Least Expensive Way to Watch Blu-Ray Movies with Windows 7?

What is the least expensive way to watch Blu-Ray movies in Windows 7? There is PowerDVD Ultra 10 @ $89.99, WinDVD Pro $ $39.99,

Is PowerDVD worth the extra money for any reason? I really just want to watch Blu-Ray movies on my laptop and desktop. I bought an OEM slim external USB Blu-Ray combo drive for cheap, but it came with no software.

Isn't there a cheap way just to get codecs to watch using Windows Media Player or VLC?

 

I've been looking for the same info, I can enable bluray playback on MPC-HC but you only get the movie stream itself, not the menus. I've heard Mirillis Splash Lite is being used by many to do free BD playback, but the info page says it's not supported in the free version, that you need to get the BD version. Free Splash Lite - Splash versions comparison And yet all the posts on the webs of folks using Splash Lite to play back BD.

 

I just tried Corel and it locked up my system a few times. Uninstalled no go for me. PowerDVD trial works great, but I just hate to part with $90! I'll give that Free Splash Lite a go.

 

I use BS player which works beautifully while watching bluray movies off of my hard drive.

I do not know if it will work with a bluray movie off of a bluray disk.

I have also tried VLC player, but it lags. BS player works very smooth.

 

Well, problem is that it won't even detect the movie unless I have something like powerdvd running.

 

afaik there really isnt anything out there that will let you play bd's that isnt free.
even if you got something like vlc to work through codecs chances are you wont get the full bd experience plus im sure it will be incapable of streaming hd audio via hdmi/optical cable.
i think arcsoft total media theatre 3 platinum and powerdvd10 ultra are your best options.
they also upscale dvd's and it makes a huge difference.
iirc, arcsoft also allows you to play normal dvd's in 3d without the need of a 3d display (just those red/blue glasses)

 

I'm ok with paying for it, I just don't want to spend $90. There's got to be a much cheaper way.

Considering you can buy a blu-ray player for your TV for $100-$150 now and pretty much all of them upscale DVD's, $90 software + $100 for a BD player for your PC seems ridiculous.