Corel WinDVD 9 Plus (Blu-ray) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If I could give this product less than one star, I would. I have been a computer user since the early 80s and this is one of the worst software experiences that I've ever had. We're talking Windows Vista bad.
In the course of trying to get this software to work with my Blu-Ray / HD DVD drive, I've upgraded to 4GB of RAM, upgraded my processor from a 2.0 dual core to a 3.2 dual core, completely replaced my hard drive, un-installed and reinstalled the software 3 times, and spent countless hours on end user posting boards trying to get help from equally frustrated customers.
Why didn't I contact the company directly, you may ask? Well, there's no telephone support. I did send emails to their "support" address. However, they were about as helpful as trying to fix the software by pouring hot coffee on the computer tower. Once they sent me lengthy directions that didn't work and the second time I contacted them, they said that I should un-install and re-install my software.
While doing this, I discovered a downloadable patch, which made the software sort of work, sometimes. It played regular DVDs perfectly now, but it still got stuck on one still of a Blu-Ray movie and wouldn't advance the video although the audio track was still playing normally, and HD DVDs were a nightmare, most of them would load to the menu, play for 1 to 5 minutes then lock up and the computer would restart.
My third and 4th emails to support have yet to be answered 3 weeks later.
Do yourself a favor, if you want an easy program that lets you play Blu-rays with minimal hastle, DON'T buy this program.
In short, no telephone support, LOTS of compatibility issues, and enough frustration where I ended up buying a different software suite all together.

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WinDVD 9 Plus Blu-ray is DVD, Blu-ray Disc and video playback software that delivers quality and entertainment in style. Play spectacular Blu-ray and HD DVD discs on your PC, or enjoy standard DVDs with state-of-the-art HD-quality upscaling. Take your movies on the go with advanced battery optimization controls for laptops. Play home movies recorded on the latest high-definition AVCHD camcorders. Choose WinDVD 9 Plus Blu-ray for the ultimate DVD and video playback experience.

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CyberLink PowerDVD 11 Standard V.11 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is in reference to PowerDVD 10. I have bought 3 versions of this software, I have no confidence that this will be any better - read on for the review of my previous experiences with this software.
This program does work, but is high maintenance. Constant reminders to upgrade to the newest version.
Worse it reminds the user of periodic updates (which I would expect) - except clicking on downloading (or cancelling) the updates freezes the program. The software updater is broken as well - after downloading it wants to remove the prior installation, and then it doesn't install.
I'm a system builder and have done more clean installs and repairs that I can count. NEVER have I encountered a program as difficult to work with as this one. Watching the last season of lost my family had to ensure a system reboot because of this program. I will keep my media PC for home (hi-def) movies, but I do plan on buying a standalone Blu-ray player instead of shelling out more money for this piece of junk. It is a shame, because I would like to find a good blu-ray player - but this is not it.

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Corel WinDVD Pro 2010 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The good news: the software performs beautifully...when it performs--picture quality is excellent, and, to my eye, tangibly superior to its competitors.
First, let me state that my desktop is state of the art: I am using an nvidia graphics card (>400 dollars), an i7 cpu, 12 gigs of ram, and a completely updated vista-64 OS, including the most recent drivers. I am not experiencing any problems with any of my other major software packages, e.g., cs4 (heavily graphics card dependent), office, or visual studio. So, I think it very unlikely that the source of the following problem resides any where other than the product under review.
With that said, here's the bad news: I average 1 complete computer freeze per day using the program, and it is a freeze requiring reboot, i. e., the freeze is pre-emptive: I cannot access any other menu, not even the task manager. The stalled program presents the usual "would you like to transmit details of the issue to the publisher of the program" form, but I cannot make selections in that menu. I have deleted and reinstalled the software several times, including a thorough, manual cleanse of any detritus left in the registry by the uninstall. My efforts proved a waste of time. I had surmised that complete lock-ups of my computer were events XP had made a residue of the past. Not so, friends! Corel has re-introduced them!!
On the cosmetic and customer usage side, many of the menu choices, and several of the stylistic elements that made the precursor, winDVD-9, so attractive to me have changed or disappeared. For instance, I like to run a video in a reduced window when I am writing code, playing mah jong, and the like. This version no longer permits me to toggle the playback's display control panel on and off, so that forces me to commit more display real estate than I wish--it is a small grievance, but aggravating. Another incidental aggravation is the help window. The user is presented with a control panel that blanks out the center of the display, and asks him to select a help link, which then opens another window, and both windows remain visible. Who implemented this program? The boss' niece?
I had great hopes for this software, thinking it would build on the previous versions' excellent picture quality and user friendliness. Alas, not to be. In fact, it completely misreads and misimplements the icc profile I have created for this monitor using color calibration hardware--I managed to tweak the picture using the nVidia control panel, but you might not be able to do this. I did not see these visual problems with windvd_9 on this same configuration. Why don't I continue using the previous version, you ask? That version doesn't play all blu-rays, since the standards for this technology are still in flux, and Corel is unwilling to provide the updates to maintain that program's usefulness. Now, doesn't that stand to reason?
The corker to all this, as I see it, is the virtual isolation of the technical support staff from the consumer. There is a 15 dollar charge for direct telephone assistance charged incrementally (hey, my 100 dollar program cost me 300 dollars in support to finally understand that it fails altogether! Now, that's what I call business ethics!!); and internet based email support is sub-standard, with lag times of 48 to 96 hours between posting your request and a reply. Add to this, that the advice is almost never useful, (it hasn't been for me, at any rate) merely advising the user to read, say, the FAQ on how to install, or how to turn it on, or some other equally trivial, irrelevant advice.
I cannot recommend this software to prospective buyers until it is revised and re-marketed.
Serious flaws.
tlt-

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