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Any tablet that can play dvds?
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srhill
27-11-2012
As the title says - is there any tablet that can play a dvd - even by attaching an external dvd player?
Fran Blakes
27-11-2012
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
27-11-2012
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
27-11-2012
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0080K4K7...SIN=B0080K4K76

Apparently works with android tablets.
BKM
27-11-2012
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
27-11-2012
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
27-11-2012
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
27-11-2012
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
27-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
Why make DVDs why not just make video files which you can play on the tablet.(and the PC)
srhill
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
29-11-2012
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
30-11-2012
Buy a portable DVD player.
c4rv
30-11-2012
Originally Posted by CuBz90:
“Buy a portable DVD player.”

^^^ This
Mandark
30-11-2012
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.
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