Win8 DVD App?

[Nod]

Since Microsoft seem to have dropped any sort of DVD player from Windows 8 and I'm too tight to buy any films I want to watch again in yet another format, I need an app to play my DVDs on my netbook. I have an external drive but I'm not sure which of the apps works best. It'll mainly be used through earphones and on flights. Ideally the app would be free and ad free but I'm prepared to pay a few quid for something that works well.

TIA.

 

[redsnappa]

Power DVD works very well but does cost.
if you check out sites like www.sharewareonsale.com and www.giveawayoftheday.com you may come across a free application that will play DVD's

 

[droj]

A quick bit of googling would have found you VLC Media Player. Recommended.

 

[neil_g]

Vlc

 

[Mikesphotaes]

 

[Nod]

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll seek out VLC.

 

[Dale_tem]

If its a netbook, surely it would be better to rip them with something like handbrake?

 

[Nod]

Currently illegal and some DVDs are copy protected I believe. Come June, the copying for personal use will probably be legitimised and ripping software/apps will appear.

 

[neil_g]

I doubt mr plod will come after you providing out still own the physical media.

And if I remember rightly you're allowed to make "backup" copies.

Loads of legitimate rip tools out there.

 

[Pookeyhead]

I just use Windows Media Player. Works fine. It may not be part of Win8 on the DVD but you can still download it.

As others have said... VLC is fine too.

 

[Nod]

Unfortunately VLC seems to be a Beta and doesn't seem to work.

What I want to be able to do is plug the drive in, start the app and have a play button so I can watch the films.

 

[neil_g]

eh?

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html

Windows version
Windows XP SP2, 2003 SP2, Vista SP1, 2008 SP1, 7 and 8

 

[Nod]

Ah! I took the easy route and went to the app store!

Thank you so much for the helpful link, Neil - installed and working.

Roll on easy ripping!

 

[neil_g]

ah nice one

 

[Shadow]

I use VLC for everything on my pc and it's never missed a beat or refused to play a format I have.