Comparisons

Software DVD Player Comparasion

A comparison between the most common Software DVD Players and a hardware decoder(Hollywood Plus).

Name Power DVD WinDVD 3.0 Elsa Movie 2000 ATI DVD Player Videologic DVD Player
VaroDVD
MGI SoftDVDMax 4.0
Hollywood Plus
Manufacturer www.gocyberlink.com www.intervideo.com www.elsa.com www.ati.com www.axmax.de www.mut.de www.mgisoft.com www.realmagic.com
Valuation
             
Functions 90%
84%
65%
63%
63%
67%
60%
50%
Picture qulity 92%
95%
85%
85%
63%
83%
85%
100%
Performance 85%
90%
85%
88%
90% 64%
50% 100%
Sound quality 95%
85%
76%
76%
80%

72%
76%
100 %
Price / Quality 70%

82%
100%

82%
67%
60%
67%
95%
Video Features                
Disc-Formats DVD/VCD/ACD
DVD/VCD/S-VCD/ACD DVD/VCD/SVCD
DVD/ACD
DVD/VCD
DVD/VCD/ACD
DVD/VCD/S-VCD DVD/VCD/S-VCD
DivX-Scalling no yes yes no no yes yes no
Zoom-Function 9x variable no variable no variable no no
Audio Features                
Audio Channels 2 / 4 / 6
2 / 4 / 6 2 2 2 2 2 2
Dolby-Passthrough yes yes yes no yes no yes yes
Dolby-Headphone yes no? no no no no yes yes
Extras                
DVD-Genie-Support yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
RCE free yes yes yes yes no no yes yes
Advantages
  • many functions
  • Pan & Scan
  • automatic regioncode change
  • build in pro logic decoder
  • Great picture quality
  • DivX Scalling
  • great zoom function
  • cheap
  • requires slow computer
  • S/P-DIF-Support
  • cheap
  • requires slow computer
  • best performance
  • good zoomfunction
  • great Dolby Headphone
  • best quality
  • best performance because it using hardware.
Disadvantages
  • high prize
  • requires fast computer
  • no pro logic decoder
  • instable
  • problems with regioncodes
  • no support for Video CD's
  • work only with ATI-Cards
  • layout sux
  • problems with regioncods
  • can't play SVCD
  • Movies are in wrong aspect ratio
  • the performance sux
  • some errors while watching a movie
  • bad drivers
  • bad software
  • Hardware, requries PCI slot
Prize 50 $ 35 $ 15 $ 15 $ 15 $ - 20 $ 30 $ 25 $ 50 $
General Valuation 90 %
92 %

74 %
72 %

70 %
68 %
59 %

100 %

Thx to www.computerbild.de and www.chip.de for some useful information!

Guide made by Michael