Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit
by Microsoft Software

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Category: Video Games
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Product Summary

• Brand New
• GENUINE MICROSOFT BRAND

• Official Xbox Magazine [with DVD] (1-year)
• Tips & Tricks Magazine

Video Game Reviews of Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit

Customer Review: Pleasantly Surprised
Summary: 4 Stars

While I loathed doing so, I eventually bought the DVD playback kit because I was going on a trip and wanted to be able to play movies and games during my down time. As it turns out, I like the Xbox so much as a DVD player that I now use it as my primary DVD player. My previous DVD player was an older model JVC and I've had tons of problems with it. It won't play some DVD's and I've had to take it to be repaired three times, twice in the first year I owned it.

I think the compaints in Amazons review are valid. The lack of an eject button or power button on the remote makes it less convenient, but I have to get up to change DVD's anyway so I don't find that much of a bother. I find the in-movie menu easy to use and an improvement over my JVC which basically makes me do the same thign when I want to change subtitles or lanuages. My biggest problem with the Xbox, and not as big as it may sound: for some reason it won't read some disks when you first put them it. This is easily cured by turning the system on and the off again, and it's only certain disks (Donnie Darko was one, Shreck was another) but I was concerned when it wouldn't read the disk and a bit irritated.

The main reson I replaced my JVC with my Xbox is that I think the picture is better, and clearer. With the HDTV cables hooked up, the picture quality on my Sony Wega is crystal clear. Good transfer DVD's like Star Wars TPM look absolutely incredible. I was really surprised at some of the cool high-end features like the ability to zoom. I can't find any documentation to prove that the Xbox is a progressive scan DVD player, but I do know that when you attach the HDTV cables you are given several options for progressive scan viewing in the video section. My TV is not HDTV compatible (although it has component hookups) and I could not play the DVD's with any of those settings. Even though I haven't read anything about it, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this IS a progressive scan DVD player with HDTV compatibility.

While I don't think the sound is any better than my old DVD player, it's just as good whether playing Dolby surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS.

While I was originally outrgaed at having to buy the ability to do something that I think the system should already be doing (and still do) I do feel like I got my money's worth. The Xbox DVD playback far surpasses the other DVD playing game systems and even most mid to low end DVD players. The reviewers that have said they preferred the PS2 DVD playback boggle my mind. They either don't own an XBox with the full get-up or are loyal PS2 owners and want it to be true. I own a PS2 and it's far inferior when playing DVD's. Not even in the same league in this particular category. The Xbox is still the best deal on the market and is only going to get better.

Description of Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit

Feeling rather light in hand, this remote features large keys that feel rubbery yet firm. The kit sports some of the basic functions you'd expect from a common controller, including chapter skip, play, pause, and number buttons. There's also handy 32x fast-forward and reverse controls.

Pressing the display button calls up a friendly onscreen menu that allows access to more features, including up to 10x magnification, A-B playback loop (for cueing and viewing favorite scenes repeatedly), and subtitle and audio options. It's worth noting that many lower-cost DVD remotes have access to such features through the press of a button. The fact that this one requires you to use a menu to access such common commands may rankle DVD aficionados, as the menu is a bit slower than using buttons. Still, the menu is quite intuitive and couldn't be much easier to use.

For the remote to work, you'll need to plug the included infrared receiver into an open controller port on the Xbox. Most gamers will never need to unplug the receiver again, as you can plug it into the rarely used fourth port. Interestingly, the receiver works best when the remote is operated almost directly in front of it, and can be a little finicky when signals are sent from the far left or right.

The couch potato crowd won't be thrilled to learn that the remote does not include power or eject buttons. Why such standard features were omitted escapes us, but that is far and away the worst thing we can say about an otherwise decent control. --Mark Brooks

Pros:

• Though very lightweight, the controller seems sturdily made and the buttons are large and comfy
• Uses any of the 4 Xbox game controller ports; rarely gets in the way
• Gives the Xbox cool DVD playback features
• Onscreen menu is very easy to use

• No power or eject buttons
• A-B looping, subtitles, and language selects--as well as other features--are only accessible via onscreen menus
• Cannot use the remote from far to the left or right of the sensor

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