Here’s a thread to discuss DVD playback on the TR.  Are you happy with the performance?  What’s your favorite player? Do you use a region code hacker? Etc…anything DVD-relelated goes.  Please answer the Poll as well as gabbing.

FOR THOSE THAT MEASURE THINGS LIKE BAT CYCLES -  MEASURE THIS!
To test performance on ur TR, here is a link to Nero CD/DVD Speed Test.  Post your results here to see how you compare with other TR owners.  You would expect results to be the same on the same type drive (the DVD/r and the DVD/rw)...we’ll see.

download site: 

I’ll post my results in the next few minutes…it takes a bit to run all the tests…

I love to use my computer as a DVD player occasionally. I’ve already watched The Butterfly Effect and Along Came Polly on my TR and the quality is terrific, no problems noticed ( may none go unnoticed ). In fact, I’m so overjoyed with my TR’s quality, I actually love my system like it was the son I never had. Sony is the family I wished I was part of.   

Anyways, I ran the test, but being up this late, I didn’t want to leave the comfort of my bed just to find a DVD, so I picked up a CD-R within close proximity and tried your test on it. Here’s my results:

Serial Number;MATSHITAUJDA755
Drive;DVD/CDRW
Firmware;1.00
Transfer Rate - Average;18.67x
Transfer Rate - Start;10.95x
Transfer Rate - End;24.76x
Random Seek Time;124 ms
1/3 Seek Time;110 ms
Full Seek Time;207 ms
1 X CPU Usage;1 %
2 X CPU Usage;2 %
4 X CPU Usage;3 %
8 X CPU Usage;8 %
Burst rate;16327 KB/sec
Spin Up Time;2.90 sec
Spin Down Time;3.13 sec
Load Time;0.00 sec
Eject Time;0.19 sec
Recognition Time;15.30 sec

Load Time is 0 because the tray can’t reload by itself. I’ll post back when I’ve done the test with a DVD.

-best,
Concura

20 July 2004

here’s mine, which looks pretty pathetic.  tested on Monsters Inc. which runs choppy unless I start with a clean boot. Great movie though!

Nero CD Speed Test results

General Information
Operating System Windows XP Professional
Drive MATSHITAUJDA755 DVD/CDRW
Firmware Version 1.00
Serial Number
Disc DVD-Video
Capacity 6.73 GB

Transfer Rate
Start 1.66x
End 3.55x
Average 2.83x
Type CAV

Seek Times
Random 161 ms
1/3 144 ms
Full 247 ms

CPU Usage
1X 9 %
2X 23 %
4X 56 %
8X n/a

Interface
Burst Rate 22881 KB/sec

Spin Up/Down Times
Spin Up Time 0.00 sec
Spin Down Time 2.73 sec

Load/Eject Times
Load Time 0.00 sec
Eject Time 0.17 sec
Recognition Time 25.54 sec

DVD watching is a great experience on my TR, and I’m looking forward to it on my new S series machine as well. The XBRITE screen and wide aspect ratio is great, and the battery life is fantastic. I can make it through a Lord of the Rings film on the standard battery, not too shabby. I use DVD Region Free to watch R2 discs, and WinDVD4 as my main player. I might upgrade WinDVD, but I’ll have to look at the new/added features first. DVD on laptops has come a long way, I remember being wowed by watching movies on my old PowerBook G3 way back in 1999. There were severe combing issues and the drive didn’t read half the discs I tried, but the novelty was great.

I did not really get the TR for DVD playback, but when I do use it for that purpose now and again it serves me well.

yadayadayada…you can’t think of ONE bad thing to say?  aw come on…

Ok here’s mine.  System on AC power, modem and browser open. Just to make sure it’s not too scientific I used a DVD-R with, er, a movie.

MatshitaUJDA755 DVD/CDRW 1.00

DVD-R CAV 4.36GB

Speed
Ave     2.86
Start     1.59
End     3.82

Seek Time
Random 135
1/3       138
Full       244

CPU
1X         7
2X       13
4X       87

Burst     22MB/S

yeh, that’s about the state of mine too.  i dont understand the stats from nero program, but it seems like our drives rate slow, yes?  can anyone out there interpret this stuff?  thanks!!!  and u guys worry about battery cycles….

The couple of times I’ve watched a DVD on my TR, I’ve never had a prob. But it’s only been a couple of occasions. I usually watch DivX movies instead…

I get a little upset when watching a DVD and it freezes in the middle of what I’m watching!  It happens on a couple of DVDs I have, mainly region 2.  Any thoughts???

I’m running the latest version of DVD idle (registered) and Win DVD 4 that was pre-loaded in the VAIO. 

Its one of the main reasons I bought the TR-2.  I’m on a plane almost every couple of weeks flying longhaul and I just love the portability of the unit and the quality of the screen.  Everyone that sees it, just can’t get over the quality and wants one.

Next is a DVD player that will crop my non-anamorphic widescreen DVDs to fit the TR’s 16:9 screen. My old Criterion version of Robocop and my Star Wars OT boots deserve better.  :?

I don’t understand the values too ... I think I am better off monitoring my battery cycles.     

Here’s my stats.

General Information
Operating System Windows XP Professional
Drive MATSHITAUJDA755 DVD/CDRW
Firmware Version 1.00
Serial Number
Disc DVD-ROM
Capacity 4.36 GB

Transfer Rate
Start 3.34x
End 8.03x
Average 5.98x
Type CAV

Seek Times
Random 148 ms
1/3 132 ms
Full 255 ms

CPU Usage
1X 9 %
2X 14 %
4X 30 %
8X 57 %

Interface
Burst Rate 22635 KB/sec

Spin Up/Down Times
Spin Up Time 0.00 sec
Spin Down Time 3.78 sec

Load/Eject Times
Load Time 0.00 sec
Eject Time 0.16 sec
Recognition Time 5.84 sec

First, I don’t think Sony put in the worlds fastest drive, faster (higher RPM) eats more juice. Slower is cheaper, too.

I’m certain MPEG decoding is done by software, accounting for the CPU load. This suggests closing other tasks when watching a movie or, at least, if you’re having trouble watching a movie.

When running on battery, the TR may keep trying to slow down the cpu to conserve energy.

I think it just reports CPU usage provided by the system, so the baseline for each of our tests could include other tasks running.

Occasional “burps” in playback could also be a dirty, scratched or hard-to-read disc.

The good news is that my drive is normal.

Man, you guys are way too hardcore for me.  Between watching your battery cells die and how the DVD performs, how do you all have time to do more important things like finding something productive to do with the DC out port?

Good point. We’ll need a new “sticky” thread for a matter of this import.

Good point. We’ll need a new “sticky” thread for a matter of this import.

im looking for an ohm meter now to analize the dc output now.  i’ll report back later…i have a feeling mine is low :xeno: