Does anybody know why Apple chose to use a software decoder for its DVD playback? A hardware solution seems so much better. If you happen to move the mouse when playing a movie, hardware won’t stutter like there’s no tomorrow.

I wonder if OSX’s multitasking will help with the stuttering situation.

Anyone have insight on this?
-Dan

It’s cheaper and makes it easier to implement DVD support across the platform.  Also, in the long run, software decoding will not be an issue, so why invest in two technologies?  Mind you, I am NOT saying that the stuttering is in any way acceptable.

My B&W G3 has a daughtercard for hardware DVD decoding attached to the Rage 128. I don’t know why Apple cancelled it, but it works great, no problems.
I must add that playing a DVD in my mums iMac with a software DVD decoder isn’t worse. I’m running OS X full time on my G3 and I therefore use her Mac to watch DVDs, no problems with stuttering.

Hoytt, you mean it keeps playing smoothly when you bring up the menu bar or the player controls?!??
If so, then you are the first I’ve heard of.
-Dan

I’m wondering why Apple is BIG on DVD-R in their towers but they don’t even supply DVD’s in the rest of thier computer line. All of their new computers only have CD-RW! NO DVD! NO COMBO DRIVE! Just CD-RW. Why make DVD’s when you can’t even play them on a simple iMAC. To me this is strange.

Also, OS X WILL be much better with DVD playback. Everything is much better in OS X.

Apparently the new processors don’t help either. I had plenty of stuttering testing a DVD on my new 867 G4. Hope X fixes this annoyance.

The reason Apple only puts DVD-R in the G4 towers is raw processing power. The 733mhz G4 takes 2 hours to encode every 1 hour of DVD playback time. Imagine how long a 500Mhz G3 would take. (slower & without Altivec acceleration)
-Dan

I meant the faste processors didn’t help on the DVD playback…no argument on the power to burn DVDs is benefitted by the 867.

Slayman—

Last year Apple made DVD players *standard* in the iMac line…and got creamed in the marketplace; everyone wanted CD-RWs instead (thanks to the Napster/MP3 thing, mostly I think). They zigged when they should have zagged—a rare market-prediction failure for them. So they switched to CD-RWs instead. Now, CD-RW is the desktop standard, while DVD is the laptop standard (PowerBooks and most iBooks sold).

As for the lack of combo drives, I suspect it’s a slot-loading problem more than anything.  You’ll notice that the G4 Towers and iBooks both have tray-based combo drives available, while the iMac and Powerbooks—which take slot-loading drives only—do not.  I think they’re just waiting until they can get combo drives in slot-loading format before adding them to these lines.

—BlueDjinn

On 2001-07-25 09:38, slayman wrote:
I’m wondering why Apple is BIG on DVD-R in their towers but they don’t even supply DVD’s in the rest of thier computer line. All of their new computers only have CD-RW! NO DVD! NO COMBO DRIVE! Just CD-RW. Why make DVD’s when you can’t even play them on a simple iMAC. To me this is strange.

Also, OS X WILL be much better with DVD playback. Everything is much better in OS X.

Apple bought a company a few weeks ago or is in the process now that I think was a DVD software player company.  I am not sure where the strategy is going for sure, I will not be surprised if it stays in the software area however.  OS X should fix the studdering problem… though I think Apple knew there was a problem or at least knew that there DVD offerings could be improved upon.  This would explain why they are buying out the DVD company.  Did any else hear that to?  I think thats what I heard, I might be mistaken however.  Pay no mind to this if no one backs me up.

Back me up if thats what you heard too.

That company Apple acquire is Spruce.

This company is focusing on DVD authoring solution for NT platform. They have some very cool hardware and software combination.

I am planning to purchase a 733 G4 with the Superdrive with the intent to do some DVD burning. Does anyone know if there is a difference in the Superdrives in the 733 and the new 867?

Does anyone think this Superdrive will be obsolete in a year or so. Will DVDs I produce become dates and not playable on most home DVD players in the future?

Anonymous—you should probably check out Apple’s iDVD compatibility table:

http://www.apple.com/dvd/compatibility/

There are about 4-5 different competing recordable DVD formats right now, but so far the only two which appear to be in contention for the standard are DVD-R/RW (which the SuperDrive uses) and DVD+RW (yeah, I know the names are almost identical…what are ya gonna do?)

DVD-R/RW is only compatible with about 75% of DVD players on the market, but is gaining acceptance (supported by Apple, Compaq, and of course Pioneer). DVD+RW is *SUPPOSEDLY* going to have greater compatibility…but has yet to appear in the consumer market after like 2 years (I believe it’s supported by Dell and Sony, could be wrong).

If I’m wrong about any of this, someone can feel free to correct me.

On 2001-07-25 13:30, Anonymous wrote:
I am planning to purchase a 733 G4 with the Superdrive with the intent to do some DVD burning. Does anyone know if there is a difference in the Superdrives in the 733 and the new 867?

Does anyone think this Superdrive will be obsolete in a year or so. Will DVDs I produce become dates and not playable on most home DVD players in the future?

DVD’s in laptops are great, theatre while travelling can’t be beat. There is no need for DVD players in desktops. Standalone players are so cheap now that anyone can afford to have one to hook up to their TV. Why play a DVD in you 15in monitor when you have a 27, 32 or larger TV? 

I checked the Apple Suoerdrive compatability chart

Panasonic DMR E10 compatible
Panasonic DVD CV50 compatible
Panasonic DVD RV80 compatible

and my player wasn’t listed but they are similar model names. I have a Panasonic DVD-RV31, does anyone know if it is compatable?

You said it. DVD’s make sense in laptops, lots of sense.. but in a desktop? Why would I want to watch a movie in my business chair when I can relax on my couch in front of my tv?  Or with my notebook in my lap….