Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit Reviews

• It does the job...

  
  By A1NJ2GWURL2ONB on 2004-10-22
  If you're one of a handful of people who own an x-box but no DVD player - this remote is, literally, essential to playing DVDs.
  
  The x-box system is expensive for microsoft, and they don't make much profit off the systems. In order to play DVDs, companies have to pay a licensing fee to the motion picture of america association. Rather than include the costs of the license in the x-box system, they force you to purchase the DVD remote in order to play DVDs.
  
  All this explains why - even though your x-box has all the hardware necessary to play DVDs without a remote - you have to buy a remote in order to actually watch DVDs.
  
  My remote works well enough. Its batteries have lasted quite a while, and most DVDs play pretty well. It would be nice though if the remote had a power button.
  
  Most standard DVD players work at least as well or better than your x-box, so I wouldn't recommend this item unless you don't already have a DVD player.
  
  

• Piece of Junk

  
  By A3SVJT9EL849JU on 2004-07-26
  This product was thrilling at first - turn my Xbox into a cheap and reliable DVD palyer? Great! IT worked okay for a few months but now, 5 months later it does not recognize hardly any DVDs. It jsut says "this is not an Xbox game or recognizable DVD - please try again...." Do not waste your money - buy a real DVD player instead. You can get a decent one for under $40 almost anywhere. Even when the DVD unit did work, it doesn't even have a power button or an eject button. Microsoft has over promised and under delivered.
  
  

• Not honest

  
  By A2ABI4J3IWICRS on 2004-09-17
  The DVD decoding should already have been included inside the XBox. An infrared reciever could have been built-in too, for that matter. There is no reason why they could not have done this. It was not a design decision to not include it, it was a financial one. It's also lame because it takes up another controller port on the XBox, meaning alot of switching around. This is not very convinient, and yet the purpose of a remote control is for convinience.

  Before the XBox's launch it was said time and time again that the XBox would have progressive scan DVD playback. If Microsoft ever said that it was changed then that must have been just before launch. So instead of having a high-end console and a high-end DVD machine.

  SO instead of having the XBox be a high-end DVD machine and a game machine, it's just a game machine that will play DVDs if you fork over fifty bone... still, it is an essential piece of hardware for XBox owners.
  
  

• !!!!!!!! =======BEAWARE of Duplicated========= !!!!!!

  
  By AXC2DU866I00I on 2004-09-27
  I am not commenting on any specific company here. But my good deal on a remote turned out to be for a DUPLICATE and not the ORIGINAL FROM MICROSOFT.
  
  There is a big difference in quality , atleast with my piece.
  
  I should have bought a used MICROSOFT remote rather than a NEW DUPLICATE.
  
  PLEASE CONFIRM BEFORE YOU BUY
  
  
  

• Get only if you don't have a stand alone DVD player already

  
  By A2X8KN82L07RSK on 2005-02-11
  "Hey kids, fire up the XBOX and lets watch this movie!"
  
  That is what is heard through households that own an XBOX but for some reason or another they are still in the 90's and don't already have a DVD player.
  
  Like my title suggests, if you already have a DVD player, this is a waste of money. The only reason I purchased one is because my DVD player had problems playing some DVD-R's that I got from a friend. I had some money to burn so I just wanted to see if the XBOX DVD kit could play it to determine if the DVD was a bad burn or was it just my DVD player. I found that the XBOX was able to play the DVD-R's in question with no problem. However, aside from those two DVD-R's, all of the DVD's I own are bought from retail stores, so I really have no need to play DVD-R's, and my DVD player plays normal discs perfectly.
  
  With that being said, I only used XBOX's DVD playback kit once to watch the DVD-R's I had problems with. Because of the content of these burned "movies", there is really no need to watch them again....... However if push comes to shove I can always use one of my PC's or Mac to watch the burned DVD; no need to use my XBOX for that. I meant to return the DVD kit the next day, but never got around to it.
  
  The XBOX's DVD player is a good feature, but the fact that Microsoft charges you to use the feature makes it not worth the money.....unless of course you don't have a DVD player at all.
  
  
  
• Should already be a part of XBOX!
  By A2HSXT9AGMYOHE on 2004-06-19
  PS2 could include DVD playback without any additional hardware (by using a normal game controller), so where's the sense in Microsoft abstracting DVD playback off of it's already bulkier system? The answer is "more money."

  Ideally the IR module should have been built in to the Xbox to begin with. I would gladly have payed an extra $10 then, instead of what MS is asking for now, which is roughly $30 at most retail stores. Simply ridiculous.

  The gadget _does_ do what it is supposed to do (the only worthwhile thing to be said) but altogether is somewhat discouraging for reasons already addressed.

  The design of the controller is bulky as well--not sleek like PS2's _optional_ DVD remote control. I have said it so many times that I am getting sick of it: The only failure of the Xbox system eminates from it's choice to require you to buy the ability to playback DVDs.

  Since, however, there is no choice in the matter I suppose all of us capitalist sheep will flock to the stores and gladly plop down 30 smack-a-roos so we can watch our DVDs. We will probably also decide to sell our old DVD player on eBay since they are no longer needed, and also to recoup our losses on the Xbox DVD kit. And I suppose too, that while on eBay we will notice the Xbox DVD playback kit being offered for around $15 instead of $30.

  Word to the wise: Go to eBay for this gadget. You will save yourself around 50%.
  
  

• A Little High Priced but Good
  By A2FB60ACJG1WPR on 2004-10-10
  When I first heard of this DVD Playback Kit, I was a little mad that Xbox didn't already have a DVD feature built in. I like it though, I don't watch a whole lot of DVDs. I use it for something else. You can use it in the main menu of the Xbox. You can use it as a remote to play songs you already have burnt onto your Xbox. I use my Xbox to play music while I'm on my computer because my computer is too slow to play music and do anything else. You can use it to play DVDs or as a remote to your MP3s.
  
  
• Overpriced but acceptable...barely
  By AWN21BT1QE6FE on 2004-12-25
  For the price you're better off buying a $40-50 cheap DVD player. My major grips about the DVD are 1. WAY overpriced, 2. should have been part of the package(basically it cost them at MOST $2.00 bucks to make the remote 3. NO OFF BUTTON on remote 4. I really would have liked to have a SLEEP timer so I can watch a movie while I'm going to sleep and not have it run all night 5. maybe it's just me but navigating DVD menus is near impossible 6. some movies do not play at all "American History X" (first and only one I own that doesn't play...but then again I only have about 80 or so DVDs)
  
  
• ATTENTION
  By A10R69WN6Q5758 on 2004-12-29
  DO NOT USE THIS
  the dvd thing causes the xbox to break. when u play games the disk doesnt constantly spin. it reads some and takes break so it doesnt over heat. when it reads a dvd, it must constantly spin. the dvd playback kit fryed my xbox. at most "best buy"s you can buy a dvdplayer that functions better for less money than the one for xbox.
  
  
• Very good
  By A3GXQDCVC584XB on 2005-03-20
  I found this product good, i have no problems with it what so ever. some people say just buy a dvd player but then you have more wires in the back of your tv. Also if you want your x box and dvd player to go into one suround sound or stereo the is great cause you get to have a dvd player and a x box in one wire going into the speakers. this is also great if you dont want to spend any more money on buying another dvd player and you already have a xbox. i have my xbox upstairs with the dvd adapter, and a dvd player down stairs so if i want a change of secnery.
  
  i love my xbox and it's adapter i have no problem with the remote either.
  
  
• Does the trick
  By ABMSV0BE0C2RF on 2005-04-26
  I've had DVD players come and go, so its kinda cool to have a gaming console that plays dvd's too. Yeah, I know the PS2 has that capability without a remote, I have one of those too. But one of the cool things I noticed about the X Box playback kit is that the remote looks just like the ones made by RCA. I tried a few of the controls on the DVD funtion of my RCA universal remote, low and behold it worked. Kinda a hand thing, I've got to many remotes floting around as it is, so that part was nice. Mine works great, I use it instead of having to re-arrange my already overpacked entertainment center to put in my other DVD player.
  
  
• Doubles your xbox as a DVD Player, but lots of cons
  By AMXE382DCAMQO on 2007-03-26
  PROS
  - works fine. No IR connection problems.
  - great for people that don't already have a DVD player.
  CONS
  - doesn't play DVDs in progressive scan. Why not? They can make games in 480p (old HD) for the xbox.
  - takes up a controller port slot. Not a big deal, but if you often have 4 friends playing, you won't be able to leave it in all the time.
  - no backlit or glow
  - no eject button
  - no power button. What? Never seen a remote without a power button. Thus you CANNOT turn your xbox on/off with this remote.
  - cannot learn
  - not universal. If you have lots of remotes, you're better off learning this one into a universal remote.
  - many people already own a DVD player, many with progressive scan.
  
  
  
• Ok, but not great
  By A21L363WRELQ1L on 2005-10-04
  I went the bargain route and I got what I paid for. It works fine, but it looks cheap sitting next to my high end receiver remote. I ended up using my wireless controller for movie playback.
  
  
• Simplicity
  By A6UW2KEO5UOSA on 2006-01-07
  A simple DVD player, as long as you or a friend own an X-box console. Simply push in a little plastic knob into the controler socket and their you go oyu know own a standard of the line DVD player.The maginfacation is great the rewind and fastfrward is great.
  
  It has all the extras a normal DVD player has and a easy to operate menu and layout.No overloads of pointless buttons just point out the obvious structer.You may be dissapointed in the response time, but that is not entirely the remote or players fault.If you own an old x-box console or a low memory X-box console you may encounter slowness and maxed out freezing.Some mint condition titles may not even work.(I purchased "Little Nicky" sometime ago mint and to this date it still does not work on my X-box console)Batteries may play a roll.With out a doubt though this is the most easy and portable DVD player around with the acknowledgement of owning an X-box console first.
  A must have for a gamer/movie lover wit ha large movie library or a constant renter.
  
  
• Buy It Now!!!
  By A1LGOQYPSI7UWB on 2006-02-24
  This is the greatest piece of equipment if you are far away from X-Box System, aim the remote control anywhere in your room like walls, floor (If nothing is blocking). This is the stupendous equipment to use for your X-box if you don't have a DVD player. Purchase it right now!
  
  
• WHY buy this???
  By A1MVVQFM7LOSK1 on 2006-11-14
  I saw a DVD player at Target for $30 yesterday. I especially don't see the need for the xbox 360 remote if it's $40!! Space-saving, maybe????
  
  
• DVD Movie Playback kit
  By ADGD82P3MBLCV on 2007-02-07
  This is a really convenient attachment. It was cheaper to purchase this kit than it was to buy a new DVD player. It also has more versatility. If you're already transporting the XBox & need/want to play a movie all you need is this kit, not an extra piece of electronic equipment.
  
  
• awesome 2 in 1
  By A3K2UJ8ZT0DOSO on 2003-10-18
  I mean think about it. You have an X-Box right? Why not spend a few extra dollars on a DVD kit? There is no reason to buy a seperate DVD player. I wanted an x-box, and a DVD player for my room. I put the X-box downstairs and my other DVD player in my room, it worked great. The price isn't to bad on an x-box and the DVD kit definately isn't. The kit works great, no flaws, just a regular DVD player inside your video game!!!!!!!!!!
  
  
• buffy the vampire slayer
  By on 2003-12-17
  its da bomb i have played it non stop i think i will buy it for a friend
  
  
• Broke after 20 minutes
  By A2SJ7L8QB52WDW on 2005-01-04
  My only experience with this product was after I opened it, and started to play a DVD in my Xbox, when I tried to pause it, it didn't work, and it had brand new batteries. I found (after much frustration) that if I smacked it against my hand a few times then it would work for about 2 minutes. I took it back to exchange for another in hopes that it was just a bad unit, but it was sold out so I just got my money back. You can buy a DVD player for not much more than this way overpriced piece of junk costs.
  
  
• the price is better than the microsoft one
  By A1IP7P8AD60BBA on 2005-09-28
  The control i got was not the one pictured, and my x box now says that i need the playback kit to watch movies even though the other piece is plugged in.
  
  
• WHY NOT INCLUDE WITH XBOX SYSTEM???
  By on 2006-01-30
  A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN I GOT MY XBOX GAMING SYSTEM, I NOTICED THAT IT HAD A PICTURE OF A DVD PLAYBACK KIT ON THE BOX IT CAME IN. I THOUGHT THAT IT ACTUALLY CAME WITH THE REMOTE. WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT IT DIDN'T, I WAS PRETTY MAD BECAUSE YOU PAY $150 FOR THE XBOX, AND THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO COVER THE COST OF A REMOTE. I BOUGHT THIS REMOTE AFTER AWHILE, BUT THEN THE COST HAD GONE DOWN, SO I DIDN'T REALLY THINK THAT $20 WAS A LOT TO PAY FOR THIS REMOTE. THE REMOTE WORKED FINE, BUT WHY NOT INCLUDE IT IN THE XBOX PACKAGE. THANK GOD THAT I DIDN'T GET THE DVD REMOTE FOR THE XBOX 360 YET. THEY COST ABOUT $40. THAT IS TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR A REMOTE. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A DVD PLAYER, BUT I WOULD IF YOU DON'T. I THINK THE PRICE IS FINE, BUT THE PS2'S IS BETTER.
  
  
• it's not a game, but they asked me to rate it as a game...
  By A9MAYDHIB2N72 on 2007-01-09
  Otherwise... no problems, works fine
  
  
• XBOX DVD playback kit
  By ACPN70ITYSMPA on 2007-02-07
  This product works perfectly for a convenient space saving option to a DVD player. Easy to set up and use. I would recommend this product.
  
  
• Ups and downs
  By A19A2BNNIC5WWJ on 2007-07-06
  Great product, but my delivery time was the complete opposite, maybe you will have better luck than me.
  
  
• Fits the purpose... But...
  By A8VDHGXLJI4XT on 2007-07-18
  What is the purpose?? To have my xbox play DVD movies for me.
  
  We had a shelf of electronic items (DVD player, VCR, Tivo, Cable, CD Player, Tuner, etc) and I wanted to consolidate as many items as possible. We didn't need anything serious for our DVD player so I figured why not just use the xbox as our DVD player. With this kit we were able to do just that.
  
  The one feature that we did NOT have with our older DVD player was the ability to increase the FFWD (fast forward) rate. This is something that we enjoy with our Tivo player and it was great finding this feature was available to us with our xbox.
  
  The downside to the remote... There is no power button and at times it would have been nice to have one. But with this remote and the fact that we use the xbox daily we have just opted to leave the xbox on all the time.
  
  I would have given this 5 stars were it not for the lack of a power button. If this isn't a real problem for you then I definitely would recommend this item if you are wanting your xbox player to play DVD movies for you.
  
  
  
• Really Worth Considering
  By A3TFTTYD91NT4N on 2007-08-18
  I already have a player; it's my first so I can't really tell what others are like but it's very slow to load DVDs and CDs and sometimes won't load disc at all and yes the disc is clean and relatively free of scratches, but I digress. I am familiar with computer hardware and I know that quality can make a huge difference in performance on your computer as I imagine most have experienced themselves. The actual disc drive in an XBox is a superior drive. It has to be on order to play game discs alone. Picture ans sound quality are actually better when played on an XBox compared to my DVD player.
  
  
  
• xbox dvd adapter
  By AD7YAJ5HGT0GN on 2008-01-24
  I gave it to my son for christmas and now he tells me that it has never worked.
  
  
  
• Xbox DVD Remote
  By A2UY1QEHJPTJ98 on 2008-01-27
  This product does everything I wanted. I can navigate through shared folders, browse for movies, queue up songs in a playlist without having to be restricted to the length of the controller cable. The IR sensor works at all distances in our living room and being cable free is great. This product was easy to set up and if you use your Xbox for more than playing games then this is a necessary item to own.
  
  
• Xbox Movie Playback Kit
  By A3N2GNH8BYY12X on 2008-02-08
  This remote for xbox is a 3star out of 5. After you get use to it, it works pretty good.You will have to memorize where all the buttons are when useing in the dark. You have to use this to watch movies bc the controller for xbox will not work w/the console.Now the price for this is not very expensive compared to $29.00 it used to be.I like this remote,it fits good in your hands.
  
  

• The Official Xbox Magazine [1-year]
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