Region free DVD iMac using an external drive

[frostrs]

I have read suggestions that to play region 1 DVD's on my region 4 27" iMac I should buy a cheap external DVD drive and set it to region 1. This sounds a good idea, but I would like to hear from someone who has done it please. I am just a bit concerned that the iMac's software will prevent me having the external drive set to a different zone from the internal drive.

 

[pandabearjohnso]

I don't see this being an issue. I just ordered a new external drive for my home Mini as the Mini's drive got locked. I haven't tried it yet, but I've read multiple forum posts about the functionality of this set up. Your Mac won't care which region either player is set to as region encoding is done at the firmware level of the DVD player itself.

 

[Nermal]

I have two drives, each set to a different region, and they both work without issues.