Connecting a dvd player to a pc?!

MT

Is it possible to connect a 'stand alone' dvd player to a pc? And if so, what hardware, software, cables, etc. does the computer require? Thing is, I have a Matsui DVD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW player and am wondering if I could buy a pc without a DVD player and use this one instead?

For that matter, would this Matsui also function as a cd-rom drive allowing me to save money by buying a pc without either a cd-rom drive or dvd player?

MT

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

xebec

Don't really think it would work as your planning it. I don't see why somebody would want to buy a computer without a CD/DVD drive in it, they're standard in almost all computers nowadays, far simpler just to use an internal drive than trying to configure a regular DVD player to do the same job.

Don't think you'd save money, bit of a crazy idea but definitely gonna get a few people thinking - I'm sure it's been done by somebody on the interweb!

KdjaCL

DVD burners are €25


What will you save?


kdjac

mukki

sounds like a standard ide internal dvd and cd-rw

if soo you'll have no trouble fitting it, but doubt your get a pc without a dvd-rw these days

MT

I wasn't actually thinking of fitting it, just connecting the thing with a cable to the computer and going from there. It would still sit apart as a separate unit. The reason I'm asking this is I'm in the process of buying a second hand pc for as little as possible and picking one up without certain parts gets me that much closer to $zero$.

Redisle

A standard internal dvd drive that will allow you to play dvds is only 20euro...
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=119228 ... the only way to hook up an external dvd player would be to buy a tv tuner card with video inputs but that would cost you far more than 20euro so it would make much more sense just to get an internal dvd drive.......

Tom Dunne

MT wrote:

Is it possible to connect a 'stand alone' dvd player to a pc?

It is, but not in the context you are thinking of.

A DVD player outputs a video signal, nothing more (ok, sound aswell). So by hooking the outputs of the DVD player to a PC, all you are getting is a video signal - not much good as a DVD ROM. Questions to ask is - how do you send data over a video signal? In this context, you can't.

MT wrote:

And if so, what hardware, software, cables, etc. does the computer require? Thing is, I have a Matsui DVD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW player and am wondering if I could buy a pc without a DVD player and use this one instead?

To connect a DVD player to a PC, you need some form of capture card. The vast majority of these are TV-tuner cards. There are plenty of threads on these in the last couple of days, have a read of them.

MT wrote:

For that matter, would this Matsui also function as a cd-rom drive allowing me to save money by buying a pc without either a cd-rom drive or dvd player?

No - see above. As others have pointed out, a DVD drive is around 25 Euro.

SeanW

Komplett has DVD+-RWs for €36, and ROMs for €20. http://www.komplett.ie/k/kl.asp?bn=10034

Even if you could save money by using your standalone player as a DVD-Rom, which isn't possible, you would be saving sod all.

melekalikimaka

can standard video dvd players even read data discs properly?

Tom Dunne

melekalikimaka wrote:

can standard video dvd players even read data discs properly?

Mp3 and pictures - usually. Data as in programs, documents, etc., no.

MT

Thanks for the further replies guys.

If a computer is advertised as having a DVD-ROM drive does this mean it always includes a CD-ROM drive too? Just thinking about this, I realise how ignorant it's going to sound as even my limited knowledge leads me to believe that if there's a slot for dvds it must take software/music cds as well. However, I just want some clarification.

Another dumb question - just because something is designated internal is this absolute or preferential? For example, if I bought a DVD/CD-ROM/+-RW for internal attachment could you safely wire it up outside the box? The reason I ask is because the SFF Dell desk tops only have space for one ?optical drive? in the moulding.


Ps. what is the difference between a DVD recorder and burner? Is it that one can be used to record a new film/video while the other is for wiping films off dvds?

As with my question concerning a DVD-ROM drive can software/music cds be recorded or burned in a DVD recorder/burner? My intuition says no but I'm just wondering.

mukki

MT wrote:

Thanks for the further replies guys.

If a computer is advertised as having a DVD-ROM drive does this mean it always includes a CD-ROM drive too? Just thinking about this, I realise how ignorant it's going to sound as even my limited knowledge leads me to believe that if there's a slot for dvds it must take software/music cds as well. However, I just want some clarification.
.

yes dvd-roms can play cds,
but a cd rom cannot play dvds, remember dvds are a much newer technology

MT wrote:

Another dumb question - just because something is designated internal is this absolute or preferential? For example, if I bought a DVD/CD-ROM/+-RW for internal attachment could you safely wire it up outside the box? The reason I ask is because the SFF Dell desk tops only have space for one ?optical drive? in the moulding.

.

you can use the normal wires but its best not too, you can damage the pc and drive if the dvd-rom comes unplugged when its in use

you should just open the case and slide it in, remove the old one if you don't need it, usually only 2 screws hold it in

you could buy a usb adaptor to plug it outside safely but your trying to save money

MT wrote:

Ps. what is the difference between a DVD recorder and burner? Is it that one can be used to record a new film/video while the other is for wiping films off dvds?
.

they are the same thing, a dvd recorder burns info onto a dvd, so sometimes that are called dvd burners

MT wrote:

As with my question concerning a DVD-ROM drive can software/music cds be recorded or burned in a DVD recorder/burner? My intuition says no but I'm just wondering.

yes, you can copy cds in a dvd-rom, again remember a dvd is newer technology, so anything that works with dvd can easily work with cds

MT

Thanks mukki, those replies were very helpful.