Use this thread to discuss Leopard's new DVD player. Please do not start new threads with questions, problems or comments.

So, has no one with a 1.6 processor or faster enjoyed "even higher-quality video with Adaptive Video Analyzation technology that applies deinterlacing and inverse 3:2 pulldown on demand" yet?

I only looked at things briefly last night while using Front Row to view my DVD collection around the house. My first impressions are that things work much, much better. What I don't have are any DVD's of television shows that were always the worst offenders.

What I don't have are any DVD's of television shows that were always the worst offenders.
Examples?

I'll also say that to me, in combination with the new Front Row, the DVD viewing experience is incomparably better.

Examples?

I'll also say that to me, in combination with the new Front Row, the DVD viewing experience is incomparably better.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one show I remember watching a couple of years back that was simply terrible with Apple's DVD player.

Anyone done a comparison with the new Leopard player vs a windows player such as T-tek? Thinking of using Bootcamp and doing my own comparison but thought maybe someone else has.

+1

From the sticky on top of this Forum:

"Due to the growing problem in the HTPC area regarding which OS is best, we (the administration and moderators) have decided to set down a few rules regarding posting and thread starting. Since there is one main forum and two subforums, the threads shall be allocated as follows:

1. Main forum - Since the various iterations of Windows currently has the largest user base, this will be the area designated for any and all posts that relate to Windows hardware and software. This area is also designated for general discussions that are OS neutral or that the OS is not a consideration of any kind. This is also the place to discuss extreme minority OS's that do not fall under the umbrella of the other two subforums.

2. Mac Chat subforum - This is the place to discuss any software that runs on the Mac OS, and ONLY products that would be used on this platform. Consumer electronic products from Apple (such as the AppleTV, for example), can also be discussed here, but only when used with a Mac OS computer.

3. Linux Chat subforum - This is the place to discuss any Linux based software in all of its variations and any hardware that can be used with these platforms.

Additional considerations:

1. Mac/Windows crossplatform support will be confined to a single thread which is stickied in the main forum. Any and all other threads regarding crossplatform issues will simply be deleted without notice.

2. If enough members feel that a similar thread needs to be created for Linux/ Windows crossplatform concerns, we will be happy to do the same for you as we have done for the Mac/Windows people, but as of now no one seems to have any interest in such a thread.

3. Any threads started for the purpose of starting yet another "OS war" will be deleted without notice. Members who show a reckless disregard for this mandate will be banned, the first offense being temporary, but continued offense will result in a permanent ban from AVS. WE DO NOT WANT ANY MORE OS WARS!!!

Everyone has their favorite OS. Some people enjoy the benefits of more than one OS. Please support your OS(s) by posting in the appropriate forum(s). There is no need whatsoever to go on some sort of "religious" crusade to convince the guy on the other side that your OS is better than his. To each his own, and all OS's are welcome here at AVS. But OS zealots are not welcome. If you like your OS "religion" then great, support it, but LEAVE THE OTHER GUY ALONE!"

I am no moderator but I don't think this thread is an OS war brewing. OSX's DVD player has long been know to not be top notch and I think it is valid to gather information about how the new DVD player compares to the old one and how it compares to other DVD players.

I agree with JerryNY-
So what's the ruling? We can't discuss video quality differences between dvd players if they run on different OSs? Even on the same machine!

I don't think this applies to an OS war issue.

By the way I understand the attempt to curtail the various forum wars and support those efforts fully.

ken

I for one would be curious to see what people think about the Leopard DVD Player's quality compared to other options out there since we know its supposed to be much better than before but by how much?

Of course, for many of us it doesn't really matter since we won't be using anything but Front Row anyway ;)

Kevin

wormwhole,
was there some point or helpful info to your post, or trying to get your post totals up?

Of course a comparison of software players based on the previous version of the apple dvdplayer are acceptable and warranted. Agreeing with the long time users of Mac, the previous player was inferior to the 'other' format. A new comparison based from the same machine may prove that apple has 'caught up' and it is now a non-issue. This would be a big plus for Mac users.
Kevin- and others,
I did purchase the family pack for Leopard based on reports of improvement to dvdplayer. I do wish though someone had done a comparison before I spent the money. It is much better than the old though. Having recently come over from the 'other' OS it was quite apparent to the last version.

Also, this is the official leopard dvd player thread. This is the place for leopard dvd player questions.

kevin- according to wormwhole - we can't discuss this here; He/she reported my '+1' post above as a violation of the rules...

ken

Unreal, take a simple level headed thread with real questions pertaining to the developmental advancements of Leopard and someone tries to squash it........

Unreal, take a simple level headed thread with real questions pertaining to the developmental advancements of Leopard and someone tries to squash it........
I'm not sure if I'm getting this, but so what? Don't the complaints of a newbie with 6 posts to their name go in the circular file?

And yes, please do post an objective comparison of Windows DVD Players vs. Leopard's Apple DVD player -- I'd love to know!

(And I certainly wouldn't think it as an assault on Leopard if Win. PQ turns out better -- Leopard is clearly superior in more than enough other ways, for me -- or it -- to feel threatened...)

OK, first of all let's all calm down. The post is not a direct violation of AVS policy. Ken - your post was not reported, at least not through the normal channels as I get a copy of all those reports.

Having said that, however, I think we could do without direct comparison with Windows programs. In neither case is the DVD player used in isolation -- it must be used with an entire OS. For many of us, regardless of whether this program or that is "better" in Windows, that is simply a step too far.

So. Has anyone done a comparison between the new DVD player and VLC or MPlayer?

I would have to respectfully disagree. If people were going around in this thread saying this OS's player is the suck and that OS's DVD player is teh win I would say drop all the OS specific DVD player comparisons but people are having an open and honest discussion about the quality of the new player without all the vitriol. DVD's are a pretty widespread standard with OS specific players, OS Agnostic players and many more hardware players which all play that same DVD with varying results. To limit comparisons to intra-OS ones is well limiting to say the least. This isn't a Quicktime vs. Windows Media Player free for all, each of those players obviously is stronger on their home platform for obvious reasons and they play their own specific variations of codecs which makes it a far more difficult comparison which can, and often will, end up in contentious platform bickering. DVD's are DVD's but in the scheme of things they are only a part of the whole HTPC debate and probably become less important to the debate as we move forward. I personally think the OSX player seems improved but I don't have all that much experience using it and other software players of various incarnations to make a valid comparison so I would be curious to hear from others who may have that experience.

I must disagree as well. This is one of the items that I'm struggling with at the moment, OSX with DVDPlayer or Windows with Media Player Classic, PowerDVD or Windows Media Center.

The more info the better.

Just my humble opinion.

Josh

The problem with this kind of comparison--software DVD players on different platforms--is that it inevitable will boil down to opinion. In order to conduct a fair trial, one would have to set up a test platform that controls for hardware variables--processor speed, display, gpu, RAM, optical drive, etc. The only close comparison would be Windows running in Boot Camp on a Mac. And we know where those discussion have ended up: in the Windows on Mac hardware thread that got moved out of the Mac forum (after a long and acrimonious debate).

So, even if you could fairly match up the hardware, then the comparison still becomes one of human subjectivity, and that subjectivity is often clouded by our platform choices.

Give me a nice double blind test conducted by an independent reviewing firm, given hardware parity and a suite of objective and replicable tests, and then we could debate the results fairly. But a purely subjective debate on this kind of comparison will inevitably go down the platform war path.

And given all of that, I'd still like to hear the subjective results--over on the MCE on Mac thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=816450)--if anyone is willing to port the request over. I'm not afraid to admit up front that Leopard's DVD Player will probably get pasted. Apple just hasn't committed the sorts of resources to DVD Player that independent 3rd party developers on the win platform have. Watching DVDs on the Mac just hasn't been an important or strategic goal of Apple's. Quite the opposite, actually--or the appleTV would have shipped with a DVD drive, for instance. Apple's DVD Player has always just been a bone tossed to the dogs to keep them quiet--even if Leopard's new version has a little more meat attached.

Wildrock has perfectly written exactly my thoughts. I would also recommend his suggestion to ask this in the MCE on Mac thread. However, in order to be fair, why not include Linux? After all, one of the benefits of the current Macs is that they can run virtually any operating system.

Can we please get back on topic now?

Do we have a VLC thread if I want a comparison there? The point was only to see if Apple had listened to you guys that ask for improvement, and made it comparable to arguably one of the better players regardless of format. Although I understand not wanting a runaway thread like in other parts of this forum, I thought this to be very controlled,legitimate and simple. This wasn't an assault on the Mac platform. I gather you guys have defended the platform and fielded 'many' comparisons of 'Mac vs W' long before I came to this part of the forum.

I am adding to this an explanation. Above is sort of the apology and understanding that you guys were subjected to OS wars and/or many arguments before, and that was not my intent what-so-ever. So I understand that maybe you have become 'wary' of the 'W' word. It was simply that the users in the other forum weren't going to purchase Leopard like I have, so no comparisons there. Again, 'sorry' to anyone that might have thought 'here we go again'

wow - well I guess wormwhole did the right thing in reporting me (not sure why you didn't receive it Further).

OK - I got it now -
no DVD player comparisons between OS's. Don't agree, but that's the ruling. I'm sending all output through a Lumagen anyway - no skin off my nose...! :)


ken

all forums issues aside.. has there been any comparison of Leopard DVD player vs. Tiger? (can we at least start there?)

Mike

all forums issues aside.. has there been any comparison of Leopard DVD player vs. Tiger? (can we at least start there?)

Mike

I think there is universal agreement that it has improved a lot over Tiger. The user-interface is much more complete, there are more options and the quality of the image seems better to my eyes than any DVD player I'd tried in Tiger.

However, I still wish there would be an exit command in the contextual menu, as well as a choice of languages and subtitles.

The DVD player is much better in Leopard. My chief complaint about previous versions of DVD player was the poor deinterlacing which made some DVDs unwatchable. Things have improved immensely in this regard. I think I'll use the Apple DVD player instead of VLC, which fixed the deinterlacing issues in Tiger but had stability problems (lots of errors & lock ups when FF, REW, and skipping chapters)

After limited Leopard Front Row / DVD Player use, I have to agree with others here. Leopard's deinterlacing is definitely improved from Tiger's. I now feel comfortable telling family members who have Macs connected to large format TVs (or who are considering doing so) that they don't have to hook up a separate DVD player or run third party software to get decent playback quality.

BTW, this thread represents definite progress from previous years' moaning & bickering. Thanks, everyone, for keeping it positive!

Add my name to Further, Wildrock, JerryNY and Kenliles... I think this community can handle a thoughtful discussion of DVD players without firing deadly projectiles at each other.

Add my name to Further, Wildrock, JerryNY and Kenliles... I think this community can handle a thoughtful discussion of DVD players without firing deadly projectiles at each other.

I agree - If it's OK with our moderator, seems like we could give it a watchful, limited try. Especially with the new advances in the Apple DVD player. Perhaps keep it to DVD comparisons only (no OS stuff)?

Personally (as a former WinDVD PC HTPC user), I think they all have something to offer...It be great to get back to some of the AVS good-ol' days again!I understand if it's not in the cards right now - Willing to go with what's best for the forum....

Back OT - I agree so far comparing 10.5 player against 10.4 - much improved picture. I'm not the best source for this though since I process through the Lumagen on the big screen. I can only direct compare on my 23" monitor - not the best - looking for better opinions...

ken