItem

Thankyou guys.....no one in the world seems to know the answers , thank god i found this forum!!!

[vxrmarc]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

the panasonic drive you are talking about are actually the same that they use normally in XPS. Should be compatible. Best is to search ebay and get one there, that is if you're experienced computer user. Mind that (it depends on manufacturer) you will lose your warranty

I wonder if trouble was experienced if i fitted the original drive back in if they would know??

I have sourced a couple of drives from you advice but they seem to have blank faces on and no blueray logos?? Although i appreciate this will not affect the drives performance it is a shame as cosmetically no one would know its blueray....Has anyone seen the panasonic 210 inside a dell xps and does the side of the drive have any blueray logos??

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by vxrmarc

I wonder if trouble was experienced if i fitted the original drive back in if they would know??

I have sourced a couple of drives from you advice but they seem to have blank faces on and no blueray logos?? Although i appreciate this will not affect the drives performance it is a shame as cosmetically no one would know its blueray....Has anyone seen the panasonic 210 inside a dell xps and does the side of the drive have any blueray logos??

I am thinking that maybe after BD become standard, there will be bezels with BD logo for sale. Look out for it.

[vxrmarc]

My new concern now though and i have been researching this for hours is the inability of the drive to play new blueray films??? According to many forums the dell firmware is still on version1.1 and new releases like casino royale just do not play whereas older films do...This is something changed somewhere (i have no technical experience) coding?? and the drive cannot cope with newer films.....Sony have been updating their firmware due to this but dell not ....

This worries me now????

Anybody any thoughts or info on this???

http://www.notebookforums.com/thread197791.html