Hello from a potential buyer

[Smiler]

Hello all,

I don't own a Wii and wasn't too bothered about getting one as my old Playstation 2 has been sat gathering dust for years (gets used at xmas and that's about it). However, the wife has decided she really wants one and is trying to convince me that we can actualy afford one.

Friends ahve recently got one and it does seem quite usefull and fun in what it can do but I have a couple of questions that I'd like answered first if any of you can help.

First, will it play DVDs? What's the quality like? The Sony Playstation would play them ok but it did suffer from lip sinq problems on some discs. Has anyone experienced any problems with theres?

Secondly, does it support full surround sound? If so, how do I connect it to my stereos theater system processor? The Sony has a fibre optic Digital output for this sole purpose. All the Wii has is one multi connector that doesn't look like it'll have a digital output.

The reason the second question is so important is that I am looking to replace the DVD player and the Playstation with this one device so I want to make sure that the DVD performance is up to scratch with proper digital surround sound output for the stereo to process. Otherwise I'll have to keep my DVD player which goes against getting the Wii.

Thanks for any help.

Regards,

Smiler.

[millski]

It doesn't play DVD's I'm afraid...

[Smiler]

Bu@er! That stuffs that one then. Bit short sighted of Nintendo. There's way too much cluter under my TV as it is. If someone released a game platform that played DVD's and even recorded them along with the internet access then I could junk the playstation, DVD player and video recorder and have it all in one box.

Thinking about it, Sony make DVD players/recorders, Playstations and even digital telly decoders. Why can't they put them all into one box?

[millski]

Probably because it would cost all of your money for a single item. For example the PS3 is being criticised for being too expensive, but that contains a blue ray player. It's even a cheap blue ray player, but the majority of gamers (it seems) don't want one. I don't want a decoder and DVD recorder all in one box for the same reason. Ultimately the lack of DVD support in the Wii goes toward making the console almost half the price of the 360 and nearly a third of the PS3. Still leaves a mess of mixed brands and cables in the home theatre setup though :(

[rikardo69]

theres a big chance something will malfunction if everythings in one box though, you'll always be running back and forth to the repair shop lol

[wii_man76]

To keep costs down, Nintendo didn't include the required laser to be able to read DVD disks.

There is a rumour going around that they may release a DVD module for the Wii at some point or possibly even a 'new' Wii that will have DVD playability build in. This may only hapen in Japan though (or it may simply be a rumour that never materialises)...

[Gaffer]

Welcome Smiler.

1: As mentioned, the Wii doesn't play DVD's. However, the Wii is SO small, it's virtually invisible anyway (I am of course exagerating here )
Wii plus a £50 DVD player from ASDA is better than a kick in the nuts (and cheap too)

2: At best, you'll get Dolby ProLogic. The fly out leads in the best cable available are component (YPrPb)....3 leads for video then, plus two more analogue L&R that your amp will decode into ProLogic

3: Your wife wants one. Isn't that enough? Don't you love her anymore? :p (joking of course)

If you get one, you'll be so busy having fun, you won't notice the shortcomings....it's the price of an expensive night out at a fancy restaurant really...

[wii_man76]

I seem to remember ASDA selling a DVD player for £9 but I bet they have sold out of them all by now!

Gaffer74 is right, the Wii is so small you will hardly notice it there!

[Smiler]

There is that, it's just mildly annoying when you consider the size even of DVD recorders fitted to PCs and they hardly break the bank.

Lack of proper surround is also a shame as the few occaisions I played on the play station I found it to be pretty fun. Oh well, looks like I'll have to trade my Video, DVD player and even my NAD C.D. player in and save up for that new Cambridge Audio DVD Recorder after all.

Though I do have a couple of old car projects to finish first.

[wii_man76]

Sounds like you're going to be busy!