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Precious metals in software usually denote an application that is "rich" in features. With titles like "Gold" version or "Silver" edition, it makes sense that Platinum would be the top of the line. Intervideo’s latest software DVD player for Windows, WinDVD Platinum 5, makes it clear that this is more than just a standard player. This is top of the line performance, but with a few caveats.
For most PC users, DVD players are usually taken for granted. Nearly all major PC makers include one with the purchase of a new PC. For the most part the factory installed software is good enough for basic uses. But, if one really wants to enjoy DVDs and have the nice extras, that always means purchasing a full "platinum" version of a title.
In the past picking which full version title you wanted was relatively easy. As competition has heated up, it is getting harder and harder to see which title is better. Solid sound, improved picture quality and other assorted bells and whistles are now standard in the upper echelons of DVD player software. Right now it is Cyberlink’s PowerDVD 5 Deluxe and Intervideo’s WinDVD Platinum 5 that are the real standouts in the field.
The big advantage of one over the other comes down to price and features. When looking at the feature sets of both PowerDVD and WinDVD it is really a neck and neck race. Both offer above average picture quality and the kinds of features that most users want and need. The big difference is that WinDVD allows you to add on some rather interesting plug-ins.
The optional Audio Booster Pack, packs on DTS digital surround multi-channel decoding, SRS Tru Surround XT, SRS TruSurround XT Headphone, and enhancements to Dolby Pro Logic II. What this translates into is the type of customization of sound that means you can truly pull the most that your speakers have to offer.
DTS digital is considered one of, if not the best, movie surround formats on the market. The booster pack gives you the support to enjoy it along with SRS Tru Surround – which in short creates a surround sound experience using just two speakers and SRS XT headphones that give you 3D sound from any pair of headphones.
The fun with sound, does not stop here. There are a slew of other customizations that can tailor sound to fit the video you are watching. The only drawback to the added sound is that you have to purchase the booster pack separately from the main WinDVD Platinum software.
The same thing holds true with the "Mobile Technology Pack." Costing $19.95 this add-on works with WinDVD 5 to provide more efficient use with your laptop. Depending on several variables, what this add on adds is the ability to maximize your laptop’s ability to play movies before the power runs out and you are left with half a movie to watch. I can understand this being a separate add-on being that there are those who may not need or want this feature. If you don’t own a laptop, why bother? However, the idea of making the sound options an extra rather than a part of the total product left me a little nonplused.
Now on to some of the new features with the Platinum edition that do not require add-ons. Movie Encyclopedia gives you an instant database about the movie you are watching. By reading the title and serial number off of the DVD you are viewing, you can then look up various information about the actors and directors in the film. If you have one that is not already catalogued, you are invited to enter that information into the database.
Time stretching, which I think is kind of a dubious feature, means that you can compress a movie to play for a specified length of time. If you want to see a two hour film in an hour and half, time stretching allows you to do this. I am not sure why this a selling point, but I suppose that there are those that wish to do this. As something of a film purist, I am not sure that this feature is all that great.
Smart stretching, included with Platinum, makes a bit more sense. This feature allows you to view films without too much distortion of their aspect ratios irrespective of the format you are viewing your film. This is accomplished by maintaining the original content in the center of the image while making compensations on the outer corners.
Video Collage, a brand new feature, offers a number of video effects like sharpness and cinema effector to produce a more focused detailed video image. The combinations of effects are interesting and do produce in some cases a better overall picture. There are some that verge on just being fun, and may seldom, if ever, be used. However, you have the ability to tweak your picture to fit your definition of solid video quality.
Depending on the monitor you use, be it an LCD, CRT or regular television, WinDVD Platinum has a viewing optimizer. Selecting the appropriate choice to match the device you are using to view your picture permits you an improved optimized image.
In one area WinDVD does do a good job is in the layout of the image capture section. Although there is little difference between this version and the last, which is a good thing, it is an easy function to access. The preview mode is good, the palette is dockable. While PowerDVD 5 has a bit of a "leg up" on image capture and the option to capture images to the clipboard, WinDVD does have a highly accessible menu. This is also true in other aspects of the general layout of the application.
When it comes to features, when you include the options available in the add-ons that is, WinDVD is a very full bodied application. The only problem is that there are add-ons. Unlike PowerDVD that is one total complete package, WinDVD turns into a mix and match system that tends toward being a bit pricey. Price points aside, the image quality and the customizations are solid. In terms of comparability, both PowerDVD and WinDVD are by and large neck and neck in the race for better picture and sound quality. They both include support for DiVX, and their image quality is about equal.
However, if you want a lot of features, a greater deal of customization, then WinDVD becomes a real positive choice. However, if value is what you are after, and you don’t want to sacrifice quality, you may need to examine which plug-in you want, what features you can live without and just what type of system you are running, or would like to run. With that in mind, the choices now depend on what kind of system you have, how much viewing you intend to do, and how elaborate, or basic, your sound system. With that in mind, think carefully about the plug-ins. Either way, if you do a lot of viewing on the PC, always opt, if you can, for the Platinum versions.
While these are the basics, I do suggest DirectX 9, or later, Windows XP, a Pentium 4, Hyperthreading if possible and no less than 250 MB of RAM or better. It is turning out that 512 is the real "sweet" spot for Windows XP.
Talk to Kurt in Graphics Unleashed Forums
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