windows media centre

mambo69

so having recently purchased a windows 8 laptop I cant play DVD on windows media player and understand I need the media centre, but that is £99.99

do any of you good people know if that's correct?? I have some DVD with digital copies and wanted to put them on the laptop, but seems like I cant unless I pay this fee, am I reading it right?

when I put in the DVD I get make a digital copy, but when I specify Windows media it crashes on me and will not update


thanks all

RobTang

The media centre pack for win 8 is £6.99...

flashg67

Presume you can use alternative, free players, as with other versions of Windows, eg VLC player?

alanrowell

RobTang wrote: »

The media centre pack for win 8 is £6.99...

£99.99 is if you don't have Windows 8.1 Pro, £6.99 if you do.

But for DVDs & downloads you should be able to get a free app - for example

http://www.gizmag.com/free-apps-play-dvds-windows-8/28384/

GlynD

There's a link here. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/feature-packs The Media Centre Pack is £6.99, it's the Windows 8.1 Pro kit which is £99.99. I can see how it could be misread though so be careful when you do your download.

TherealMandM

Xbmc or plex are good media players

mambo69

GlynD wrote: »

There's a link here. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/feature-packs The Media Centre Pack is £6.99, it's the Windows 8.1 Pro kit which is £99.99. I can see how it could be misread though so be careful when you do your download.

I tried that but it only lets me download the pro kit, the media pack is not even an option

stix62

Have you tried Windows Media Player Classic?

That's a very good freebie and W8 compatible (32 and 64bit).

mambo69

going to try an alternate solution, i have a work laptop so put the digital copy there, then onto my phone and then use my phone as the portal and convert the film over so i can put it on my tablet

very sneaky of MS not allowing DVD playback in media player anymore though, Bill must need the money :-)

searchlight123

+1 for vlc.
free to use and plays every format i've ever thrown at it and you can adjust the size of the viewing area exactly to suit your needs.

jaydeeuk1

mambo69 wrote: »

very sneaky of MS not allowing DVD playback in media player anymore though, Bill must need the money :-)

Because of anti competition rules. MS would love to include all sorts but they'll be fined to the hilt as other companies moan that customers don't want their usually inferior products.