[est1895]

Should I upgrade to QuickTime 7 Pro? What kind of files can be converted? 

[Nemesis6]

I might be missing something here, but here's my advice: Don't. Get MPC-HC instead. It handles both Quicktime and RealPlayer files with no problems. As far as conversion goes, don't even think about paying for that, either! Get this free converter instead.

Media Player Classic: Home Cinema - http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/
Media File Converter: http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html#Dnload

[Ghostavo]

People actually use QuickTime?

[est1895]

I use QuickTime becuase it handles HiDef files, but I also have been using Flv files. 

[LHN91]

People actually use QuickTime?

Was my thought as well. Can't think of any situation when something would prevent you from using any number of free replacements for Quicktime, regardless of platform.

Any one of several codec packs (K-Lite, CCCP) handle more or less every format, including HD formats and FLV's, and all use MPC-HC as linked before. And they're all free.

[est1895]

I went to the MPC-HC website and it looks pretty impressive; but why do all that for free?  Is there a catch?  Will it play Quicktime files?  It does say MPEG files, but I have MPEG-4 files for Quicktime.

[LHN91]

Personally, I just use the K-Lite Codec Pack - Mega - plays Quicktime MP4 files just fine as far as I know, and it installs MPC-HC by default. And in my experience, it is FAR more efficient than Quicktime ever was.

Only possible catch is the occasional need to play with some settings.

EDIT: And yes I do understand the downsides of Codec Packs - I've just never had an issue with them personally. It is quite possible that MPC-HC can handle Quicktime with no further adjustment, and barring that it is also possible (though slightly more involved) to set up exactly what codecs you need.

Short Version: Open Source is wonderful.

[KyadCK]

I went to the MPC-HC website and it looks pretty impressive; but why do all that for free?  Is there a catch?  Will it play Quicktime files?  It does say MPEG files, but I have MPEG-4 files for Quicktime.

Supported Decoding:
MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 playback. Media Player Classic is capable of VCD, SVCD and DVD playback, without the need to install any additional software or codecs.
It has built-in codecs for MPEG-2 video and codecs for LPCM, MP2, AC3 and DTS audio, and also contains an improved MPEG splitter that supports playback of VCDs and SVCDs using its VCD/SVCD/XCD Reader. A *.mp4 and MPEG-4 Timed Text support added. An AAC decoding filter makes MPC suitable for AAC playback in MP4.
MPC Home Cinema also has H.264 and VC-1 with DXVA support, DivX, Xvid, and Flash Video formats is available in MPC HC. MPC can also use the QuickTime and the RealPlayer architectures. Media Player Classic supports native playback of OGM and Matroska container formats.

As for the reason... It's open source. People got sick of paying for this stuff, so they made it themselves and allow people to download it for free. It is maintained by coders for free in their spare time, kinda like FSO. The world of open source is a beautiful place if you know what you're looking for.

[Klaustrophobia]

do not, under ANY circumstances whatsoever, pay a CENT for quicktime. 

[est1895]

It all comes down this....picture quality.   In other words will the K-lite pack be able to play MPEG4 videos, with a higher quality, then Quicktime?

[LHN91]

It will be identical. And there is even the option of cleaning up lower quality video with built in GPU based shaders.

And on top of that, it should use less of your processor time than the notoriously inefficient Quicktime, which means it should play smoother and with less lag.

EDIT: And it's free, Open Source, and all that wonderful stuff. Some may advocate against using K-Lite - If it worries you at all, try using MPC-HC by itself first. It may do everything you need beautifully by itself.

[est1895]

Wheres the HomePage please?  There are so many links.

[redsniper]

Get the CCCP. Play anything.

[MP-Ryan]

Quicktime, RealPlayer, and WMP are a collective blight on the software world.  Open-source does everything they can do, and isn't loaded with crap.

For playback, I usually prefer VLC Media Player (www.videolan.org)... it plays EVERYTHING- music, and pretty much every video format known to man.

[Mongoose]

I've been using The KMPlayer myself, though apparently the person who originally developed it (before it was sold to a Korean media company) is now working on an even better player independently.  I did use VLC at one point, but I found it to lag horribly while attempting to jump through a video, and the interface left a lot to be desired.  They may have improved it since then though.

[LHN91]

K-Lite Codec Pack - Mega is what I use: http://www.codecguide.com/download_kl.htm

CCCP: http://www.cccp-project.net/ - Also works great, just not my preference.

If you're going to use VLC, grab a nightly from here: http://nightlies.videolan.org/ - There's been quite a number of significant codec advancements since the Stable release. Used to use this, but MPC-HC has more options and less interface lag.

[Fury]

WMP are a collective blight on the software world

Le wat

I agree on QuickTime and RealPlayer, but WMP is hardly a blight. It is very good media player with only two major drawbacks, Microsoft doesn't bundle some of the widely used codecs with Windows and thus WMP relies on DirectShow filters adding such playback capabilities. It also doesn't have built-in support for external subtitles. However, WMP plays out of the box all videos I currently have on my HDD with exception of external subtitles. So even built-in codec support in WMP isn't that bad anymore. Codec support is much improved in Win7 compared to obsolete WinXP.

For these reasons I install MPC-HC. http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/
It beats VLC in everything (IMO) but cross-platform as VLC is also available on OS X and linux. I haven't used codec packs such as CCCP or K-Lite in ages. CCCP even uses MPC-HC with some additional codecs added for good measure. Personally I wouldn't touch any codec packs with ten foot pole, sole exception being CCCP and even it is usually unnecessary since both MPC-HC and VLC plays almost everything without additional codecs.

I would also stay clear of KMPLayer, and in fact I would advise of boycotting it because of GPL license violations. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-Multimedia_Player#Alleged_license_violations

[Mongoose]

I would also stay clear of KMPLayer, and in fact I would advise of boycotting it because of GPL license violations. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-Multimedia_Player#Alleged_license_violations

Yes, I'm aware of those claims, but I could honestly care less so long as the player works fine.

[Klaustrophobia]

i only have a couple of gripes with WMP, but it's still my player of choice.  or it was in XP with WMP10, i might look around more because 11 in win7 blows.  it plays things fine, and perhaps even better than 10 (it finally plays mp4), but the interface is horrendous and un-customizable. 

[MP-Ryan]

WMP are a collective blight on the software world

Le wat

I agree on QuickTime and RealPlayer, but WMP is hardly a blight. It is very good media player with only two major drawbacks, Microsoft doesn't bundle some of the widely used codecs with Windows and thus WMP relies on DirectShow filters adding such playback capabilities. It also doesn't have built-in support for external subtitles. However, WMP plays out of the box all videos I currently have on my HDD with exception of external subtitles. So even built-in codec support in WMP isn't that bad anymore. Codec support is much improved in Win7 compared to obsolete WinXP.

My dislike of WMP is mainly because it is quite bloated compared to the light functionality of VLC or MPC-HC.  If I have VLC installed or the portable edition on a PC, I can play anything simply by opening it and pressing play.  That isn't true of WMP.