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    Multimedia without booting into windows?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by arevee, Oct 27, 2005.

  1. arevee

    arevee Notebook Evangelist

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    Guys,

    Is there any way I can add this functionality (music, fotos and videos, dvds playing) without booting into windows on my Fujitsu S7010D laptop?

    I know a lot of new laptops come with this feature...but is there a way it can be done on my year old laptop?? :fujitsu:
     
    arevee, Oct 27, 2005
    #1
  2. dr_st

    dr_st Notebook Deity

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    What's the point?
     
    dr_st, Oct 27, 2005
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  3. DownByFive

    DownByFive Notebook Consultant

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    As far as I know, if it doesn't come with it, it isn't possible to add the feature. My Asus will play cds without booting, but not DVD's, and it's not possible to add DVD functionality.
     
    DownByFive, Oct 27, 2005
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  4. Rahul

    Rahul Notebook Prophet

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    I don't know about anybody else, but I find the feature on my notebook to be completely useless. Because I always like to play my mp3's while typing up a word document or surfing the internet for example. Or, right after watching a dvd movie, I'll do something else like check my email.
     
    Rahul, Oct 27, 2005
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  5. arevee

    arevee Notebook Evangelist

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    the point is saving battery life or extending it when watching DVDs in-flight etc. windows runs a lot of back-side apps that consume battery life. check out this feature on the samsung x1

    http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?id=1751&cid=14&pg=3

    i believe its just a small linux partition that connects to the my documents folder within windows. also, windows takes so much time to boot up. linux would be waaaay faster...
     
    arevee, Oct 27, 2005
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  6. cheziyi

    cheziyi Notebook Consultant

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    huh? what makes you think that linux is way faster? By default they load up a lot of programs as well too..
     
    cheziyi, Oct 28, 2005
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  7. arevee

    arevee Notebook Evangelist

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    well, this would not be a full linux boot-up. just a small program....
     
    arevee, Oct 28, 2005
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  8. lmychajluk

    lmychajluk Notebook Evangelist

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    Though my new Asus has the function to play CDs w/o booting, I also find it useless. I mean, who listens to CDs anymore? Even if you buy it, you bring it home, rip it, and put it away and listen to the MP3s...

    -Lee
     
    lmychajluk, Oct 28, 2005
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  9. dr_st

    dr_st Notebook Deity

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    Yeah, ASUS puts this feature on their desktop motherboards too. Called "Instant Music".
     
    dr_st, Oct 28, 2005
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  10. arevee

    arevee Notebook Evangelist

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    well, i was just wondering if we cud play DVDs like this. Don't the HP dv1000s have this feature? and also include a remote...?
     
    arevee, Oct 28, 2005
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  11. Brian

    Brian Working at 486 Speed NBR Reviewer

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    No, you can't add it and even if you could, you might not like it since the resolution is turned down.
     
    Brian, Oct 28, 2005
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  12. Rahul

    Rahul Notebook Prophet

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    Yes, the HP DV4000 and DV1000's come with the QuickPlay feature and all models sold in stores come with a remote and earbuds.
     
    Rahul, Oct 28, 2005
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  13. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    Yes - the HP dv1000 has the pre-boot multimedia thingy.

    Technically, that uses up more battery life, because the processor is doing all the work - you are better off just booting into regular windows and playing it from there.

    Chaz
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Oct 28, 2005
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  14. chinna_n

    chinna_n Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    I would like to add some info. On HP DV1000 series it is 230MB linux partion which loads only few modules other than core. Even the core itself is optimized so that processor runs at low speed, graphics runs at low resolution but with strech option( or rather I would say at DVD resolution than at native 1280x786), so no extra CPU load to upscale to full resolution, IR driver, and key mapping etc.

    Yes, if we install full blown Linux distros, it is going to install lot of modules takes around 6+ gb. But the core itself it is very small( you can even run it on PDAs).

    The advantages are:

    It take little space on HDD
    Quick boot as it loads core and only few modules(most auto detect linux features are not there)
    Processor runs at low speed and unnecessary peripherals are off(like wireless, Lan, modem etc), so slightly better battery life.
    It hardly costs anything to HP. So cheaper laptop.

    Disadvantages:
    It still takes some HDD space
    You can not use lot of functionality supported by linux(if you intend to)
    It is not dedicated decoder solution which does not need CPU at all. Dedicated decoders provide much better battery life.

    There are some laptops with dedicated decoder and provide much better battery life than this Linux solution.( I think Averatec has one).

    But considering it as freebie, it is not bad at all. I heard DVD playback time is more by 20+ min using this feature, than using windows. It would be nice if someone can post their findings.

    I heard it is developed by InterVideo(winDVD guys).

    I hope someone will hack it soon and make it suitable to install on other lappies also.
     
    chinna_n, Oct 30, 2005
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  15. jegHegy

    jegHegy Notebook Enthusiast

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    thanks for the info, chinna_n.

    anyone know of a live linux distro that will function similarly to HP's implementation? i was looking at Geexbox and MoviX, but i don't know how much hacking they would need to get working with a notebook's ACPI and whatnot. (never had a notebook, looking forward to buying an HPQ NX6125)
     
    jegHegy, Oct 30, 2005
    #15