Portable Cyberlink PowerDVD XP 4.0

Cyberlink have built a reputation for producing the most capable software DVD player over the last few years. Early versions proved a rocky ride during the DVD-Video format's youth, but PowerDVD 2.5 and then 3.0 brought it to maturity. Just when you wondered what else there was you could possibly do with a DVD player on your PC, Cyberlink answer the question with PowerDVD XP 4.0.

Apart from the new default skin and a funkier looking playback window image sporting DTS amongst other new logos, nothing has significantly changed interface wise in XP 4.0. This is a good thing, since the existing interface has always been the easiest to use and fastest to navigate with. Its nice to see a company not messing with things that work, just for the sake of it. Microsoft and Apple should take note, both having recently taken solid proven attractive interfaces and kiddified them by removing all the sharp corners.



If screen space is limited, then you can shrink the GUI to a much smaller version. This is a cute nice feature, but with the option to zoom the playback window to full screen and excellent keyboard shortcuts, I'm not quite sure what the point is functionality wise.

Talking of shortcuts, if your used to using them for chapter skipping, pausing, playback, and so on, then these are also unchanged. To see the real differences you have to dig deeper, or more accurately by visiting the configuration dialog which has been somewhat simplified. The Video menu has been broken down into two sections, the basic tab itself which offers the most basic options and ability to change colour profiles, whilst an advanced button takes you to more fine tuning options.

General options are also split up this way, with the on screen display settings, screen capture options, toolbar configuration, time seeking and mouse wheel configuration all now accessed by another advanced tab. Those last two settings are of course new, the former lets you step forward and backwards through a film by so many seconds using the page up and down keys. The latter lets mouse wheel owners use them for shuttle control, time seeking, chapter skipping or volume control.