HP and Dell Disable HEVC: A Sign of Things to Come?

HP and Dell disabling HEVC (H.265) support in some laptops raises some questions. It seems a backward step, hindering features users have enjoyed. Why kneecap hardware they already paid for?

The official line points toward rising HEVC licensing costs. Access Advance increased rates. The increase adds up when you’re shipping millions of devices. Last year, Synology dropped HEVC transcoding, citing widespread codec support on client devices. Resource savings are always a plus.
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Still, this stings consumers. Imagine buying a “Pro” laptop, only to find a core video feature deactivated. A Reddit user echoed these sentiments. The backlash is predictable. People expect these machines to handle modern codecs.

It makes financial sense on paper. Yet, are the savings worth the PR hit? The long-term implications are worth watching. Will other manufacturers follow suit? Are we seeing a trend where features get toggled based on fluctuating licensing agreements?

It’s worth noting that this shift could nudge adoption of royalty-free codecs. AV1, for example, gains appeal when the alternatives carry a price tag.
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Perhaps HEVC’s moment is passing. Or, this is a negotiation tactic. Whatever the reason, it’s a development that deserves scrutiny. The balance between cost, features, and user experience is always a delicate one. This might tip the scales. I suspect we haven’t heard the last of this.

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Keywords: HP Dell HEVC disable, HEVC licensing costs, H265 support, laptop video codecs, royalty-free codecs AV1, Synology HEVC transcoding, modern codecs backlash, fluctuating licensing agreements