Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit

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.


Yup, as plain and functional as they come   May 30, 2002
J. Arias (New Jersey, USA)
21 out of 21 found this review helpful

Very functional, makes you feel like your Xbox is complete. As for the playback quality of the Xbox, couldn't tell the difference between it and the Pioneer DVC-302D that it kicked out of the shelf and being deployed to somewhere else within the house. Of course, you have to connect the Xbox to the Advanced AV pack or High Definition pack with an optical audio cable to get full Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS, and S-Video or Component video inputs as well for video. Not too shabby overall, even considering the lack of eject and power buttons that some people are complaining about. Gotta get up from the couch sometimes. Good for blood circulation.

As mentioned by another reviewer, you can program your universal remote control with the codes for RCA DVD players and the Xbox IR receiver will respond to it. The power button on the universal remote still won't work though, because this particular button will be interpreted as the display button on the Xbox remote. Worth noting too, that my universal remote doesn't have an eject button.

A very cool feature that I found out when playing audio CDs: when the info button is pressed, the mood display in the left panel zooms in to fill the full TV screen. Instant 32" lava lamp! Kinda looks like a mood setting screensaver. Break out the candles, turn off the lights, and let Peter Gabriel crank out!

Lastly, any geek worth his remote will test this baby with the games. After all, it seems like some of the buttons in the gamepad are mapped in and have equivalent buttons in the remote, right? I popped in DOA3 and tried to control it through the remote, but alas, geek mojo ran out. The remote control does not function as a wireless gamepad.


doesn't play ALL DVD titles   April 14, 2003
Steef Jacobson, Ronin Software Inc. (Brooklyn, NY United States)
20 out of 24 found this review helpful

instead of spending $...put it toward a real DVD Player. The list of non-compatable DVD's is growing (call Microsoft ofr the latest list):
Lord of the Rings - expanded edition
Snow White
Golden Gun
Jumangi
Simpson's season 1
Star Wars - ep.1
Love&Liars
Major Mateadore
October
Kalifornia
Cliffhanger
Cable Guy - widescreen
Ronin - widescreen


other systems have this built in   October 15, 2001
18 out of 88 found this review helpful

the ps2 has DVD, and 10 dollar optional remotes. There is a 300 dollar panason DVD gamecube for 300, that has DVD and a remote already. Why does the "greatest" system require more money, but still brag about DVD playback?


Great DVD playback and great Gaming system   December 4, 2001
Matthew S Cowell (Penfield, New York United States)
16 out of 19 found this review helpful

To be honest with you I was a little skeptical about the XBOX DVD playback capabilities. I own a high end Home Theatre and to tell you the truth the XBOX fits right in with the rest of my equipment. If you are looking for a DVD player and also want to play video games the XBOX is a great combination. I highly recommend DVD playback kit. Hey in all reality (price) for a gaming system and a DVD player is a great deal. So what if the remote costs $(...). Most decent DVD players cost around $200.00. So for (price) you get a GREAT video game system and a GREAT dvd player.