Customer Reviews

Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

If you're one of a handful of people who own an x-box but no DVD player - this remote is, literally, essential to playing DVDs.

The x-box system is expensive for microsoft, and they don't make much profit off the systems. In order to play DVDs, companies have to pay a licensing fee to the motion picture of america association. Rather than include the costs of the license in the x-box system, they force you to purchase the DVD remote in order to play DVDs.

All this explains why - even though your x-box has all the hardware necessary to play DVDs without a remote - you have to buy a remote in order to actually watch DVDs.

My remote works well enough. Its batteries have lasted quite a while, and most DVDs play pretty well. It would be nice though if the remote had a power button.

Most standard DVD players work at least as well or better than your x-box, so I wouldn't recommend this item unless you don't already have a DVD player.

PROS
- works fine. No IR connection problems.
- great for people that don't already have a DVD player.
CONS
- doesn't play DVDs in progressive scan. Why not? They can make games in 480p (old HD) for the xbox.
- takes up a controller port slot. Not a big deal, but if you often have 4 friends playing, you won't be able to leave it in all the time.
- no backlit or glow
- no eject button
- no power button. What? Never seen a remote without a power button. Thus you CANNOT turn your xbox on/off with this remote.
- cannot learn
- not universal. If you have lots of remotes, you're better off learning this one into a universal remote.
- many people already own a DVD player, many with progressive scan.

This product was thrilling at first - turn my Xbox into a cheap and reliable DVD palyer? Great! IT worked okay for a few months but now, 5 months later it does not recognize hardly any DVDs. It jsut says "this is not an Xbox game or recognizable DVD - please try again...." Do not waste your money - buy a real DVD player instead. You can get a decent one for under $40 almost anywhere. Even when the DVD unit did work, it doesn't even have a power button or an eject button. Microsoft has over promised and under delivered.

When I first heard of this DVD Playback Kit, I was a little mad that Xbox didn't already have a DVD feature built in. I like it though, I don't watch a whole lot of DVDs. I use it for something else. You can use it in the main menu of the Xbox. You can use it as a remote to play songs you already have burnt onto your Xbox. I use my Xbox to play music while I'm on my computer because my computer is too slow to play music and do anything else. You can use it to play DVDs or as a remote to your MP3s.

PS2 could include DVD playback without any additional hardware (by using a normal game controller), so where's the sense in Microsoft abstracting DVD playback off of it's already bulkier system? The answer is "more money."

Ideally the IR module should have been built in to the Xbox to begin with. I would gladly have payed an extra $10 then, instead of what MS is asking for now, which is roughly $30 at most retail stores. Simply ridiculous.

The gadget _does_ do what it is supposed to do (the only worthwhile thing to be said) but altogether is somewhat discouraging for reasons already addressed.

The design of the controller is bulky as well--not sleek like PS2's _optional_ DVD remote control. I have said it so many times that I am getting sick of it: The only failure of the Xbox system eminates from it's choice to require you to buy the ability to playback DVDs.

Since, however, there is no choice in the matter I suppose all of us capitalist sheep will flock to the stores and gladly plop down 30 smack-a-roos so we can watch our DVDs. We will probably also decide to sell our old DVD player on eBay since they are no longer needed, and also to recoup our losses on the Xbox DVD kit. And I suppose too, that while on eBay we will notice the Xbox DVD playback kit being offered for around $15 instead of $30.

Word to the wise: Go to eBay for this gadget. You will save yourself around 50%.

I've had DVD players come and go, so its kinda cool to have a gaming console that plays dvd's too. Yeah, I know the PS2 has that capability without a remote, I have one of those too. But one of the cool things I noticed about the X Box playback kit is that the remote looks just like the ones made by RCA. I tried a few of the controls on the DVD funtion of my RCA universal remote, low and behold it worked. Kinda a hand thing, I've got to many remotes floting around as it is, so that part was nice. Mine works great, I use it instead of having to re-arrange my already overpacked entertainment center to put in my other DVD player.

I found this product good, i have no problems with it what so ever. some people say just buy a dvd player but then you have more wires in the back of your tv. Also if you want your x box and dvd player to go into one suround sound or stereo the is great cause you get to have a dvd player and a x box in one wire going into the speakers. this is also great if you dont want to spend any more money on buying another dvd player and you already have a xbox. i have my xbox upstairs with the dvd adapter, and a dvd player down stairs so if i want a change of secnery.

i love my xbox and it's adapter i have no problem with the remote either.

This is a really convenient attachment. It was cheaper to purchase this kit than it was to buy a new DVD player. It also has more versatility. If you're already transporting the XBox & need/want to play a movie all you need is this kit, not an extra piece of electronic equipment.

This is the greatest piece of equipment if you are far away from X-Box System, aim the remote control anywhere in your room like walls, floor (If nothing is blocking). This is the stupendous equipment to use for your X-box if you don't have a DVD player. Purchase it right now!

For the price you're better off buying a $40-50 cheap DVD player. My major grips about the DVD are 1. WAY overpriced, 2. should have been part of the package(basically it cost them at MOST $2.00 bucks to make the remote 3. NO OFF BUTTON on remote 4. I really would have liked to have a SLEEP timer so I can watch a movie while I'm going to sleep and not have it run all night 5. maybe it's just me but navigating DVD menus is near impossible 6. some movies do not play at all "American History X" (first and only one I own that doesn't play...but then again I only have about 80 or so DVDs)