Asked By
Abdeel
130 points
N/A
Posted on - 05/08/2011
DVD has region codes and Blu-Ray disks also have region codes. Are they the same or are they different? I am looking to purchase a laptop. The optical drive configuration can have a DVD or a Blu-Ray drive. I need to make the correct choice here.
Answered By
MathGirl
0 points
N/A
#91065
Are the DVD region codes and Blu-Ray region codes the same (Movies)
I can help you understand DVD Region codes. DVD disks have nine region codes. They start from one to eight and the last one is region ALL. Sometimes region free disks are called DVD Region nine.
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How region locking works is that, manufacturers of the DVD players, hardwire the code that the player would be able to read. In your case the DVD ROM that you purchased comes fresh out of the factory without a region code. When you insert the first DVD disk, the software you are using will "lock" your DVD ROM to the region code of the disk.
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Thereafter, if you insert a DVD disk from another region, the player software will prompt that the DVD drive contains a different code other than the disk you are attempting to play. You are given four chances to change and after the final change the drive is locked forever. You can get two varieties of DVDs. Standard definition and High definition.
Answered By
Abdeel
130 points
N/A
#91066
Are the DVD region codes and Blu-Ray region codes the same (Movies)
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Does this mean that I can only use the DVD drive for a certain region code and cannot use it to play other types of regions once its locked! Surely there must be a way where the DVD drive can be "re-set"?
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Doesn't this limit the distribution of movies to the market? I wonder why the video companies came up with this idea!
Answered By
WhizBoy
0 points
N/A
#91067
Are the DVD region codes and Blu-Ray region codes the same (Movies)
Blu-Ray disks are much better when it comes to viewing videos. The disk is capable of storing more data, thereby giving the movie makers ample leverage to include additional titles such as commentary and parts of a movie that did not make it to the big screen.
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Sometimes people mistakenly refer to them as "Blue" instead of a "Blu". It is confusing as the jacket of the disk comes in blue! Blu-Ray disks has only 3 region codes, making the hardware implementation easy. The regions are classified as A,B and C. They are similar to the regions of a DVD, but certain countries and regions are "clubbed" together.
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Hope this helps your understanding of Blu-Ray region codes.
Answered By
Abdeel
130 points
N/A
#91068
Are the DVD region codes and Blu-Ray region codes the same (Movies)
Thank you Whiz Kid for the information on Blu-Ray region codes. Thank you MathGirl for the information on the DVD Region codes. Does this mean that both types of drives are anyway doomed to play only one region code if at all? And if I purchase the Blu-Ray option, will it be compatible with DVD disks and regions?
Answered By
WhizBoy
0 points
N/A
#91069
Are the DVD region codes and Blu-Ray region codes the same (Movies)
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Once the region codes are locked, the only way to re-set them is via a firmware wipe-out or an update. Actually you do not need to worry about region codes. This is because all Blu-Ray disks to date are region free. Region locking was a major thing done when DVD was released. But now due to competition and globalization, movie makers are opting for region free disks.
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Compatibility depends on the player you purchase. If the drive has the following logos, then your player is able to play the respective disks. The key logos to look for is "DVD" and "Blu".
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Answered By
MathGirl
0 points
N/A
#91070
Are the DVD region codes and Blu-Ray region codes the same (Movies)
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Region codes do not effect distribution but controls them. Certain titles are optimized to be played in selected parts of the world. For example an English movie would be translated to Russian language. Instead of showing subtitles in Russian a disk can be created, that automatically plays the Russian audio by default.
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In a situation like this, it would be useless to play this disk in America. Therefore, region codes actually control the spread of titles. Your best option is to purchase the Blu-Ray drive with backward support for DVD, as posed by Whiz Kid. It will be pretty expensive but you will have best of both worlds!
Answered By
Abdeel
130 points
N/A
#91071
Are the DVD region codes and Blu-Ray region codes the same (Movies)
Thank you Math Girl and Whizkid. My decision is now clear. A Blu-Ray disk with support for DVD will be my choice. Thank you for furthering my knowledge on region codes and the future of the movie industry with respect to region locking.
Answered By
MathGirl
0 points
N/A
#91072
Are the DVD region codes and Blu-Ray region codes the same (Movies)
Thank you Whiz Boy for your posting on Blu-Ray region codes. It helped me further my knowledge! By the way, Whiz Kid would be a much better name for you, don't you think?
Answered By
WhizBoy
0 points
N/A
#91073
Are the DVD region codes and Blu-Ray region codes the same (Movies)
MathGirl,
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You are most welcome and yes, you are right about my name. Someone just "Whizzed" that name before I could use it in TechyV.Â
