I bought this thinking it would be just like installing an internal DVD drive. Wrong.
The hardware is simple to install and will take minutes. It's the software that is the key to the problems people have. The cyberlink power dvd 8 which comes with this drive really does work but I had to (unbend) the defective software disc first. I did this by applying heat to the DVD which flattened it enough for the disc to be read by the drive.
Most people wouldn't have tried this and would have been stuck with a dead drive. (would still play dvd's).
The software is the kind I hate (blotted and limited); but it does allow you to play blu rays.
The reasons for all these problems with internal blu ray drives is quite simply this: Microsoft backed HD DVD and wanted that format to succeed with its XBOX 360. They sided with Toshiba against blu ray but blu ray won the battle and HD DVD is effectively dead. Because microsoft is still a big baby it won't allow the codecs to be developed that would enable windows media player to simply work with Blu Rays (it's the future microsoft, wake up!!).
Microsoft also hate JAVA and JAVA are big players in the blu ray camp - developing much of the software that enables external blu rays to function properly.
So it is microsoft who have made internal blu ray drives so difficult and limited in software.
In the journey to find software (before I "ironed out" my cyberlink powerdvd 8 disc); I installed 5 trial versions of legitimate blu ray "players". None of them worked and my system became infected with a virus. I've had to reinstall windows 7 and noticed that a lot of people are turning to illegal software in order to get blu ray functions on their computers.
My drive is working and it is fast and quiet. You'll have no problems if you have an internet connection (the software has to update itself in order to play blu rays), otherwise you'll be stuck.
This is a great drive but it is the limited software available to enable blu ray playback that is the problem. My advice is not to pay for any program - because it is inevitable that microsoft will have to give people blu ray functionality in windows 7. (once they grow up).
Stick with cyberlink dvd 8 because easy playback with FULL functionality is just around the corner. Phew......someone get me a darkened room.
| Brand | Lite-On |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 18 x 14.58 x 4.14 cm; 498.95 g |
| Item model number | IHOS104-37 |
| Manufacturer | Lite On |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Are Batteries Included | No |
| Item Weight | 499 g |
| Guaranteed software updates until | unknown |
