hpoom | Comments | Xbox 360 HD DVD - on the iMac!!

Comment from Mark on "Xbox 360 HD DVD - on the iMac!!"

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:26:12 +0000

Hmm, I should pay more attention before posting...

The Xbox itself is connected over the network via my modem/router. The iMac too.
This lets them talk to each other, sharing enabled through the (OS X) Connect 360.

Watching HD DVDs is Windows XP only :( For some reason, Apple's DVD player does not want to play ball (supposedly since they haven't yet licensed the codecs / rights).

So it depends which iMac you have, I reckon... The new Aluminium iMacs are (I think) all capable of working with the drive - that's the one I have.

Comment from Mark on "Xbox 360 HD DVD - on the iMac!!"

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:15:43 +0000

Ah... now these are two separate things. I almost said "I didn't" to that comment, but actually, I did... but on the OS X side.

I have an app called Connect360 for sharing stuff between the iMac and 360. I have another one for the PS3 too (from the same guys, but not nearly as universal).

I am guessing there must be PC versions of these apps - maybe not from the same people, or as elegant - but hey it's Windows ;)

As for the HD drive (which my ranting on this post was about), I did that through (i) connecting the USB cable to the machine, and (ii) installing PowerDVD Ultra (note the *Ultra* - normal PowerDVD won't cut it).

BUT... there is a major caveat here: you need to have a qualifying graphics card. And by qualifying, I mean has to (in hardware) support the encoding/DRM nonsense that HD-DVD requires.

The iMac has a ATI 2600HD in it, the PC a 8600GT - the first works fine (and definitely supports the stuff for HD DVD), the PC card should too, but I haven't tried it.

However, someone I know tried with his 7600 nVidia card which (allegedly) should have worked - but didn't. Seems the boards and chipsets are hit and miss for this :(

But when it does work... it's very nice indeed.

Shame the format is pretty much dead now. Good job I now have my DVD player... oh sorry, I mean my PS3 ;)

(Coz it aint worth shit for games :D)

Comment from Kris on "Xbox 360 HD DVD - on the iMac!!"

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:01:28 +0000

how did u connect ur xbox to ur imac?! I've been trying for ages!

Comment from Mark on "Xbox 360 HD DVD - on the iMac!!"

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:27:15 +0000

I am still waiting for Play / Royal Mail to deliver my DVDs. One of which will be the new updated Blade Runner (that is not out yet of course, but I can't wait for that one personally!!!)

I watched the Matrix films as I said - they looked damn fine!! But I want to see something less obvious before I make a proper review...

As you may remember, I am actually in the BluRay camp - so my HD DVD drive was a surprise buy... but when it only costs £130 brand new (mine was less than that), I wonder if Microsoft may have had a moment of genius here... and that Sony might be undermined by this.

Try and get a BluRay player for that price!!! (I've tried!!!)

Comment from hpoom on "Xbox 360 HD DVD - on the iMac!!"

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:56:51 +0000

So have you tried any HD-DVD's yet? What do you think?