Windows 8 Enterprise on Volume Licensing Site

Any idea if OVS customers will have the DVD playback (media centre) option included with the desktop pack,

When / if we decide to move Windows 8, I would like DVD playback, will this be possible or will I have to buy PowerDVD / VLC.

Seems very odd for MS to do this.

I would just buy VLC, they are fairly well priced for education.

Just get the media pack? surely they can't be pricing it too high and it will integrate the best.

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Originally Posted by ldntech

Any idea if OVS customers will have the DVD playback (media centre) option included with the desktop pack

Unlikely, since the Media Center Pack is only available for Windows 8 Pro, not Enterprise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldntech

When / if we decide to move Windows 8, I would like DVD playback

If you are buying new PCs with Windows 8, there's a good chance they will come supplied with a copy of PowerDVD 12 (which will also allow you to play DVDs in any media player that supports DirectShow codecs like Windows Media Player does). If you are upgrading existing PCs, you will need to use an alternative like VLC or MPC-HC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neowin

Digitimes reports that, during an investors conference call today, the Taiwan-based company CyberLink claims it has secured deals with a number of PC makers to have three of its software products pre-installed on Windows 8 devices. CyberLink's chairman Jau Huang said this success was due directly to Microsoft's move not to support DVD playback in standard versions of Windows 8. (Source)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldntech

Seems very odd for MS to do this.

Microsoft's reasoning does make sense. I imagine Apple will do the same once optical drives have been removed from all Mac's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Microsoft

Why can’t I buy a Windows 8 device that includes Windows Media Center pre-installed?
With the evolution of device form factors (tablets, thin and light, etc., none of which have optical drives) and change in media consumption patterns from optical disks and broadcast TV to online (Netflix, Youtube, Hulu, etc.), we concluded that we would no longer make DVD and broadcast TV capabilities available in all Windows editions, simply because the feature applies to a decreasing number of PCs sold. Instead, those capabilities will be available only to customers that want it via Add Windows Feature (aka Windows Anytime Upgrade). This ensures that the costs associated with playing DVDs and watching broadcast TV on PCs only apply to devices that have those capabilities and customers that want it.

What is the Windows 8 Pro Pack and why does it include Media Center?
Windows 8 Pro Pack is an upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro. Like we described above, Media Center is only available on Windows 8 Pro. When you acquire the Pro Pack, we make it a single step that takes you to Windows 8 Pro with Media Center. The cost of the Media Center Pack is essentially built into Pro Pack. Again, this is an attempt to add simplicity to the process of acquiring Media Center.

How much does it cost the PC ecosystem to play DVDs?
Playing DVDs generally require MPEG-2 video compression and Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio. Even though it is possible to use other formats, the majority of commercial DVDs are encoded using these formats. In order to decode these formats, the playback device needs to be licensed to use these decoders. MPEG-2 decoder costs $2.00 per unit under current MPEG-LA terms. Dolby license is an additional cost that varies by the technology licensed, the type of device, and unit volume. While not related to Windows, Blu Ray would be an additional cost on top of these. So when you add all this up and apply to all Windows PCs, it is an ongoing cost of hundreds of millions of dollars per year to the PC ecosystem, well over a billion dollars over the lifecycle of the operating system and yet by most predictions the majority of PCs will not even be capable of playing DVDs. (Source)

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Originally Posted by SYNACK

Just get the media pack?

The Media Center Pack is only available for Windows 8 Pro. Once the pack has been installed, DVD playback will be limited to Windows Media Center.

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Originally Posted by ZDNet

If you're running the base Windows 8 edition, you’ll need to upgrade the OS and install the Media Center Pack.

"Acquiring either the Windows 8 Media Center Pack or the Windows 8 Pro Pack gives you Media Center, including DVD playback (in Media Center, not in Media Player), broadcast TV recording and playback (DVB-T/S, ISDB-S/T, DMBH, and ATSC), and VOB file playback."

That parenthetical note about the absence of DVD playback in Media Player is not a mistake. DVD playback options will not be included with the new Windows Media Player, even if you install the Media Center Pack. (Source)

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Originally Posted by Neowin

The regular Windows Media Player, which will be in all versions of Windows 8, won't be able to play DVDs anymore like it can with Windows 7. (Source)

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Originally Posted by RabbieBurns

I would just buy VLC, they are fairly well priced for education.

VLC is free. Who are 'they' btw? ;)

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Originally Posted by RabbieBurns

I cant find Windows 8 Enterprise on the VL Site.. only professional..

Attachment 14947

Click on Software Assurance & you should find the Enterprise version there.