I can't believe I still can't play Blu-rays on a Mac

[pnyc]

I can't believe it's not butter!

 

[thiagos]

As I said before *I* personally have no need for blu-ray but as this guy quite clearly points out... some people do, and he does, for quite valid reaosns. So why not give them the option? It doesn't have to mean any price increases at all - just make it a BTO option and everybody will be happy.
I get tired of the "Why would you want to do that?", "I wouldn't use that" answers.... Can we not just accept the fact that some people have different needs to others and giving people OPTIONS, as opposed to restricting them and telling them what they need, - is a good thing. More options don't hurt anyone and make others happy so what's the problem?

[begin rant]

It's the same on the FW800 vs eSata debate - some people endlessly saying FW800 is "fast enough" and listing the advantages over eSata. Whatever, I know full well FW800 has many advantages but it maxes out a 80MBps so if you're editing video or have other need for very fast disks e.g. in Raid-0, then eSata is what you need and it's a massively widespread and cheap technology around the world. That Apple wiped out the ability to use it (via expresscard adapter, I'm not even talking about a native eSata port) in the latest MacBook Pro was a dumb move.
I've been a Mac user for 2 decades, but recently switched my laptop from a Dell D830 to MBP, and find the lack of options when it comes to ports and expandability very frustrating.....

[/end rant]

Amen. That's exactly my point.

 

[thiagos]

I stand by my comment as is!!!

Whatever limitations the Mac have in your view where there before you bought it. Yes it would by nice if my MBP had some of the features or OPTIONS that a comparable priced PC has - but it doesn't. Could Apple have made this a better product by offering more options - YES. But they did not. Why??? I don't know.

Bottom line - I bought it anyway at the price they demanded for it, and lived with it - I have been happy with it ever since. As far as the options I'm missing - I'm doing just fine without them or I have a suitable work around.

This is not defending Apple in any way.

I just think that if we don't complain and leave things as is, they will do whatever benefits them and careless about their consumers.
An example would be the matte screen on the new unibody, if people who own MacBook Pros did not complain about the fact that they completely eliminated the matte screens, they would have done nothing about it. When people started fussing about it, they released the matte screens.
If Apple wants to win the Windows market, they have to be innovative like they were with the iPod/iPhone line. People will only pay more for something innovative, a lot of people don't really care about aluminum vs plastic, that's what Apple has to have in mind, make their customers happy so they will recommend them. I have had over 5 people switch from Windows to Macs, word of mouth is the best advertisement.

 

[jaw04005]

Jobs is right, Blu-ray is a bag of hurt.

I had to purchase a $70 piece of software (AnyDVD HD) just to play back Blu-ray on my new PC (Dell XPS Studio, Core i7) because my 24” monitor (from circa 2007) doesn’t support HDCP.

This was on top of the $99 I paid for Cyberlink’s PowerDVD software and the $120 I paid for my BD-ROM (apparently they are slightly cheaper now).

With all of this, I still had no Blu-ray playback in Media Center (Vista).

At this point, I could have just bought a PS3.

Microsoft really screwed up when they caved to the movie industry over DRM in Vista (they mainly did this because they thought HD DVD would win the battle). The hurdles you have to jump through on the Windows side just to get Blu-ray playback is unacceptable.

Blu-ray in Windows 7 is not any better as it lacks built-in Blu-ray playback support and has the same draconian DRM too (Maybe Microsoft wants Blu-ray to fail or is still bitter over HD DVD?). However, you are supposed to be able use a special PowerDVD plug-in to play back Blu-ray within 7’s Media Center (although I haven’t got it to work yet).

I’m glad Apple is not willing to alter their operating system by introducing system-wide DRM just to play back Blu-ray. If they can negotiate another way, by all means add it. But until the BDA decides to cave on their stiff DRM requirements, I say screw them.

 

[madog]

I have no personal need for Blu-Ray, but find the logic of those defending Apple's lack of support for it baffling.

The simple truth is that Blu Ray will never be as successful as CD's or DVD's. Also, everybody hates Sony so I would imagine a better format will come out sooner rather than later. Then there's licensing fees (which go to SONY!), the fact that HD-DVD was technically better, and that Sony is involved with it all.

After that, I would say that a majority of the people who spent years creating vast DVD libraries will in no way rush to purchase Blu Ray versions other than maybe a few of their select favorites. It has been apparent from BR sales which have not nearly been as close DVD in it's first years. Technically, the jump from casette to DVD was enormous, however, the jump from DVD to BR isn't as big (but still there). I, and many others, don't consider it worth it to purchase a slightly better version of movies we already own that look great as they are.

Personally, I hope that BR is replaced within the next few years. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple held off on implementing it for the same reason: its future is uncertain. Apple usually pushes formats they know will be wide spread for long periods of time, or will otherwise push new tech that they have had a hand in creating themselves. The only reason BR exists right now is because Sony paid the major movie studies to use it.

 

[jwt]

I just simply can't believe the people on this forum who are actually arguing in favor of less capability. There are people in the world other than consumers of cheap content. There are others who create content that won't fit on a DVD. Apple has been on the Blu-Ray Consortium since 2005 and still does not ship their products with the said tech, even though they produce pro-grade hardware and software geared toward content creation. I have over 20 hours of tennis matches, some of which are individually over 5 hours in duration, in hi-def that I'd like to hard copy so I don't have to A) worry about losing it all in a HD failure; B) buy an additional 1.5 TB drive to keep it all backed-up in the event that (A) should happen; and C) keep streaming it across my network to the TV.

 

[jaw04005]

I have over 20 hours of tennis matches, some of which are individually over 5 hours in duration, in hi-def that I'd like to hard copy so I don't have to A) worry about losing it all in a HD failure; B) buy an additional 1.5 TB drive to keep it all backed-up in the event that (A) should happen; and C) keep streaming it across my network to the TV.

Uhh. Adobe Encore and Toast have supported Blu-ray authoring and burning for awhile, and the latest Final Cut Studio supports it via Compressor. That's not the topic of discussion here. We're discussing playback, which doesn't exist on Mac yet.

 

[mrkgoo]

Why would you want to play Bluray discs on your mac anyway? Wouldnt you rather sit on a sofa than at a desk? Also you need a huge screen to appreciate the extra resolution, and even a 24" iMac doesn't compare to a 32"+ TV

Patently not true. Have you not seen the difference between a 1920x1080 movie file vs a 640x480? I can see and appreciate the difference on any computer.

Now Blu-ray hasn't been a consideration in my past purchases, but it would sure be nice.

I don't have a TV you see.

 

[ilestone]

Ready to make move ... almost

I'd already made the decision to finally make the move and purchase the iMac desktop with all the nice features for Music & Video not to mention the best design in the industry. Until I found out it's missing Blu-Ray support??? This does not seem to make sense to me at all - and at those prices I'd expect not to miss such standard feature - especially considering Apple's image of media richness.

So, dear Apple, surely you'll inform me once you've managed to overcome those licensing - or whatever issues - and I'll happily make my move!

 

[SomeSwede]

Maybe Blue-Ray would be ideal for a MacBook for traveling, etc. but I don't see this popular for an iMac/Desktop computer. The last thing I want to do is watch a 2 hour movie in my office chair when I can watch it on my 42" HDTV in my bedroom or living room with more comfortable conditions.

So just because you do not want the ability to play Blu-Ray disks in a stationary computer no-one else should be given the choice to buy a Mac with a BD drive or not?

Steve, is that you?

 

[SomeSwede]

It's probably because DVD burners are around $35 and Blu Ray burners are around $200. Most customers aren't going to pay extra for their computers just to have the ability to play and burn blu ray discs. Most customers don't use blu rays and don't care.

I'm pretty sure that ten years ago there were alot of people saying the same about DVD burners contra CD readers. "It's probably because CD drives are around $X and DVD burners are around $Y. Most customers aren't going to pay extra for their computers just to have the ability to play and burn dvd discs. Most customers don't use dvds and don't care"