The relationship between and the PC is one of practicality versus licensing. While Microsoft and Apple have neglected native AC3 decoding to avoid royalty fees, the PC remains the most flexible platform for playing Dolby Digital content. By using third-party players like VLC, or installing codec packs, any PC can become a powerful home theater centerpiece.
This includes:
You do not have an AC3 decoder installed. Fix: Install VLC or the K-Lite Codec Pack.
For many enthusiasts, the PC became the ultimate media hub: a single machine that could play games in EAX surround, decode AC3 from DVDs, and later transcode everything to AC3 on-the-fly to send to a receiver via optical cable.