I've searched but still don't understand: Disc compatibility issues with 1.1 only?

[ErinH]

I bough Batman Begins on BD yesterday and my HTPC won't play it thanks to non HCDP compliant graphics card.

Beyond this simple issue, the whole foray into HTPC isn't like I thought it would be and I"m backing out... at least for now. I'd like to pick up a cheap BD player but am worried that I'll run into issues with discs not being able to play and be stuck due to the lack of firmware upgrades for these cheaper players. Is this something to even worry about, or is the whole upgrade issue only for audio/bonus features? In a nutshell, will an entry level, non-upgradeable unit still play new BD's? Is there going to be compatibility with the video itself?... or just the issue with upgrading/outputting audio?

FWIW, my local BB has a Samsung bd-p1200 display model for $250. I thought about picking it up and giving it a shot. But, at that price, I'm thinking I could do better.

I only need 2.1 audio for now as this player will be in my living room. I won't do a full theater build for at least a year from now, so by then, I'll likely just buy a new BD player.


Sorry if this has been addressed, I just couldn't find a direct answer for this. I'm sure it's out there somewhere, buried in a thread.

 

[TLS Guy]

I bough Batman Begins on BD yesterday and my HTPC won't play it thanks to non HCDP compliant graphics card.

Beyond this simple issue, the whole foray into HTPC isn't like I thought it would be and I"m backing out... at least for now. I'd like to pick up a cheap BD player but am worried that I'll run into issues with discs not being able to play and be stuck due to the lack of firmware upgrades for these cheaper players. Is this something to even worry about, or is the whole upgrade issue only for audio/bonus features? In a nutshell, will an entry level, non-upgradeable unit still play new BD's? Is there going to be compatibility with the video itself?... or just the issue with upgrading/outputting audio?

FWIW, my local BB has a Samsung bd-p1200 display model for $250. I thought about picking it up and giving it a shot. But, at that price, I'm thinking I could do better.

I only need 2.1 audio for now as this player will be in my living room. I won't do a full theater build for at least a year from now, so by then, I'll likely just buy a new BD player.


Sorry if this has been addressed, I just couldn't find a direct answer for this. I'm sure it's out there somewhere, buried in a thread.

I'm not into BD. I understand there are a lot of disc compatibility issues with some players. There seem to be reports the PS3 is the least fussy.

It all comes about because the Hollywood types keep changing the code to try and beat the pirates. I certainly don't want a PS 3 and this whole issue is a big negative for me. For me DVD is quite good enough for Hollywood's trash. If more operas get released in BD I might get interested. However the DVDs have two channel loss less PCM and most sound very good. Since I'm not a videophile, the DVD gives a picture that I find adequate. For me the only reason for looking at BD would be loss less audio compression and discrete multichannel sound.

 

[Djizasse]

Just get AnyDVD for BluRay. This software will remove the protection on your discs and allow to play it with non compatible HDCP cards and displays:
http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvdhd.html

 

[ErinH]

Just get AnyDVD for BluRay. This software will remove the protection on your discs and allow to play it with non compatible HDCP cards and displays:
http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvdhd.html

I've been using the 'trial' version. I'll have to upgrade to get past this issue.

I'd rather spend $50 on an HDCP compliant card than pay ~$100 for AnyDVD (yes, it's this much).


Like I said, I'm thinking about dropping the whole HTPC idea altogether for a multitude of reasons. This just happens to be the big one. So, please, no more suggestions on how to use the PC. Let's stick with the question at hand.

 

[allargon]

Then get the ATI card. I hope your display is HDCP compliant as well. However, you're using it as a HTPC, so that shouldn't be an issue.

I remember with DVD I owned a drive on my computer for years before I bought a standalone. This whole HDCP/HDMI debacle has been one big mess from the start with HD DVD and Blu-Ray.

 

[ErinH]

"the ATI card"


What ATI card?

 

[allargon]

"the ATI card"


What ATI card?

I'd rather spend $50 on an HDCP compliant card than pay ~$100 for AnyDVD (yes, it's this much).

The $50 ATI Radeon HD 2600 which has HDCP compliance plus hardware decoding for VC-1 and AVC.

You want to hear me really start complaining, mention 64-bit Windows hardware and software support!

 

[ErinH]

lol.

I found a local shop who'll let me buy this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150257

for $45 and try it out. If it doesn't work, the guy said just to bring it back and he'd be fine with that. Nice guy.

Or this for $75:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150245

Don't really need a gaming card though. Just something that'll get the job done.

 

[dobyblue]

There are currently no disc compatability issues that I'm aware of that aren't brand new issues.

Samsung have been the slowest to issue firmware upgrades, but to date even the BD-P1000 which was the first player on the market can play all the discs regardless of profile, it simply won't access the BD-Live or Bonus View content on the disc, the option is either not listed or greyed out.

 

[j_garcia]

I was told yesterday when I got my Batman Begins disc that they have had people bring them back due to them not playing in certain Sony players. My guess would be that the user did not have their player's firmware updated, but it played fine on my PS3.

 

[Soundman]

I was told yesterday when I got my Batman Begins disc that they have had people bring them back due to them not playing in certain Sony players. My guess would be that the user did not have their player's firmware updated, but it played fine on my PS3.

That's just Sony's dirty way of getting you to buy a PS3.