playing video on PCs

Klaus Major klaus at major-k.de
Tue Apr 19 08:05:34 EDT 2005


Hi sims,

> I need to play video on both OS X and Windows machines which will
> for the most part be business computers - corporate office machines.
>
> The Mac part I can figure out and will be able to use QuickTime.
>
> Some PC machines will not have QuickTime installed and will not want
> to install QT. I need some advice on what format/codec to use for
> these non-QT machines.
>
> In the list archives I found this:
>
>> Having said that, I suggest you save video in the best format/codec 
>> for
>> each platform, and select the files on the fly according to the 
>> platform
>> its running on.  For example, QT with Sorenson for MacOS, and .mpg 
>> with
>> Indeo for WinOS.  I say Indeo as it's the only codec you can rely on 
>> being
>> loaded on a WinOS machine.
>
> Can anyone else give me some advise on:
>
> 1. what format/codec would be found on most PC machines - in other 
> words
> what is the safest way to go, would it be .mpg with Indeo as suggested 
> above

Well, MPG (1) = MPG (1) and <> INDEO! ;-)

The Indeo (Indeo Codec by Intel, 3.2) codec, which dates 1995!, is the 
most basic
codec and does not provide a nice picture, so this should your the last 
choice...

AVIs in general will play on a pc, as long as the appropriate codec is 
installed on the
target machine like DivX etx...

And that may be played on PCs without Quicktime, but no guarantees, 
test, test, test, test etc...

> 2. what codec/format would provide the best viewing experience on PCs
> which do not have QT - in other words what provides the best which can
> be used via a Rev application

Again, MPG (1) and AVI, but i would stay with MPG, since AVI is like 
Quicktime just a container
for zillions of different (and maybe VERY exotic) codecs...

> TIA
> sims

Regards

Klaus Major
klaus at major-k.de
http://www.major-k.de



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