From Win to OS X

[tdredi]

Hi Guys, new user her.

Some ?s to ask, in no order, given I am slowing transferring from a windows environment to an OS X environment:

-Why is it that when I click on an mp4 file that I downloaded via my mac, the same way as in my windows computer, these MP4 files don't play? I transfer the to my thumb drive and connect it to my usb slot on my rookie player.....wish it worked as this is a sweet Mac that I"m running now.

-Also, why is it when I double click on the file I've just downloaded, it doesn't auto play, like on windows via the windows media player? halal?


Thanks in advance....more ?s to follow...

 

[pigoo3]

-Why is it that when I click on an mp4 file that I downloaded via my mac, the same way as in my windows computer, these MP4 files don't play? I transfer the to my thumb drive and connect it to my usb slot on my rookie player.....wish it worked as this is a sweet Mac that I"m running now.

-Also, why is it when I double click on the file I've just downloaded, it doesn't auto play, like on windows via the windows media player? halal?

The easy short answer is…the Windows OS and the Mac OS work differently. Learning these differences & getting comfortable with the differences is part of the learning curve of switching.

The exact same questions could be asked by someone doing to opposite. Switching from the Mac OS to the Windows OS. And I would give the exact same answer.

The two OS's are just different…and handle things differently.

- Nick

 

[RadDave]

-Why is it that when I click on an mp4 file that I downloaded via my mac, the same way as in my windows computer, these MP4 files don't play? I transfer the to my thumb drive and connect it to my usb slot on my rookie player.....wish it worked as this is a sweet Mac that I"m running now.

-Also, why is it when I double click on the file I've just downloaded, it doesn't auto play, like on windows via the windows media player? halal?

Hello and welcome to the forum! Your first OP in the forum is one of complaints - I have to agree w/ Nick that you need to learn about OS X to better understand the differences. Also, please give us some idea on your: 1) Mac computer (model/year); 2) OS X installed; and 3) What specific files are you trying to open. Finally, put your Mac specs in your profile, then we will no longer need to ask. Dave

 

[tdredi]

RadDave-

It's a 21-inch iMac with 2.7ghz, 8G ram...basic model...no plans to rice it out....

Say a video on youtube that I was able to extract the mp3 file.....or the same youtube file that I was able to obtain the mp4 video file.

 

[TattooedMac]

Say a video on youtube that I was able to extract the mp3 file.....or the same youtube file that I was able to obtain the mp4 video file.

There are certain files that will be played by certain OS X Apps. Like a MP3 file, will be played in iTunes, and a .mp4 will be played by QuickTime.

Now, if you want them to run when you double click them, they will if the specific App is installed on your Mac.
To get around this, you can download VLC for OS X - HERE and then on a .MP4 file, Control+Click the file or Right Click it, and in the Contextual Menu select Get Info.

Now in that window look for the Open With (as in the image below) and select what App you want to open the file with.

Now when you select this, a window will pop up saying Use this for All .MP4 Files and click yes, and then when you double click a file, it will always open with VLC.

You can do this with mp3' and any other file as well.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

-Why is it that when I click on an mp4 file that I downloaded via my mac, the same way as in my windows computer, these MP4 files don't play? I transfer the to my thumb drive and connect it to my usb slot on my rookie player.....wish it worked as this is a sweet Mac that I"m running now.

-Also, why is it when I double click on the file I've just downloaded, it doesn't auto play, like on windows via the windows media player? halal?

They should be playing. OS X is perfectly capable of playing mp4 audio and video with Quicktime Player. Right-click on those files and hit "Get Info". Down 2/3rds of the way, where it says "Open with", what is set?

 

[HungarianStan]

Everything Tattooed just said. Also, what P3 said. Mac is a different OS with different ideas about user behavior and the like.

For me, the biggest help was in a thread around here...something like "Mac Switcher tips" or something like that, and it fgave a run down of a few things that are different.

For Macs, for example, the system doesn't make a lot of "default" assumptions about how you want things. So, for example, files won't play automatically, even if there is an App for that on your system, unless you set it that way in preferences. Otherwise, Mac assumes you'll open the appropriate program and run it as you wish.

So welcome to our world! I just joined in February, and I gotta say, I'm definitely a full convert now.