[srhill]

As the title says - is there any tablet that can play a dvd - even by attaching an external dvd player?

[Fran Blakes]

Looking on Google Play, VLC Direct Pro can play VOB files.

I think the tablet need to have support for USB OTG
and if the Android OS supports the DVD file system/structure I don't see why not.

[TheCableGuy]

This might be of interest to you. I believe this allows you to stream DVDs and other media to android and iOS devices.

http://m.ebuyer.com/345821

[Gormond]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0080K4K7...SIN=B0080K4K76

Apparently works with android tablets.

[BKM]

Originally Posted by srhill

As the title says - is there any tablet that can play a dvd - even by attaching an external dvd player?

Depends on exactly how easy you would like this to be!

For iPads, for example, there is plenty of software which neatly rips a DVD and then reformats to MP4 at the correct screen resolution. Takes a few minutes and is often fully automatic.

This gives an excellent result when loaded onto the device using iTunes.

Some DVDs come with a "Digital Copy" which is essentially the ripping stage done for you.

[srhill]

sounds a bit messy - what I was really looking for was a tablet that I could attach an external dvd player to (via usb?) and play a std dvd.

Most of the dvd's I want to watch would be my own creations
from sky sports etc.

[psionic]

Originally Posted by srhill

sounds a bit messy - what I was really looking for was a tablet that I could attach an external dvd player to (via usb?) and play a std dvd.

Most of the dvd's I want to watch would be my own creations
from sky sports etc.

Would it be easier to just use a laptop?

[BKM]

Originally Posted by srhill

sounds a bit messy - what I was really looking for was a tablet that I could attach an external dvd player to (via usb?) and play a std dvd.

As others have said having whirring mechanical DVDs using power is more laptop territory - tablets are all for having the content already as a digital file!

[Gormond]

Originally Posted by srhill

sounds a bit messy - what I was really looking for was a tablet that I could attach an external dvd player to (via usb?) and play a std dvd.

Most of the dvd's I want to watch would be my own creations
from sky sports etc.

The link I posted should work on many android tablets, or so Samsung say anyway.

[srhill]

Originally Posted by psionic

Would it be easier to just use a laptop?

I have a laptop - dvd drive not working at present.

However the main problem is it's weight.

I cannot believe that tablet makers (esp Apple) do not allow dvd playing by usb attachment of a small dvd player - it is just a basic extension!

[BKM]

Originally Posted by srhill

I cannot believe that tablet makers (esp Apple) do not allow dvd playing by usb attachment of a small dvd player - it is just a basic extension!

Tablets are almost totally orientated towards streaming video - iPlayer, Netflix etc. There does seem to be add-on software ("Air Play It") which claims to stream a DVD "live" from another computer's DVD drive on the same LAN.

[psionic]

Originally Posted by srhill

I have a laptop - dvd drive not working at present.

However the main problem is it's weight.

I cannot believe that tablet makers (esp Apple) do not allow dvd playing by usb attachment of a small dvd player - it is just a basic extension!

Tablet makers would no doubt prefer you to download/stream from their respective online stores. Alternatively there are other services like Lovefilm or Netflix etc. You can convert DVDs and transfer from a computer but it is a load of hassle, time consuming, and dubious legality. However I honestly don't believe plugging in external DVD player to a tablet is a commonly desired feature, hence most manufacturers don't bother with it.

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by srhill

I have a laptop - dvd drive not working at present.

However the main problem is it's weight.

I cannot believe that tablet makers (esp Apple) do not allow dvd playing by usb attachment of a small dvd player - it is just a basic extension!

You realise that apple are the ones most pushing the decline of optical media ? I believe optical drives are optional on their desktops as well as laptops.

[paulbrock]

Originally Posted by srhill

I cannot believe that tablet makers (esp Apple) do not allow dvd playing by usb attachment of a small dvd player - it is just a basic extension!

The whole point of tablets is that they're lightweight enough to carry around; I'd imagine having an external DVD player would double their weight, and make it rather more fiddly to carry.

Think that you're looking for a laptop really, or a portable DVD player + tab.

[srhill]

Originally Posted by paulbrock

The whole point of tablets is that they're lightweight enough to carry around; I'd imagine having an external DVD player would double their weight, and make it rather more fiddly to carry.

Think that you're looking for a laptop really, or a portable DVD player + tab.

No I am definitely not.

I am looking for a tablet which can play dvd via a small dvd player (similar to a portable cd player)

It is all about size and weight - laoptops are too big and too heavy - I know cos I already have one!

[io1901]

Why make DVDs why not just make video files which you can play on the tablet.(and the PC)

[srhill]

Originally Posted by io1901

Why make DVDs why not just make video files which you can play on the tablet.(and the PC)

the content is sport from sky - just want to be able to take away when on hols fro those odd moments and be able to catch up.

I play from sky onto a dvd recorder's HDD (takes 2 hrs) then put onto a dvd for playing back away from home (takes 5 mins)

as far as I can ascertain to get on an ipad would then take another 2 hrs to get from ddv into the istore and yet another 2 hrs to get onto my ipad (I may be wrong in this)

[paulj48]

Originally Posted by srhill

as far as I can ascertain to get on an ipad would then take another 2 hrs to get from ddv into the istore and yet another 2 hrs to get onto my ipad (I may be wrong in this)

Depends on the speed of your computer, my MacbookPro certainly does'nt take 2 hours to rip and encode a DVD.

Why dont you just buy a portable DVD player with a built in screen?

[BKM]

Originally Posted by srhill

as far as I can ascertain to get on an ipad would then take another 2 hrs to get from ddv into the istore and yet another 2 hrs to get onto my ipad (I may be wrong in this)

No this is wildly pessimistic!

On a Core-i7 Desktop PC it took me about 10 minutes to RIP a DVD to a ~2Gb file converted to IPad MP4 format.

I then copied this file to my laptop (as the IPad syncs against this) and then Tunes only took a few (5 or so) minutes to copy this file to the IPad.

[Tigerpaws]

Originally Posted by c4rv

You realise that apple are the ones most pushing the decline of optical media ? I believe optical drives are optional on their desktops as well as laptops.

It is optional on the latest iMac and some of their laptops - the MacBook Airs and Retina MacBook Pro's.

[grumpyoldbat]

Originally Posted by Tigerpaws

It is optional on the latest iMac and some of their laptops - the MacBook Airs and Retina MacBook Pro's.

It's not really optional. There is no optical drive in an Air. You have to buy a peripheral DVD drive.

[BKM]

Originally Posted by grumpyoldbat

It's not really optional. There is no optical drive in an Air. You have to buy a peripheral DVD drive.

Air does come with a built-in ability to use remotely other DVD drives on machines on the same LAN - this works for software installation but I forget if it can play video as well. It's a bit surprising that tablets don't also have something like this as well.

[CuBz90]

Buy a portable DVD player.

[c4rv]

Originally Posted by CuBz90

Buy a portable DVD player.

^^^ This

[Mandark]

Originally Posted by Gormond

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0080K4K7...SIN=B0080K4K76

Apparently works with android tablets.

Yep that looks suitable for Samsung and would probably work with HTC/ Nexus as they often use the same connector. Another solution would be the MS Surface tablets. They're designed to work with external devices.