How do I watch a DVD without iDVD?

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Level 1

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How do I watch a DVD without iDVD?

iMac (Intel), OS X Lion 10.7.5. Still getting the hang of it, as I have the whole computer secondhand from a friend who moved.

When I insert a disc and try to open iDVD, I get a message "You cannot use this version of iDVD with this version of Mac OS X (iDVD 6.0.4)."

Of course, it didn't take me long to discover that iDVD is discontinued as Apple, in their wisdom, has unilaterally decided no one will watch DVDs anymore. I won't waste time with a rant on the "screw you, consumer" stupidity and greed of this policy.* And how I still have iDVD on a 10.7.5 environment that can't open it, I'm not sure.

So, to my question: is there an alternative I can download somewhere, or some application I might already have that can play a DVD?

Thanks, all.

-Mike

*Klaus1 says it very nicely here: Why is there no iDVD on my new Mac?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Jul 25, 2015 9:45 PM

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Answer 1

kaz-k

Level 8

49,068 points

Jul 25, 2015 9:48 PM in response to Yohei72

You can play DVD with DVD Player.

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Answer 2

babowa

Level 9

78,103 points

Jul 25, 2015 9:57 PM in response to Yohei72

Aside from the fact that it was discontinued, iDVD is not meant for watching DVDs - it is to assemble and burn DVD movies you've put together.

And, yours is an old version - if you actually want to use it, you'd have to buy a retail copy of iLife 11 which includes the latest iDVD version - they are still available at online resellers such as ebay and Amazon. I have the latest available (v. 7.1.2) and it works up to and including Mavericks (10.9).

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Answer 3

Jul 25, 2015 10:27 PM in response to Yohei72

You might also go into your applications folder, double click on DVD Player, and look at the preferences to make sure they are set properly as on the screen shot here. Then when you insert a DVD into your iMac it should come up and start playing automatically after perhaps a short delay, but you don't need to do anything.

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Answer 4

Yohei72 Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2015 8:06 AM in response to Yohei72

Well! You've all just had an object lesson in how little Yohei72 really knows about his iMac. DVD Player works like a charm. Thanks to everyone for the quick and helpful replies.

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