Comments for My Journey to Macintosh http://macnewbie.wordpress.com Documenting the switch over from Microsoft to Apple Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:52:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by DundeeSnowboard http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24756 DundeeSnowboard Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:59:51 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24756 Not sure if this is answered somewhere else but my fully spec'd MBP is on it's way next week and i'm wondering if it's best to WinXp using BootCamp, run something like DvDAnywhere/DVDShrink to rip them to VIDEO_TS folders then burn then back as region free discs in OSX? Am i missing the point or is this possible. Just weird going to be able to run Win os's on a mac! Not sure if this is answered somewhere else but my fully spec’d MBP is on it’s way next week and i’m wondering if it’s best to WinXp using BootCamp, run something like DvDAnywhere/DVDShrink to rip them to VIDEO_TS folders then burn then back as region free discs in OSX? Am i missing the point or is this possible. Just weird going to be able to run Win os’s on a mac!

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by Eolake http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24754 Eolake Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:54:50 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24754 I can use VLC Player, but is not stable. Freezes if I fast-forward. Wikipedia has an article on regions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code I can use VLC Player, but is not stable. Freezes if I fast-forward.

Wikipedia has an article on regions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by Eolake http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24755 Eolake Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:52:50 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24755 I can use VLC Player, but is not stable. Freezes if I fast-forward. Wikipedia has an article on regions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code I can use VLC Player, but is not stable. Freezes if I fast-forward.

Wikipedia has an article on regions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code

]]> Comment on Beta Testers Needed! by Stuart http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/beta-testers-needed/#comment-24753 Stuart Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:35:40 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=83#comment-24753 Hi, been reading your blog from the very start and dropped in off one of my bookmarks by chance. Count me in to the beta. Macbook Pro 2.2 2gig ram 10.5.3 Hi, been reading your blog from the very start and dropped in off one of my bookmarks by chance. Count me in to the beta.

Macbook Pro 2.2
2gig ram
10.5.3

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by Jamesa http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24752 Jamesa Sat, 31 May 2008 13:43:48 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24752 %^&* region codes. Who thought of this tripe? I live in Sydney, Australia and the Blockbuster down the road rents multiple region DVDs. Brilliant. Now I cannot watch the DVDs on my MacBook because they are all different regions - why do the Blockbuster rental people rent these if I supposedly live in a particular region. Mental. So annoyed. Luckily I have an old G5 iMac that already has a flashed DVD drive but this is just lame and outdated. It is why they call it a global marketplace... %^&* region codes. Who thought of this tripe? I live in Sydney, Australia and the Blockbuster down the road rents multiple region DVDs.

Brilliant. Now I cannot watch the DVDs on my MacBook because they are all different regions - why do the Blockbuster rental people rent these if I supposedly live in a particular region. Mental. So annoyed. Luckily I have an old G5 iMac that already has a flashed DVD drive but this is just lame and outdated. It is why they call it a global marketplace…

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by Cheap Apple Products http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24751 Cheap Apple Products Wed, 28 May 2008 19:12:25 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24751 Thank you for this very informative post. Any idea if this issue is being addressed for the upcoming new line of Macbooks? Thank you for this very informative post. Any idea if this issue is being addressed for the upcoming new line of Macbooks?

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by bandicoot http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24750 bandicoot Wed, 28 May 2008 10:21:45 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24750 i've just bought a macbook and was as shocked and incredulous as everbody else to find that my dodgy old PC is wildly more liberal when it comes to playing any old dvd from any old zone. sheesh. well, i pulled out an el cheapo god-knows-what-brand hard drive purchased in hong kong ealier this year and plugged it in to the mac. voila, as they say. i can now play zone 1 on the external and zone 4 on the mac itself. having two is better (twice as good in fact) than being stuck with one forevah. yes, it's a drag and it's a bitch. and it still gives me an error message (just to mess with my head) before it grudgingly plays anything on either drive. but at least it covers the two zones i use 99% of the time. i am too chicken to run the ben11 firmware. admittedly the extra drive is messing up the zen minimalism of my desk and it's.just.one.more.thang.to.drag.around.....but it isn't voiding my warranty. imperfect....but that's life, i guess. i’ve just bought a macbook and was as shocked and incredulous as everbody else to find that my dodgy old PC is wildly more liberal when it comes to playing any old dvd from any old zone.
sheesh.

well, i pulled out an el cheapo god-knows-what-brand hard drive purchased in hong kong ealier this year and plugged it in to the mac.

voila, as they say.

i can now play zone 1 on the external and zone 4 on the mac itself.
having two is better (twice as good in fact) than being stuck with one forevah.

yes, it’s a drag and it’s a bitch.
and it still gives me an error message (just to mess with my head) before it grudgingly plays anything on either drive.
but at least it covers the two zones i use 99% of the time.

i am too chicken to run the ben11 firmware.
admittedly the extra drive is messing up the zen minimalism of my desk and it’s.just.one.more.thang.to.drag.around…..but it isn’t voiding my warranty.

imperfect….but that’s life, i guess.

]]> Comment on Beta Testers Needed! by Rupert http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/beta-testers-needed/#comment-24749 Rupert Tue, 27 May 2008 07:21:08 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=83#comment-24749 I stumbled across your blog and found this. If it's not too late I'd be happy to beta test your app. Powerbook G4 1.5 GB RAM 10.5.2 I stumbled across your blog and found this. If it’s not too late I’d be happy to beta test your app.

Powerbook G4
1.5 GB RAM
10.5.2

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by At a Loss http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24748 At a Loss Wed, 07 May 2008 14:26:49 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24748 Andrew, I'm posting this in response to your latest post from the 25th of March where you say: "Anyway, at least there is now a solution for many Matshita drives. I am puzzled why comments above this appear to have missed my previous comment..." Firstly thanks for referencing to the Ben11 fix which I agree seems to be the biggest breakthrough so far. However please correct me if I'm wrong but I get the impression that the simple act of even ATTEMPTING this fix can lead to ones macbook's optic drive becoming as useful as a chocolate teapot. This is a warning that you make yourself in your post February 24th where you say "Please note: you follow these approaches at your own risk , and you will probably be voiding your warranty for the DVD drive." This point is made somewhat more succinctly in other pages citing Ben11 as is the case in the blog FlashGen - "IF YOU DO THIS, YOU RUN THE RISK OF PERMANENTLY DAMAGING YOUR DVD HARDWARE. TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NO LONGER WORK. APPLE WILL NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WILL COST A LOT TO REPLACE." http://blog.flashgen.com/2007/10/11/make-your-macbook-pro-region-free/ It seems to me that if we do follow Ben11's fix than we are inadvertently entering into a game of Russian roulette and one which will not necessarily leave us all sitting round the table with big smiles on our faces by the end. Andrew,

I’m posting this in response to your latest post from the 25th of March where you say:

“Anyway, at least there is now a solution for many Matshita drives. I am puzzled why comments above this appear to have missed my previous comment…”

Firstly thanks for referencing to the Ben11 fix which I agree seems to be the biggest breakthrough so far. However please correct me if I’m wrong but I get the impression that the simple act of even ATTEMPTING this fix can lead to ones macbook’s optic drive becoming as useful as a chocolate teapot.

This is a warning that you make yourself in your post February 24th where you say

“Please note: you follow these approaches at your own risk , and you will probably be voiding your warranty for the DVD drive.”

This point is made somewhat more succinctly in other pages citing Ben11 as is the case in the blog FlashGen -

“IF YOU DO THIS, YOU RUN THE RISK OF PERMANENTLY DAMAGING YOUR DVD HARDWARE. TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NO LONGER WORK. APPLE WILL NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WILL COST A LOT TO REPLACE.”

http://blog.flashgen.com/2007/10/11/make-your-macbook-pro-region-free/

It seems to me that if we do follow Ben11’s fix than we are inadvertently entering into a game of Russian roulette and one which will not necessarily leave us all sitting round the table with big smiles on our faces by the end.

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by Mark http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24747 Mark Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:46:16 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24747 Hi I'm looking for Firmware or Software that will allow my DVD player to be Region Free. I have the MATSHITA UJ 85 J , and using Vista on my Mac. PLEASE HELP ! Thanks Mark Hi
I’m looking for Firmware or Software that will allow my DVD player to be Region Free. I have the MATSHITA UJ 85 J , and using Vista on my Mac.

PLEASE HELP !
Thanks
Mark

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by dude http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24746 dude Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:20:25 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24746 handbrake can't read it, thinks the blocks are dead handbrake can’t read it, thinks the blocks are dead

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by dude http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24745 dude Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:28:36 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24745 anyone know if you can rip a Region 2 DVD on a MacBook set to Region 1 by using HandBrake? i'm going to try it. anyone know if you can rip a Region 2 DVD on a MacBook set to Region 1 by using HandBrake?
i’m going to try it.

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by Amused http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24743 Amused Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:28:53 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24743 P.S. In case you don't know what to do exactly : 1) choose a definite zone for your player ; 2) see if the other DVDs you own can be played with VLC (last version - check it) - certain can ; 2) you're left with a pile of useless DVDs : my advice is go to a friend's PC, copy them using DVDshrink (free), then sell the originals ; this way you still keep those movies and you can read them ; 3) tell your friends and family never to offer anything but zone X (the one you've chosen) DVDs. P.S. In case you don’t know what to do exactly : 1) choose a definite zone for your player ; 2) see if the other DVDs you own can be played with VLC (last version - check it) - certain can ; 2) you’re left with a pile of useless DVDs : my advice is go to a friend’s PC, copy them using DVDshrink (free), then sell the originals ; this way you still keep those movies and you can read them ; 3) tell your friends and family never to offer anything but zone X (the one you’ve chosen) DVDs.

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by Amused http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24742 Amused Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:53:04 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24742 First off, I'd like to thank the blog's author and excuse for my poor english. I recently purchased a Mac Book Pro, and found inside this beautiful MatSHITa uj-867 which I finally blocked on zone 1, since my best wish is to leave this unfortunate country struggling for reforms that will never come, France (zone 2). Despite what "perplexed" has written, going external is not an obvious thing to do. If I wanted to go external, I'd have bought an iMac, not a laptop. Obviously, we don't want to have a lot of equipment laying around our desktop ; obviously giving away 69 euros is a commercial failure. I've sold all of of my DVDs zone 2, which are american movies after all, and decided that I will never - never - never - ever - buy a zone 2 dvd. And also, will not respect this most stupid invention ever produced by a herd of bozoheads from the movie industry, by going aMule, all the way. Fekk 'em !!! First off, I’d like to thank the blog’s author and excuse for my poor english. I recently purchased a Mac Book Pro, and found inside this beautiful MatSHITa uj-867 which I finally blocked on zone 1, since my best wish is to leave this unfortunate country struggling for reforms that will never come, France (zone 2). Despite what “perplexed” has written, going external is not an obvious thing to do. If I wanted to go external, I’d have bought an iMac, not a laptop. Obviously, we don’t want to have a lot of equipment laying around our desktop ; obviously giving away 69 euros is a commercial failure. I’ve sold all of of my DVDs zone 2, which are american movies after all, and decided that I will never - never - never - ever - buy a zone 2 dvd. And also, will not respect this most stupid invention ever produced by a herd of bozoheads from the movie industry, by going aMule, all the way. Fekk ‘em !!!

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by Perplexed http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24739 Perplexed Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:39:07 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24739 I don't understand why everyone is having so many problems with this. (of course I've only used region 1 and 2 discs, so I don't know what would happen with media with other encodings). When using VLC on the new (I have a late 2007 MacBook Pro, and an upgraded PowerBook G4 Ti) MacBook Pro I have not encountered any problems with region restricted playback. Additionally, because I purchased a €69 Lite-On external DVD recorder, I have found that there seem to be no problems with any programme (read as: VLC, or FrontRow (apple dvd player)) playing DVDs via the external player. There are a few region 1 discs I have to monkey with to get to play in Front Row. For those few I must create an alias of the DVD in the Movies folder in order for them to play in Front Row (I still haven't figured out why this is). Generally I don't use the internal optical drive on any notebook I own unless I'm on the road with it I don’t understand why everyone is having so many problems with this. (of course I’ve only used region 1 and 2 discs, so I don’t know what would happen with media with other encodings).

When using VLC on the new (I have a late 2007 MacBook Pro, and an upgraded PowerBook G4 Ti) MacBook Pro I have not encountered any problems with region restricted playback.

Additionally, because I purchased a €69 Lite-On external DVD recorder, I have found that there seem to be no problems with any programme (read as: VLC, or FrontRow (apple dvd player)) playing DVDs via the external player. There are a few region 1 discs I have to monkey with to get to play in Front Row. For those few I must create an alias of the DVD in the Movies folder in order for them to play in Front Row (I still haven’t figured out why this is).

Generally I don’t use the internal optical drive on any notebook I own unless I’m on the road with it

]]> Comment on Flickr Interestingness Widget by Michiel http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/25/flickr-interestingness-widget/#comment-24738 Michiel Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:53:53 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-24738 I like it, thanks! I like it, thanks!

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by Benji http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24737 Benji Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:37:23 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24737 Being not such a computer buff, I had hoped to avoid the work-around methods I found described around the Internet by "simply" buying an external DVD player. When the first one didn't work and I was instructed to get a LaCie I then realised that my LaCie was a similarly handicapped piece of equipment as my Mac... Can ANYONE help me make the LaCie region-free????? Being not such a computer buff, I had hoped to avoid the work-around methods I found described around the Internet by “simply” buying an external DVD player. When the first one didn’t work and I was instructed to get a LaCie I then realised that my LaCie was a similarly handicapped piece of equipment as my Mac…

Can ANYONE help me make the LaCie region-free?????

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by andrew http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24736 andrew Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:49:54 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24736 I have now been using my flashed Matshita DVD drive in my MBP for a while, and I find I can change region with RegionX and then play any region DVD that I want to using either FrontRow or the player (see my comment at top for more details). If I use VLC, then I don't have to bother with "officially" changing region using RegionX. I agree with a previous comment that Apple knew what they were doing when they chose to use Matshita drives. Shame on you Apple! All my DVDs were bought legally when I lived at different times in Europe, the US and Asia, and I don't see why my computer should be crippled in this way. Anyway, at least there is now a solution for many Matshita drives. I am puzzled why comments above this appear to have missed my previous comment, but perhaps they have drives that are not covered by this fix. I have now been using my flashed Matshita DVD drive in my MBP for a while, and I find I can change region with RegionX and then play any region DVD that I want to using either FrontRow or the player (see my comment at top for more details). If I use VLC, then I don’t have to bother with “officially” changing region using RegionX.

I agree with a previous comment that Apple knew what they were doing when they chose to use Matshita drives. Shame on you Apple! All my DVDs were bought legally when I lived at different times in Europe, the US and Asia, and I don’t see why my computer should be crippled in this way.

Anyway, at least there is now a solution for many Matshita drives. I am puzzled why comments above this appear to have missed my previous comment, but perhaps they have drives that are not covered by this fix.

]]> Comment on Beta Testers Needed! by Eric Norton http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/beta-testers-needed/#comment-24734 Eric Norton Wed, 19 Mar 2008 03:59:11 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=83#comment-24734 I'd love to have a chance to beta test your app. MacBook 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo 2 GB RAM 10.5.2 iMac 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo 2 GB RAM Radeon HD 2600 Pro 10.5.2 I’d love to have a chance to beta test your app.

MacBook 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo
2 GB RAM
10.5.2

iMac 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo
2 GB RAM
Radeon HD 2600 Pro
10.5.2

]]> Comment on Beta Testers Needed! by Paul http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/beta-testers-needed/#comment-24733 Paul Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:44:13 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=83#comment-24733 I am interested - count me in... MacBook Pro 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo 2 Gb RAM Mac OSX 10.5.2 I am interested - count me in…

MacBook Pro 2.33 GHz Core 2 Duo
2 Gb RAM
Mac OSX 10.5.2

]]> Comment on Beta Testers Needed! by Peter http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/beta-testers-needed/#comment-24732 Peter Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:39:39 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=83#comment-24732 Sounds interesting, I'll take a look... Aluminium iMac 24" 2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo 3Gb RAM Mac OS 10.5 Leopard Sounds interesting, I’ll take a look…

Aluminium iMac 24″ 2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo
3Gb RAM
Mac OS 10.5 Leopard

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by At a Loss http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24731 At a Loss Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:26:03 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24731 Good for you Jules. Sadly however many of us remain bogged down in the fixed region quagmire, ie macbook pro users. Apple, are you just going to remain motionless on the sidelines and watch your former friends slowly sinking into this slough of despond? Good for you Jules. Sadly however many of us remain bogged down in the fixed region quagmire, ie macbook pro users.

Apple, are you just going to remain motionless on the sidelines and watch your former friends slowly sinking into this slough of despond?

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by Jules http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24730 Jules Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:29:26 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24730 Hey, came her looking for a solution for a friend of mine. I can confirm that I never set the region code on my PowerBook's Matshita CW-8123, and am indeed able to play all region codes with VLC. Hey, came her looking for a solution for a friend of mine.

I can confirm that I never set the region code on my PowerBook’s Matshita CW-8123, and am indeed able to play all region codes with VLC.

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by alex http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24729 alex Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:19:36 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24729 i just spent about an hour and a half reading all of these posts from 2006 up till now. why in the hell is there no sure fire way of making these stupid matshita drives multi regional. bastards at mac are making a fortune, how much could they possibly loose from having multi region dvd players in the god damn computers....wankers i just spent about an hour and a half reading all of these posts from 2006 up till now. why in the hell is there no sure fire way of making these stupid matshita drives multi regional. bastards at mac are making a fortune, how much could they possibly loose from having multi region dvd players in the god damn computers….wankers

]]> Comment on Region Free DVD on Mac’s by At a Loss http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/region-free-dvd-on-macs/#comment-24728 At a Loss Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:48:28 +0000 http://macnewbie.wordpress.com/?p=72#comment-24728 Come on Apple sort it out, I never believed that you would cause your loyal users so much pure headache as that which I discovered today when trying to play a different region DVD on my Macbook Pro. What a joke. Come on Apple sort it out, I never believed that you would cause your loyal users so much pure headache as that which I discovered today when trying to play a different region DVD on my Macbook Pro. What a joke.

]]>