Advantages: A great all in one solution...
Disadvantages: Not much, but the 24x drive is slow for today's standards...

...A few months ago i was looking for a good DVD-ROM drive for my computer, but due to a hardware shortage in the UK, most drives were sold out - or the only ones available were not multi-region. I managed to find the DVD Encore package which also included the Dxr3 DVD decoder... i am very happy with my purchase! I discovered that i needed the Dxr3 card in my computer anyway with my specification, a P300 overclocked to 338 Mhz. When playing DVDs using a software decoder, the picture quality is poor and it tends to miss a lot of frames. Creative's DVD Player is great, definately a lot better than the normal software bundled with Hollywood+ decoders. (The Dxr3 is actually a Hollywood+ decoder but with Creative's brand name) All DVDs play perfectly and i've had no major incompatibilities... well there are some minor problems... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good dvd
Disadvantages: Its been updated

...The creative labs pc dvd encore 6 speed dvd 24 speed cdrom is now around 12 months old but still works fine for me. It has on the dxr3 pci card connections for the following stereo out,line out, audio out, audio s/pdif jack,tv out,vga out and vga in Installing the card and dvd cdrom was a little tricky with the connections from the sound card but with the help of the well laid out manual i manage it. Installation of the drivers was very straight forward when i booted the computer up the dxr card and dvd cdrom where found and windows just ask for the drivers i inserted the disk supplied and all went well. I have no problems at all over the last 12 months and just now and again check for new drivers on the creative labs web site. I have bought many dvds including the matrix and have had no problems. All in all this is a good... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Best solution for entry level machines
Disadvantages: MPEG card takes up precious PCI slot space

...I have been using my Creative Encore DVD kit for about 18 months. I first bought it because my machine was only a Pentium 200 and I had heard that DVD movies tended to be jerky if played via a software-only solution. This kit, containing a hardware decoder seemed ideal, and it was. Picture quality was fine, and many people remarked on how it was much better than other DVD movie players. As a DVD/CD ROM it seems competant enough, although its DVD-ROM capacity is largely untested, as I only have Encarta 2000, and thanks to some clash with other software, it won't run after a seemingly successful installation. Of course, there couldn't possibly be anything wrong with something from Microsoft..... But I digress - back to movies. It still would only play Region 2 movies, and as I had some Region 1 (NTSC) disks, I set about finding... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Easy to use, good compatibility
Disadvantages: Poor Software

...The Encore pack supplies you with a 6x DVD Drive and Dxr 3 hardware based mpeg decoder card. The combination supplies an excellent range of features that follow international standards to allow the combination of this system with a wide range of devices. For example the standard AC-3 output supplies high quality Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS sound to any surround system that has an AC-3 Input, which is most. There is also a standard S-Video output so you can watch dvds on your home television system which is often higher quality for full screen videos than a computer monitor. The DVD Drive comes with both an standard cd-audio output but also a cd-digital output to provide better quality sound. Unfortunately there isn't a cd-audio play button on the front of the drive to allow for easy playing. DAE, Digital Audio Extraction, is also... Read review

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Advantages: 2 Massive artists 6 great tracks, Great mix and range of songs
Disadvantages: No sign of Crawling or Somewhere I belong, I want MORE

...I heard the single Numb/Encore. However, when I went to buy the album I noticed that there are only 6 tracks, and so I left empty handed and a little disappointed. It wasn't for a few months after this that I looked at the album again, something in the back of my mind was compelling me to buy it. On close inspection I realised the glamorous cardboard exterior contains a 6 track CD and a DVD, how could I have been so stupid? I picked up my copy and barged my way to the till, the shop was empty so my barging caused no injuries, but it was barging nonetheless. >>>>>>>>>>>$%@£&*?/{}! If anyone has listened to Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory album you may know that there is not one swear word on the whole album, which is something of a rarity in this music genre. However, this album comes with a Parental Advisory sticker... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Copy protect DVDs, recognisable interface, supports AVI files, Photoshop compatibility
Disadvantages: Imported movie files must already be in DVD format

...I don’t have as much faith in Adobe that most computer junkies have. They’re a company that seems to run hot and cold. While Photoshop is a stonking product and is quite rightly at the top of the tree in what it does, I’ve been less impressed by Adobe Premiere – a product that is getting on a bit and has long since been overtaken by its competitors. I hear that Adobe hit a winner again most recently with InDesign, which apparently knocked Quark Xpress off its perch as the number one DTP package. With my recently found interest in movie editing and DVD burning, I couldn’t help but try out Adobe Encore, especially considering the rave reviews it has received from some of the specialist DV magazines. So it seems that Adobe were running hot again … we shall see. First of all, I should point out that Encore is aimed at the upper end... Read review

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Advantages: Stunning voices,great atmosphere,brilliant songs
Disadvantages: perhaps there could have been more tracks

...This live performance was filmed in Spain at Teatro Romanao De Merida and followed the globally successful album 'Ancora'. The DVD is part concert and part documentary with a couple of videos 'Regresa a Mi and the wonderful 'Mamma' thrown in as well. Il Divo comprise of four singers, a baritone (Carlos), two tenors (Urs and David) and a vox populi (Steven). Together they blend perfectly to make magical music. They have been dubbed 'popera' but that is unfair in my opinion even if they have through their unique talents helped popuarise opera. To bring a much derided genre of music to the masses can only be a good thing and I speak as someone who enjoys music from classical to metal. A true music lover will have eclectic tastes. The live performance features 5 tracks 'Si Tu Me Amas', 'Isabel', 'O Holy Night... Read review

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Advantages: Brilliant tracks with consistent quality
Disadvantages: Sadly, only six tracks.

...") and some impressive violin work. Jigga What I don't like much - the lyrics are sublime though, and hearing them over the fast paced violin and drum couples is fantastic. The lyrics are shared out equally, with both verses from each song and the chorus from Faint. It could have done with being longer - three and a half minutes isn't long at all - but aside from that this track is flawless. QUOTE OF THE TRACK "She wanted us to end 'cause I f**ked her friend She gave me one more chance and I f**ked her again I saw the tears as she busted in I said 'S**t, there's a draft, shut the door B***h, come on in!" ------ 4) Numb / Encore This is the best known song on the album, and quite rightly so - it has the punchiest tune, and after you hear it you'll be whisting along for days. Again, Encore is a great Jay-Z track lyrically... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful