You should know that Microsoft does not have native support for DVD or Blu-ray playback in both Windows 8 and 10, and this is probably because the needed codecs are expensive and the cost of it would be shared among those who buy the operating system.
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But with the Mac OS, The DVD player software included allows the user plays DVDs but not Blu-ray playback, in fact, it has never supported it. Windows 7 and older versions can play DVDs seamlessly, but they cannot play Blu-ray discs.
For you to legally play Blu-ray discs legally on Windows and Mac PCs, you would need to buy software that licenses those particular codecs. People who make Blu-ray movies always prefer that you view them on your television, and maybe this is why no one is enthusiastic about making Blu-ray playback software that is not a dumpster fire. There is a software that comes our DVDs, though, the Cyber Link Software, this is a decent option for Windows users, and there are similar decent options for those that use the MacOS.
Features to Look Out for
- Usable Movie-playing Software: There are people who would rather get a drive that comes with a software that plays Blu-rays and DVDs, and there are those who do not mind because they already possessed the needed software (mostly not legally). Most external drives made by known brands usually have a Cyber Link Media Suite for Windows
- Bus-Powered (single-cable) Operation: Most new computers have enough power that runs an optical drive off a single USB cable, but the older laptops usually don’t have enough power to a single port. For computers like this, you will need a Y-cable that plugs into two USB ports that will help power the drive. Drives that have a Y-cable, whether they are built in, or they come separately, give some handy fool-proofing.