08-14-2008, 09:59 PM

OK...basic question on video players. Having always used a PC with WINDOWS media player, I didn't need to have more than 1 player. So with my new iMac I got QT, Flip, and VLC. Do these players launch automatically when they detect the appropriate file format or what....I don't really understand the whole concept behind this, so if someone could please enlighten me it would be a great help. Thanks.

08-14-2008, 11:02 PM

Ok. QuickTime and VLC are media players. Flip4Mac is an add-on that let QT play more stuff that it does by itself (so far as I know, could be really wrong here).

So you can chose between using VLC and Quicktime basically. I prefer VLC, it plays way more stuff with way less hassle.

If you just open a file it will go with the default application - probably QT, unless you've changed it (see below).

You can Ctrl+Click on a file and select 'Open With...' to chose which app to use.

If you decide you want all .avi files to play in VLC, select one and press Cmd+I (or ctrl+click and select 'Get Info' and change the application it opens with in the drop down box, then hit 'Change all'.

Both will play a lot of the same formats. Use what you prefer, or if QT won't play it VLC probably will.

08-14-2008, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by skaheadpunk

So you can chose between using VLC and Quicktime basically. I prefer VLC, it plays way more stuff with way less hassle.

With Perian installed, Quicktime plays anything I throw at it.

08-14-2008, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Khris

With Perian installed, Quicktime plays anything I throw at it.

Well Sir, I stand corrected! Still prefer it though, lol. Does it play DVD files?

08-15-2008, 12:28 AM

vlc is a handy video player to have, whether or not you use it. it will at least try to play any video file you give it, and almost always succeeds. I primarily use quicktime though, just because i prefer the interface.

08-16-2008, 10:49 AM

New & proud owner/convert of/to a new MBP here. Must say, I prefer VLC. I installed perian, and while it certainly gives quicktime more 'umph', I find that in playing the same video files in both VLC and QT, QT drags and cuts the video considerably (very blocky), while it's all smooth sailing with VLC.

Granted, maybe I have to tweak QT some, but I didn't do a thing to VLC. Anyway, just my $0.02 cents.

08-16-2008, 11:28 AM

The only media player on OS X that will play absolutely everything you throw at it is MPlayer. Personally, I use the custom MPlayer OSX Extended build Adrian made since it has a far superior GUI and preferences window to the original MPlayer OSX. VLC is fine for MOST things and has the advantage of more GUI-ish fullscreen controls, but I don't use it because it does a positively awful job of handling anything more than the simplest of subtitle files. Quicktime with Perian and Flip4Mac comes awfully close to MPlayer, but it still has a few bugs to work out and it puts an annoying delay up front whenever you want to play an MKV file (though, since you could apparently play everything you wanted with WMP, you're clearly not running into these anyway).

08-16-2008, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Khris

With Perian installed, Quicktime plays anything I throw at it.

Perian is not so good, I was playing a Divx file and it didn't look very good(Blocky)
Tough VLC played flawlessly and VLC uses less CPU power
So I prefer VLC

08-18-2008, 04:19 PM

Thanks everyone for the info...I think I understand it now...so with QT with the flip, and perian plugins it should play almost anything. And if it doesn't VLC probably will ? Right? And as for QT PRO is it worth the $37 or is there something similar for cheap or free.

08-19-2008, 01:27 PM

i have never had any problems with vlc but the seek bar is something that i just cannot tolerate. Anyone switching from windows will know how annoying it is to move back and forth while watching a movie using the seek bar in vlc.