mpegs question

[yoniluvrca]

Hi,

I enjoy watching the small movie clips on such sites as www.big-boys.com

Most of these mpegs are played on my computer using windows media player. I am having a problem with this and I wonder if anyone has any ideas of what might be wrong.

Some of the files play with no problem. Fairly frequently though, the mpeg will play to the middle and then freeze. Also, some of the clips will be very jerky-stopping and starting every second or so.

My computer is a Mac Powerbook (a few years old) with an 18 gig hard drive and 512 MB RAM.

Anyone have any ideas about what is up with this? Are the files bad or is it something to do with my computer.

Thanks in advance

YL

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Get a PC.

 

[shakenbake]

There is nothing wrong with your computer. The fact that it is a Windblows Media Player file should tell you that it it Billy's fault for doing his best to ensure the entire world does not stick to W3C standards.

If you really really have to watch those files, either get a PC, or complain to the site that you don't have the option of a .mpg file

There are many defective MPEGS around. Some have end of file errors, others are just plain garbage. Make sure the WMP application is the most recent one for your Mac and that you have the needed codecs installed for it.

Alternatively, you could run Virtual PC and try to repair the MPEGS with a PC application called TMPEG, which should be redily available on the Internet, either as shareware or freeware (if I recall correctly). This has worked for me in the past for most MPEGS. If it is a MPEG-2, you might be able to use some sort of DVD player application (just a hunch).

Hope this helps, and NEVER give up the Mac!

shakenmac

 

[Meister]

If you really really have to watch those files, either get a PC, or complain to the site that you don't have the option of a .mpg file

I never thought you'd be capable of uttering these words.

 

[shakenbake]

Really?????

I never thought you'd be capable of uttering these words.

To be quite honest, I have seen many changes on both platforms in the last eighteen years that I have been using both, and can say that the dividing line is very fine. I would give the Mac the upper hand in system stability, straightforward operation and versatility.

Winston, my Mac compadre, repeat after me, "I bleed in six colours, I eat six-flavoured ice cream, I see six-coloured sunsets, etc..."

shakenbake, typing away on his Mac Plus when he feels nostalgic.

(But, for sheer ooomphhh, you need at least a G3!)

 

[yoniluvrca]

There are many defective MPEGS around. Some have end of file errors, others are just plain garbage. Make sure the WMP application is the most recent one for your Mac and that you have the needed codecs installed for it.

Alternatively, you could run Virtual PC and try to repair the MPEGS with a PC application called TMPEG, which should be redily available on the Internet, either as shareware or freeware (if I recall correctly). This has worked for me in the past for most MPEGS. If it is a MPEG-2, you might be able to use some sort of DVD player application (just a hunch).

Hope this helps, and NEVER give up the Mac!

shakenmac

Thanks shakenmac,

I downloaded widows media player this afternoon as I though maybe I had an older version. No difference was made.


How do I tell if I have the needed codecs?

I'll also look into the virtual pc.

No worries. I love my Mac and would never give up on it. It has served me well these past years. I have traveled all over the world with it and it has never failed me even though it has been through some rough treatment.

YL