CyberLink PowerDVD 5 Deluxe DVD Player Software Review (page 2)
Not Just DVDs
CyberLink wants you to know that PowerDVD is not just a DVD player app, but that it also plays a multitude of audio and video formats, including MP3, audio CDs, DivX, Video CD, SVCD, Windows Media files, WAV and MIDI, among others.
CyberLink also offers a remote control for PowerDVD, which is available for $30.
A videographer producing DVDs could get a lot of mileage from PowerDVD while checking projects after burning, without having to fire up the set-top player. Of course, the standard version of PowerDVD can do almost everything that the deluxe version does, and it's $20 cheaper. So it's your choice, but overall, we thought PowerDVD was rather a good program.
TECH SPECS
Version Reviewed: 5.0 build 1107
Printed manual: 96 pages
Trial version available: Yes (6.5MB, 30 days, 30-minute maximum playback per session)
Upgrade: Yes (available for users of PowerDVD 3 or 4, price varies)
Platform: PC
Operating System: Win 98SE/Me/2000/XP
Processor: Pentium II 350MHz or any Athlon (1GHz processor for video effects)
RAM: 64MB (128MB for audio effects)
Hard Disk: 40MB
Additional Requirements: DVD drive, PCI or on-board sound or USB speakers, video card supporting DirectDraw overlay, 800x600 display
Strengths
- High quality playback
- Plenty of audio and video optimizations and controls
Weaknesses
- Energy saver settings not restored after program closes
SUMMARY
A solid performer, but most users will be just as satisfied with the Standard Version.
Charles Fulton is an Associate Editor for Videomaker.
CyberLink Corp.
46750 Fremont Blvd., Ste. 200
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 668-0118
www.gocyberlink.com
$70
