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View Full Version : dead simple media player


yawningdog
08-24-2006, 04:56 AM
I don't know about everyone else, but I've been pretty disenchanted with media players nowadays. It seems that every time I try to play a multimedia-type file, I get plug-in, codex, or some other error and I always wind up having to download some or another patch or extension. RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, Quicktime, they all manage to not work at one time or another.

Granted, I'm not all that savvy with this kind of app and my problems may be my own. But I've found a media player that seems to work right the first time, every time. Its called VLC media player and it's available here.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

The military uses it for streaming video. But it seems like every other day that I gat a call from a user saying "I can't play this music file" or "My video won't run", MP4s being the most recent example. The first thing out of my mouth is "Try running it with VLC." So far, this has worked every single time.

jlreich
08-24-2006, 11:11 AM
I use the portable version on a USB drive. I haven't used it a lot yet but it seems to work great so far. Never had any problems with it at all.

I don't know why I haven't yet, but I am downloading it for my desktop right now.

I love open source software. :cool:

Sylvander
08-24-2006, 12:30 PM
Where can the portable version be got?

jlreich
08-25-2006, 04:06 PM
You can get a bunch of them here. http://portableapps.com/apps :cool:

mjc
08-25-2006, 05:19 PM
I put up a sticky with portable apps...

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=46483

pentachris
08-25-2006, 06:48 PM
I put up a sticky with portable apps...

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=46483

Very cool. I only just got a (U3) USB key about two weeks ago, and TrueCrypt is just what I've been looking for.

Sylvander
08-25-2006, 08:33 PM
Got VLC Portable OK.

I like what I see so far. :D :cool:

Running it from my external USB connected 80 GB IDE HDD.

Ran an AVI file ok.

jlreich
08-25-2006, 09:33 PM
I love the portable apps. They come in very handy. ClamWin AV is really good to have. I also like FF and Thunderbird as well. Nice that you can have your browser settings and bookmarks, and get your email anywhere just by plugging in your thumb drive. :cool: :cool: