DVD Software Support for Compaq Portables | 5 |
Windows 98 the user will be prompted to make this selection when first attempting to play a regionalized DVD movie title. Under Windows 95, the DVD Express software will store this choice. Under Windows 98, DVD Express will rely on native capabilities of the operating system to manage regionalization. In either case, once the choice is made it cannot be changed.
As Compaq rolls out newer RPC2 DVD players, these drives will be capable of storing the region code in the drive’s firmware. The intent at this point is for regionalization to behave the same as it currently does under Windows 95 and Windows 98. The user will be allowed to make up to five choices when attempting to play regionalized movies. The difference is that the software will work with the drive firmware to maintain the choice and not the DVD drive. The impact to the user will be that in order to play regionalized content the region code maintained by the software and the DVD drive hardware must match the region of the DVD movie in order for it to play correctly.
Supported Platforms
DVD Express software will be distributed with all Armada and Prosignia DVD Drive Option kits and with any Armada and Prosignia notebook equipped with a minimum configuration of an Intel Pentium II 233MHZ or faster processor that ships with a DVD drive as part of its shipping configuration. Notebooks that contain Intel 300MHz Pentium
IIand faster processors and video controllers that include built in motion compensation support provide an optimum platform for software playback that nearly approaches the quality of a hardware solution. Slower platforms, down to the minimum Intel Pentium II 233MHZ, can still function with adequate quality, but will suffer minor playback resolution problems. Video playback quality suffers on slower processors, such as “dropped frames” {where the movie will appear to “skip ahead” or “jump” from one section to another (processor is trying to catch up with the playback frame rates)}.
DVD Express is only supported on notebook platforms running Microsoft Windows 95 (OSR2.0 and above) and Windows 98. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 does not support MPEG2 movie playback at this time. Compaq expects Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional to include the native support required for MPEG2 move playback.
Additional support details can be found by visiting:
http://www.compaq.com/products/options/dvd/index.html
TABLE 2 – SUPPORTED PLATFORMS:
Armada | Prosignia | Pentium II | Pentium II | Pentium II | Pentium II | Pentium II | |
Notebook | Notebook | 233 MHz | 266 MHz | 300 MHz | 333 MHz | 366 MHz | |
1500c | 120 | Yes1,2,4 | Yes2 | Yes3 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | |
1700 | 122,140,1604 | Yes1,2 | Yes2 | Yes3 |
| Yes3 | Yes3 |
1750 | 144, 162 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| Yes3 | Yes3 |
6500 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Yes3 |
| Not Applicable | Yes3 |
7400 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Yes2 | Yes3 | Yes3 | Yes3 | |
7800 | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Yes2 | Yes3 | Not Applicable | Yes3 | |
NOTES: 1 STN versions not well suited for multimedia applications. External monitor use recommended.
2 Processor speeds below 300MHz may result in minor playback quality problems (dropped frames). 3 These platforms are likely candidates for full “Designed for Windows” certification.
4 Applicable to and including all Prosignia 120, 140, and 160 series notebooks.
[PRT015A/0199]