Microsoft has recently been dribbling out news of the media functionality of Windows 8, and little has been surprising. The Media Center version of the OS costs extra, and Windows won't offer any native facility for DVD playback unless you pay extra for the Media Centre Version.
Of course, you'll be able to use a piece of free third-party software, like VLC, to watch a DVD. And to make it clear, we are only talking about video DVDs, not data DVDs. But, uh, it still seems like somewhat of a step back in time.
The Windows developers justify the decision by explaining DVD use on computers is "in sharp decline", adding that it would have to spend "a significant amount in royalties" to offer support for optical media. Instead, online media is the focus for Windows 8: H.264, VC-1, MP4, AAC, WMA, MP3, those kinds of file types. A bit like how Apple has the Macbook Air without a DVD drive at all.
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