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When it comes to viewing DVD titles on the PC, choosing the application that is right for you and your computer may be as much about quality as it is about what is already installed on your system. Many PC’s like the one I utilize day to day came with DVD player software already installed. For the most part I was very satisfied with what came with my unit. Problems such as conflicts, poor image quality and nearly impossible to understand buttons and useless functions were a thing of the past. The software not only worked well, it played well with everything else on my system. It even worked well with the new Windows Media Player allowing me view DVD movies there as well. Point for point I was not dissatisfied. That is until I took a view at the new WinDVD Platinum.
Interestingly enough, the software I was so pleased with was also by Intervideo and bore nearly the same name as the new Platinum. What has changed since that older version was substantial enough to make me forget about the software that I previously felt so comfortable. Easily the biggest factor in my new found joy with Platinum comes from the simple fact that the image quality is appreciably better. As soon as I viewed movies with this new release, I felt the image quality was simply sharper and better defined. This was particularly true with regards to details.
Before even opening a DVD, the most noticeable aspect of Platinum is that the menus and screen are updated. Compared to the older interface of WinDVD 3, the revisions and refinements are not only cosmetic, but functional. Where it seemed buttons and access features were hidden, Platinum is appreciably more intuitive to use. Even the capture feature, the ability to take an image from a movie as a still, is dramatically improved. Greater customization is the key added element here.
Much of the new easier to access functionality comes from a simple side menu. By selecting that slide out menu on the right side of the floating player control panel, a plethora of video options are present. Many of which I do not recall version 3 possessing. In regard to effects and other details, much has changed with Platinum.
For those familiar with DivX, this software player now fully supports this format. All of the editing features that Platinum handles with DVD titles, are now available for this increasingly popular movie format. With this title the need for a second player just for DivX is no longer necessary.
Sound is another area addressed by Platinum. Dolby Virtual Speaker is a new technology that permits two speakers to have the richness of 5.1 surround sound, a feature very common on most DVD releases. The augmented sound quality is just another plus along with many other new improvements and refinements that permeate the application in sharp contrast to the more minimal version 3.
In fact the program is such a huge step forward it seems less a continuation of version 3, but a total reworking of it on a grander scale taking into consideration newer technologies and newer formats such as DivX.
The one issue that users of this new program could run into is that of installing atop existing versions. When I installed Platinum, I could not obtain clear images. The pictures were not sharp and the colors were very dark with noticeable lines running vertically across the screen. When I opened the small panel to the right side of the floating menu and looked into the options with regards to image quality, a simple change in the contrast made a world of difference. It was a small thing, but one that prevented this application from working properly.
Once I made the adjustments, along with a few other minor changes such as not uninstalling my older version of WinDVD, I obtained the promised greater image quality that I knew this program can offer. So do keep that in mind when using this application, particular if you are installing over an older version pre-installed on your system. In order for things to work properly you may need to retain the older application, and/or make adjustments to various settings. In order for me to find the right solution, I had to contact my computer’s manufacturer. In spite of the setback, I do feel it was worth it to have Platinum installed. In fact, well worth having the improved quality.
There are many titles for playing DVD’s on the market. Some are simply OK, some are just acceptable and others are just there. In terms of ease of use, once it is installed, access to functions and the wide range of visual effects it offers, WinDVD Platinum for me stands as a real star in the DVD player arena. When you couple the existing functionality of the software with the DivX playback, you have a real all purpose application that can provide some of the very best image quality available.
Just do keep in mind that for those with older versions, or those with pre-installed versions, you may need to contact your PC maker should the program not work properly. In some cases I am sure that the default settings for image quality may not be the best for every system. For me, making a small alteration in the image quality made a world of difference. Aside from this, Platinum is a very capable software player. Quality wise, this is one program that is ahead of the pack.
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