[Navigator]

okay, thinking of switching to Mac after 3 years...

but need you good people to answer some geniue questions before I hand over my hard earned cash...

1) DVDs or CDRs and CDRWs burned in Mac, can it be read by Windows? Vice Versa.

2) Is there any software based program that allows you to watch different region DVDs? I am NOT talking about flashing the ROM.

3) Is there a need to get System Utilities software to maintain MacOS?

4) Much has been said about Macs have no virus, then what's VIREX for?

5) Anybody ever compare the screen between a Mac Powerbook and a Sony XBrite LCD?

thanks in advance...

[pete]

1) yes, completely compatible between windows and macos x
2) No software that I'm aware of. You need to use a flash update to change it. Very easy and straight-forward.
3) No need, but it doesn't hurt. There are several freeware/shareware apps that do a great job.
4) Virex is for viruses. But there are none. They've got to make money somehow. Seriously, of course there is always the potential risk of viruses in any OS, but I've used macs heavily online and in networks for the past 12 years or so without ever having a virus. I'd say it's safe - for now at least.
5) haven't compared but I've heard that the SOny screens are brighter than the 12 inch pbs. BUT, the 15 inch pb LCD is VERY bright imo.

Good luck!

[apb15]

Originally posted by pete:

2) No software that I'm aware of. You need to use a flash update to change it. Very easy and straight-forward.

I am just curious what exactly does this mean? Supposing I would like to watch mult-region DVDs what exactly do i have to do? I have no idea what flashing the ROm means either.

Thanks
Al

[pete]

It means you need to update the firmware (sorry, wasn't being clear) of the DVD drive. All DVD drives in notebooks are limited in terms of regions and can only be changed a few times - I believe you can change your region 5 times with the powerbooks and there's no application that can change that.

The firmware needs to be changed...

[albook]

Doesn't VLC ignore the inserted DVD's region code?

[tooki]

2. VLC does indeed ignore region coding. It is, however, not as nice a DVD player as Apple's, in pretty much every other respect.

3. I believe every Mac user should own DiskWarrior and run it every month or two.

4. Virex, Intego VirusBarrier and Norton Antivirus do still catch any files that may be carrying old Mac viruses that could infect old versions of Mac OS, but moreover, they scan for Windows viruses and MS Office macro viruses that a Mac could transmit to others, even if the Mac itself is immune.

tooki

[olePigeon]

And in not so many words:

1) Yes.
2) Yes, apparently. VLC.
3) No, but it doesn't hurt.
4) Anti-virus software also protects against spyware and malicious internet code. Also, having anti-virus software on your Mac can help protect your Windows using buddies.
5) I don't know.

[Navigator]

pete,

flashing the rom thingy...

do you need to flash it every 5 times you change the code or you only change just it once your dvd drive reaches its 5 time limit?

confusing...

watch code 1, code 2, code 1, code 4, code 1 <region fixed>
flash rom, forever no need to flash anymore, player can read any code

or

watch code 1, code 2, code 1, code 4, code 1 <region fixed>
flash rom
watch code 1, code 2, code 1, code 4, code 1 <region fixed>
flash rom again

[olePigeon]

You can flash your DVD drive a total of 5 times, and 5 is the absolute limit.

[crispinwilliams]

I am sorry to disagree with Tooki.. but using VLC does not get round the region coding built into the DVD drive firmware. If you want to change the region coding of your DVD drive more than 5 time - you must (a) flash the rom memory of the dvd drive - (b) use a program such as Region X to reset your 5 change limit every now or then... You can flash your rom as many times as you like.. but with the standard firmware you have a maximum of 5 region changes..

[tooki]

It is widely documented that VLC totally circumvents the region coding, and does not require you to change the region code in the drive.

Everyone should read http://xvi.rpc1.org/rpc1regions.html before asking any more questions about region codes.

tooki