Windows 8 Pro Upgrades for Existing PCs Bring DVD Playback Discussion

[Jacqueline Emigh]

Looking at running Windows 8 on your existing PC? Microsoft is now offering Windows 8 Pro upgrades (that includes Media Center Pro for DVD and Blu-ray disc playback) at special introductory pricing.

Read the full content of this Article: Windows 8 Pro Upgrades for Existing PCs Bring DVD Playback

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[ragametal]

in your article you state that: "If you're looking at running Windows 8 on your existing PC, Microsoft is now offering upgrades to Windows 8 Pro -- including Media Center Pro, for DVD and Blu-ray disc playback -- both online and in stores at special introductory pricing"

Have you personally confirmed that Blu-ray playback is possible from within media center without the use of third party software?

The reason why i'm asking is because this is the only site on the web that states that media center pack will provide bluray playing capabilities (you and Ted Needleman on his article "Windows 8 Tips: How To Play Back Movies & Music ").

I'm currently running Win7 on my htpc and this feature alone will be enough to convince me to upgrade my OS. If it is not included, then i see no point in upgrading to W8 since aparently Microsoft is charging money to offer me an old product that i already have.

Your response will be much appreciated

[Ted Needleman]

There appears to have been some miscommunication during the editing process.

Winodws 8 Media Center (or the original Media Player) DOES NOT play Blu-ray discs. Neither does the VLC Media Player I mention in the article.

To play a Blu-ray disc under Windows 8 (or Windows 7), you need a seperate Blu-ray player application. You will also need an optical drive that can play Blu-rays, something that may not have come through clearly. A Blu-ray disc will NOT play in a standard DVD drive, ever. The data density on a Blu-ray disc is much higher on a Blu-ray disc than on a DVD--25GB per layer (Blu-ray) vesus 4GB per layer on a DVD.

Sorry if all this created some confusion.

Additionally, if you laptop or PC came with a Blu-ray optical drive, chances are good that the vendor included an application to play Blu-ray discs.

Ted

[Ted Needleman]

There appears to have been some miscommunication during the editing process.

Winodws 8 Media Center (or the original Media Player) DOES NOT play Blu-ray discs. Neither does the VLC Media Player I mention in the article.

To play a Blu-ray disc under Windows 8 (or Windows 7), you need a seperate Blu-ray player application. You will also need an optical drive that can play Blu-rays, something that may not have come through clearly. A Blu-ray disc will NOT play in a standard DVD drive, ever. The data density on a Blu-ray disc is much higher on a Blu-ray disc than on a DVD--25GB per layer (Blu-ray) vesus 4GB per layer on a DVD.

Sorry if all this created some confusion.

Additionally, if you laptop or PC came with a Blu-ray optical drive, chances are good that the vendor included an application to play Blu-ray discs.

Ted