Is there an easy way to make my Macbook Pro region-free so I can watch DVDs I've purchased in other countries?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2), Lion
I believe that this is an issue that comes up when viewing DVDs with Apple's DVD Player. You should be able to watch foreign DVDs by downloading and using VLC to watch the DVDs.
parker612 wrote:
I believe that this is an issue that comes up when viewing DVDs with Apple's DVD Player. You should be able to watch foreign DVDs by downloading and using VLC to watch the DVDs.
It is not Apple's choice to region code lock DVD's. All DVD players in all computers and in all stand-alone DVD players are locked by region. Please be careful with the information that you pass along here.
Furthermore, since the hardware is locked, not software, once the DVD is inserted, the locking feature will occur, and won't play even through VLC. And one more thing. Recommending a way to avoid copyright laws for DVD's is against this forum's Terms of Use:
Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise ‘work around’ digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about ‘ripping’ DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store.
Ok, so let me rephrase me answer. The only way to watch movies purchased in different regions is to bypass through the region code lock. Which is illegal. So the only way to watch them would be on region-free DVD players. Which are legal.
Squaggie wrote:
Is there an easy way to make my Macbook Pro region-free
It's not your MacBook, but primarily your DVD drive that has to be 'region-free'. Apple does not manufacture the drives. And the answer is, no, there's no easy way.
parker612 wrote:
I believe that this is an issue that comes up when viewing DVDs with Apple's DVD Player.
No, that's incorrect. It's the drive, not the player, that's the issue.
parker612 wrote:
You should be able to watch foreign DVDs by downloading and using VLC
Although the DVD drive is the issue, the OS driver implementation (the software which mediates between the OS and the drive) and the logic board also have parts to play. So, for some Macs, it may be possible to by-pass this drive limitation by using VLC. You really have to test it on your own Mac. Read this VLC FAQ: 8 Why won't VLC play DVDs from a region other than what my drive is set to?.
So what's the solution? IMHO, it is to make the discs, rather than the drive, region-free.
Squaggie wrote:
Is there an easy way to make my Macbook Pro region-free so I can watch DVDs I've purchased in other countries?
How many regions do you need?
If it's only one other region get an external drive and set it to the other region.
"It is not Apple's choice to region code lock DVD's. All DVD players in all computers and in all stand-alone DVD players are locked by region. Please be careful with the information that you pass along here.
Furthermore, since the hardware is locked, not software, once the DVD is inserted, the locking feature will occur, and won't play even through VLC. And one more thing. Recommending a way to avoid copyright laws for DVD's is against this forum's Terms of Use:
Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise ‘work around’ digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about ‘ripping’ DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store."
Firstly, not all DVD players are locked to a region.
Secondly, what does unlocking a DVD player region have to do with copyright laws? You've paid your money for a legitimate copy of a DVD, you are not ripping, duplicating or sharing it. There is nothing illegal with unlocking a DVD region.
And yes, I do realise this is an old post.
"Secondly, what does unlocking a DVD player region have to do with copyright laws? You've paid your money for a legitimate copy of a DVD, you are not ripping, duplicating or sharing it. There is nothing illegal with unlocking a DVD region. And yes, I do realise this is an old post."
Do you also realize that you're using an old argument?
Region codes have NO legal force! They are simply a scheme cooked up by film distributors to extort more money out of their customers. In fact, some countries (e.g. Australia), have ruled that region codes are in violation of various free trade agreements.
"Recommending a way to avoid copyright laws for DVD's is against this forum's Terms of Use:"like this.
This is why I rarely bother to engage with conservative forums like this. Basically Hollywood has colluded with DVD manufacturers to limit the choice of consumers to such an extent that the consumer is forced to hack their own machine just to watch a movie they legally purchased. It makes me sick the way the industry shafts the consumer, and high&mighty moderators who see themselves as sherrifs for the industry makes forums less than useful.
Is there an easy way to be region-free for DVDs?
