I’ve been using PowerDVD from the very beginning - it’s always been my favorite software DVD player on Windows. I think what initially won me over was its interface. Even in the early days, it was pretty well refined (at least, to the point where it didn’t bother me as much as the others did and still do). CyberLink has just released version 7.0, and it boasts a wealth of new and updated features:

• Breathtaking Clarity - New and improved video technologies

• Sharp, Bright Colors - Support for high definition video formats
• Best Surround Sound Technology - Complete movie theater quality surround sound support
• Choice is freedom - Choose from 5 UI modes according to your individual needs
• Dock mode - Access controls from the bottom of the viewing screen
• Wheel Control mode - Save space by providing only essential player controls
• Mini mode - Get access to controls via the taskbar
• Player mode - Move your floating panel of complete controls; select from a choice of colors
• Fullscreen mode - Expand the viewing mode to fit the entire screen
• Say-It-Again - Never miss a word
• Read-It-Clearly - Move subtitles from your movie screen
• Notebook Maximizers - Extend your notebook viewing time
• UPnP Connectivity - Play videos from any UPnP enabled device in your home network
• Media Server - Connect to your Digital Home Media Server

There’s a trial binary you can download and install, in case you were wondering. I’d much rather you give it a shot and compare it to your current solution - that way you can see how favorably it should compare. Feature for feature, PowerDVD is still the software DVD player to beat. You’ve probably already got a DVD drive installed in your system, but if you’re relying on the LE software that came bundled with it… you’re really missing out on raw power. That’s like relying on Notepad for all your word processing needs! I can’t even begin to describe how well PowerDVD works on widescreen monitors. And since this latest version supports ATI Avivo H.264 hardware acceleration, the video quality and system performance is even more noteworthy. If you haven’t, go ahead and download the 30-day trial. If nothing else, then at least you can enjoy it for a month without paying a dime. I love software.

Tags: video, dvd, mpeg, cyberlink, software dvd player, media server, surround sound, powerdvd, upnp, dvd player, dvd software, video codec