How Does XBox Stand Up as a DVD Player?

Luddite Joe asks: "I'm planning on buying myself a DVD player for Christmas, spending maybe 200 bucks or so. I've also considered that I might buy an Xbox a couple of months down the road - but that's less certain. So I think to myself, the Xbox is a DVD player, right? If I hold off a couple of months and just buy the Xbox, I won't be wasting money on a DVD player that is almost immediately redundant. Keeping in mind that I'm buying more or less a low end, single disc DVD - how do the capabilities and quality of the Xbox as a DVD player compare? I don't want to sacrifice quality or features (or level of DVD compatibility), as I can get a pretty decent DVD for what I'm planning on spending."

Comments

XBox lacks features

[crow]

You can now get a DVD player for around a hundred dollars that will play DVDs, CDs, MP3s, VCDs, SVCDs, and mini-DVDs. I doubt you'll get all that from the XBox. Also, does the XBox offer digital audio out? Does it offer component video? Does the XBox run silent when playing discs?

Re:XBox lacks features

[Cy Guy]

You can now get a DVD player for around a hundred dollars that will play DVDs, CDs, MP3s, VCDs, SVCDs, and mini-DVDs

I just saw an ad on TV from one of the Marts (K or Wal, not sure which and their websites weren't helpful) that said they will be having a one day only sale on an APEX DVD player for $69.99 on THANKSGIVING DAY ONLY.

My understanding of APEX, is that even their entry level model (which I think is AD3201) can play all the disc format you listed (not sure of Svcds though) including copies you have burned yourself on CD-R and CD-RW. For $70 bucks, even if you did decide to get XBox, I don't see how it would be wasted money to have extra box around that can play so many forms of media. Even if just becomes an audio only player for MP3s burned to CDR, it would probabably worth it. I'm tempted to get for father who already has a older, namebrand DVD player that only plays Studio DVD's just so I can send him home-burned copies of my home video of the grandkid.

(PS - if someone else catches this ad, please post here to which Mart it was.)

DVD is an option for Xbox

[glapalom]

Xbox DVD cannot be taken advantage of without purchasing an optional remote control. According to this article (click on the "Choosing a console link on the left"... Don't shoot the messenger if this has changed since it was released. G

Re:DVD is an option for Xbox - oops

[glapalom]

Here's the links. Sorry... http://www.msnbc.com/news/621512.asp G

Re:DVD is an option for Xbox - oops

[Cy Guy]

Well even that link is kind of vague, but here is ablurb om MS reasoning for this from FGNonline, they claim that they did it to make the box more affordable, partly blaiming the cost to license the DVD movie decoder (interesting to hear MS complaining about the MPAA's IP policies in this way).

But provided you are willing to pay the additional $30 for the remote/receiver package, you may find that it is harder to find than an Xbox console itself. (for example Amazon is currently out of stock). I guess MS guessed wrong when they thought only 10-15% of Xbox buyer would want the DVD playback capability. But of course, its no secret that one of MS's historic problems is trying guess what consumers want built-in, then making the decision for them whther they like it or not.

Re:Progressive?

[Cy Guy]

Since the Xbox can talk HDTV . . .
First you need a seperate adapter to get HDTV output from your XBox.

what about the built-in DVD player?
it is for gameplay only, you only get NTSC (analog) output from DVD movies.

Is it a progressive scan?
The output from the adapter can be set to 480p, 720p, and 1080i. (but as noted before, it's forfor gameplay only, NOT DVD movies!)