Bought a Sony Vaio laptop with blu-ray

[ganthc]

I just found a great deal at BB that had a Sony Vaio laptop (VGN-FZ283BN) for $1599, and bought it. It comes with an integrated blu-ray drive, so now I will be able to watch movies on the go. My old laptop was heading on 4 years old, and had a Celeron processor which pissed me off to no end. This new laptop is loaded with features, and I'm excited about using it. I am curious about Vista, but I will definitely give it a shot.

Ruined, I am curious about how you use the 360 add-on to watch hd-dvds on your computer. I would be interested in getting it if I could be dual format on my laptop as well. Do you think it's possible?

[chlngr1970]

It being a USB drive, Vista has the drivers for it. I tried it with my laptop ( couple year old Gateway...A64 4000+, 1G DDR, Mobility Radion X600 ) It recognixed and loaded the drivers but wouldn't play the HD dicsc I am about to send my laptop back for a 4th time to get the LCD fixed, so I am going to try and get them to replace it under the no lemon policy...get me a new Toshiba with the HD DVD drive

You just need a software playback solution for HD DVD. Both Power DVD and WinDVD have HD DVD/Blu Ray playback features, but one, or both have two different versons for the two formats. It's like having to have two players all over again

j

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by ganthc

Ruined, I am curious about how you use the 360 add-on to watch hd-dvds on your computer. I would be interested in getting it if I could be dual format on my laptop as well. Do you think it's possible?

All you need is any computer with a USB port. Plug it in and "search windows update" on XP, or if you have Vista the drivers automatically install. Then all you need is HD DVD-capable player software which you may or may not already have. The latest version of PowerDVD plays both.

You might want to consider the Toshiba slim laptop HD DVD burner drive instead, though. Its a lot more portable, though I don't know if its still in production - and when it was it was a lot more expensive than the XBOX drive:
http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/03/15...-camp-jealous/

[ganthc]

Originally Posted by Ruined

All you need is any computer with a USB port. Plug it in and "search windows update" on XP, or if you have Vista the drivers automatically install. Then all you need is HD DVD-capable player software which you may or may not already have. The latest version of PowerDVD plays both.

You might want to consider the Toshiba slim laptop HD DVD burner drive instead, though. Its a lot more portable, though I don't know if its still in production - and when it was it was a lot more expensive than the XBOX drive:
http://www.crunchgear.com/2007/03/15...-camp-jealous/

Thanks, man!

I will probably stick with the hda0 because it's proven to work and it's not that big if I'm carrying it in my laptop backpack. So which version of PowerDVD should I get. I see there is a beta version for free, but is that a good one to get? My laptop came with Intervideo WinDVD, but I believe it is only for blu-ray. But I don't mind having PowerDVD available for hd-dvd with the add-on. It really would be worth it for me to pick up the hda0 at this point.

Hmm...does the hda0 require its own power supply or does it feed off of the power from the laptop via the usb?

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by ganthc

So which version of PowerDVD should I get. I see there is a beta version for free, but is that a good one to get? My laptop came with Intervideo WinDVD, but I believe it is only for blu-ray. But I don't mind having PowerDVD available for hd-dvd with the add-on. It really would be worth it for me to pick up the hda0 at this point.

PowerDVD Ultra, a lot better than WinDVD too IMO:
http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/produ...n_112_ENU.html

Though I'd hang on to WinDVD. I believe allows you to play ripped video off the hard drive, which IIRC has been disabled by AACS in the latest version of PowerDVD.

Hmm...does the hda0 require its own power supply or does it feed off of the power from the laptop via the usb?

Its got its own power supply with an "inline" brick (cord goes from drive to brick then another cord from brick to outlet) about 4"x2"x1" LxWxD. Connects via miniUSB on drive side to standard USB on computer side. And it has a builtin 2-port USB hub as well. Includes all needed cables.