External BD drive. Need details.

[Billz]

1. Is it resonable to assume that an external drive will automatically be profile 2.0 because it is connected to a web capable computer?
2. VLC allows you to play region locked DVDs in a DVD region encoded drive. Would VLC also work for imported BDs in the same sort of way?
3. Would such a drive work on a computer with the following specs:

Dell XPS 420
Intel Core2 Duo 3.16ghz Processor
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1
2.00GB ram
375w PSU
500GB hard drive

[yeuemmaimai]

playback software will determine what profile is supported. I have a combo hd-dvd/blu-ray drive and it plays all of the latest content just fine using power DVD 8 (outside of 2012)

[Billz]

Originally Posted by yeuemmaimai

playback software will determine what profile is supported. I have a combo hd-dvd/blu-ray drive and it plays all of the latest content just fine using power DVD 8 (outside of 2012)

Thats not really answering my enquiries.

[FlipperWasIrish]

Originally Posted by Billz

1. Is it resonable to assume that an external drive will automatically be profile 2.0 because it is connected to a web capable computer?
2. VLC allows you to play region locked DVDs in a DVD region encoded drive. Would VLC also work for imported BDs in the same sort of way?
3. Would such a drive work on a computer with the following specs:

Dell XPS 420
Intel Core2 Duo 3.16ghz Processor
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1
2.00GB ram
375w PSU
500GB hard drive

1. This would not be a wise assumption, as the answer is no.
2. Don't know for sure, but I doubt it.
3. Don't know, what drive are you talking about.

[Billz]

Originally Posted by FlipperWasIrish

1. This would not be a wise assumption, as the answer is no.
2. Don't know for sure, but I doubt it.
3. Don't know, what drive are you talking about.

Any drive in particular.

Basically, I want a drive that has profile 2.0 and will work on my computer. If it can't be made to use VLC to play imported Blu-ray discs then that is fine.

[Celerony]

As already said by yeuemmaimai, the drive has nothing to with the profile.
The drive only reads the data from the disc and the software on your computer handles that data.

What I did is just picking up the cheapest (external, in my case) drive from eBay, installing PowerDVD... VOILA, done!

It isn't hard, as long as you don't consider it as rocket science to yourself.

Btw, why do you want an external one?
If you've got other PC's/laptops on which you like to use it, I understand, but when it comes down to just one PC, then why don't just unscrew the case, spend five minutes and that's it?

And VLC, forget it, don't ask, just FORGET IT! (as why would you spend any time on something that will not work and makes no sense?)

[Billz]

Originally Posted by Celerony

As already said by yeuemmaimai, the drive has nothing to with the profile.
The drive only reads the data from the disc and the software on your computer handles that data.

What I did is just picking up the cheapest (external, in my case) drive from eBay, installing PowerDVD... VOILA, done!

It isn't hard, as long as you don't consider it as rocket science to yourself.

Btw, why do you want an external one?
If you've got other PC's/laptops on which you like to use it, I understand, but when it comes down to just one PC, then why don't just unscrew the case, spend five minutes and that's it?

And VLC, forget it, don't ask, just FORGET IT! (as why would you spend any time on something that will not work and makes no sense?)

1. So if it doesn't matter about what profile it is, does that mean that BD-Live will work anyway when the drive is connected?

2. I want an external one, mostly for the reasons you just stated, but also because the Dell XPS 420 is pretty difficult to mod because of the way it is built.

3. VLC works perfectly for imported DVDs so I was only wondering if it would work for imported BDs aswell. I'm guessing that you are not a fan of VLC then.

[Celerony]

1. Yepz, the software (like PowerDVD, WinDVD) can be compared with the ''chipset'' of a stand-alone player, and de BD-rom drive as the drive in the player. (which is often a Sata player, like in a PC)

2. Dell PCs are indeed hard to mod, but replacing an optical drive is easy peasy, that's just standard stuff. (harddisk too, when it dies, you can just walk to your local PC store, and buy a new Sata HDD.)

And about VLC:
Don't get me wrong, It's installed on my laptop and it's great for playing some exotic web formats without struggling with codecs and I-know-it-better players, but for DVDs I'm no fan of it.
But that's totally irrelevant considering the fact that VLC can't handle BD's, except for uncrypted M2TS files and you may cross your fingers then that it plays without hiccups etc.

Savvy?

[Billz]

So, bottom line, which seems to be difficult for people to find here these days, is that BD-Live for features for various discs (eg: Star Trek XI, 2012, Terminator Salvation) WILL work on external BD drives.

[Yog-Sothoth]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827249040

I'm not sure of the capabilities of the "Cyberlink BD Suite" that's included with the drive.

I personally have an internal LG dual-layer BD burner and use PowerDVD 9 Ultra and AnyDVD HD with it (I have AnyDVD HD set to disable BD-Live). AnyDVD HD can also be used to strip any region coding on a disc.

[Billz]

Thanks for all the helpful answers.

Now to keep things simple (please.)

1. Is there, anywhere in England, that sells external Blu-ray drives that would have no problem with BD-live features on dscs?

2. Are the specs for my computer good enough for such a drive?

3. Is there some software that would disable region coding but not affect BD-live?

[Celerony]

1. *presses repeat button*
It fully depends on your playback software, every BD-rom drive will work, believe me!

2. Yepz, no problem. (there's even an option to order this PC with a build-in BD drive!)

3. Yepz, the software that Yog-Sothoth mentioned. (if you have more questions about this, PM me, because of the forum rules)

[Billz]

Originally Posted by Celerony

1. *presses repeat button*
It fully depends on your playback software, every BD-rom drive will work, believe me!

2. Yepz, no problem. (there's even an option to order this PC with a build-in BD drive!)

3. Yepz, the software that Yog-Sothoth mentioned. (if you have more questions about this, PM me, because of the forum rules)

Why are you ignoring what I am asking about BD-LIVE?

I fully expect external BD drives to work with this PC. But I want to know if BD-LIVE features on discs will work in a external drive. You all seem to be ignoring that question. I've asked it enough times!

[Celerony]

Yes, ja, jawohl, si, qui!

It has nothing to with whether it's drive brand a, b, or c, internal or external, doesn't matter at all.
If the playback software says, ''I support BD-live'', then it supports BD-live!

Btw, I had already answered your question, but I forget to write ''BD-live'' specifically.

It doesn't matter how you connect the drive, even SCSI will work!

Even the very first BD-rom drives from 2007 will work with BD-live, as the drive has nothing to do with the profile, only the data.