Topics › All Forums › General › The Corner Pub › Watching Blu-ray files from your computer on your HDTV
| May 3, 2013 at 11:00 am Quote #24978 | |
 jroundy (1418) | Here’s a tech question for someone here who probably knows the answer. If you have a laptop computer with a HDMI output, can you watch Blu-ray files on your HDTV in the same quality as if you had a Blu-ray disc player? The poor folks play for keeps down here…They’re the living dead. Nobody rules these streets at night like Van Halen!! jroundyQuote |
| May 3, 2013 at 11:18 am Quote #24980 | |
 guitard (7354) | Sure you can. A computer and a blu-ray player are pretty similar in terms of playing a video file. And you don’t even need an HDMI cable with a lot of newer laptops. Here’s an article that explains the various options. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2390501,00.asp guitardQuote |
| May 3, 2013 at 1:01 pm Quote #24983 | |
| jroundy (1418) |
Is there a difference between a computer and DVD player when playing a video file? The poor folks play for keeps down here…They’re the living dead. Nobody rules these streets at night like Van Halen!! jroundyQuote |
| May 3, 2013 at 1:05 pm Quote #24984 | |
 JasonA (1118) | DVD player can only play DVDs, which are always in standard definition. A computer – and lots of Blu-ray players – can play HD videos. JasonAQuote |
| May 3, 2013 at 1:16 pm Quote #24985 | |
 ron (11783) |
In terms of BluRay’s, there is a small difference. While stand-alone free software apps like VLC can play hi-def content, they usually can’t handle the menus for BluRay discs. To exactly replicate the experience you’d get via a BluRay player on your computer, you’ll probably have to purchase some BluRay software (I haven’t looked into this much, so there may be free solutions out there). But if you don’t care about the menus, VLC (and similar) should be able to play the files just fine. ronQuote |
| May 3, 2013 at 2:10 pm Quote #24986 | |
| jroundy (1418) |
Yeah… I get that. I have a Toshiba DVD player that upconverts using an HDMI output to an HDTV. All current DVDs, which I am sure are dual layer, look, quality wise, almost as good as any HD broadcast by DIRECTV. The poor folks play for keeps down here…They’re the living dead. Nobody rules these streets at night like Van Halen!! jroundyQuote |
| May 3, 2013 at 2:25 pm Quote #24990 | |
| jroundy (1418) |
Randy answered my question regarding Blu-ray files… my next question was is there a difference in using a computer to play back DVD files, versus using an actual DVD created from those same files? The poor folks play for keeps down here…They’re the living dead. Nobody rules these streets at night like Van Halen!! jroundyQuote |
| May 3, 2013 at 5:58 pm Quote #25003 | |
 radikal (3892) |
Today you basically dont need any DVD players with tech out there. I have MAC and connected to my HD TV Via HDMI and the computer plays more files than your DVD player can and the best part is you dont have to waste $$$ on DVDs. You can watch your movies and once done either delete or store on drives which can be same price as a good DVD player but more worth it. Today almost everyone has a PS3 I presume which of course as you know is a server on its own ans I run everything through there even Bluray….. radikalQuote |
| May 3, 2013 at 9:25 pm Quote #25018 | |
 Gilligan (1518) | I use a WD-TV box with my Mac (it’s kinda like an Apple TV) to watch all kinds of files wirelessly on my HD TV. I haven’t used it for actual DVD viewing from my Mac, but I’m sure it works. I know it works with .VOB files. I still think DVDs will be obsolete in no time. It’s all gonna be “files” and hard drives or the cloud. GilliganQuote |
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