I don't know if this was already talked about here but, in the official Wii website Wii.Nintendo.com , in the What is Wii FAQ, they say:

Q: Can the Wii console playback music CDs and DVDs? A: The Wii console released in the end of 2006 does not have the feature to playback music CDs or DVDs.

What does it mean? Will future versions have DVD and CD players? I'm not saying it will for sure but just pointing that out. If Wii wouldn't have future versions with it why would they bother saying "in the end of 2006"?

Let's talk about it, friendly (if possible). ;) Here's the direct link for lazy ones: http://wii.nintendo.com/wii_faq_other.jsp#q6

It was rumored since Wii launch that there will be a DVD capable wii in Japan, eventually. Personally, i don't care as I wouldn't use it for anything but games anyways.

I think Nintendo just left that possibility open with that wording. I doubt it means anything though.

I really don't know if DVD (or even CD) playback would be possible with a firmware upgrade... I'm not into that kind of hardware that much.

@fazz'

I believe it would be possible, since wii games are on dvd's.

Isn't the actual drive that is in it a standard DVD format for the sake of ease of manufacturing but it doesn't play back "dvd" because of the royalty they have to pay to license the "DVD" logo and to enable playback?

Yeah I don't think it really means anythign either but just iono simple notice... I guess though that one day probably we could maybe see a Wii that plays DVDs... Wow that's a lot of supposition! XP

The Wii can play DVDs. If you install a modchip, you can put an application on an SD Card to read DVDs. Same thing goes for console emulators, CDs, MP3 storage programs, and pirated Wii and Gamecube games. Some people say they're even getting Linux up and running on it, but I haven't seen it myself to confirm it.

Something like DVD/CD playback should definitely work with a software upgrade - the thing has a DVD reader in it already.

I am expecting this feature to be released with colors actually. We shall see how it goes but I would be surprised if they don't add it at some point down the line.

Yeah colors would be nice... But DVD would be useful to me... :P I don't own my own DVD player! XD