[MEncoder-users] [OT] Question about players

[James Hastings-Trew]

Alex Samad wrote:
> Hi
>
> I thought there might be people on this list that could answer with some
> sort of authority :)
>
> I am currently using a mod'ed xbox as my media centre, but it has
> problems playing back some x264 mp4 (or avi) video's not enough grunt. I
> was looking at buying myself a mini mac and using the apple software to
> play my video's
>
> I was wondering what people experience with mini mac has been ?
>
> Thanks
> Alex
>   
I have one hooked to my tv via VGA cable, and the picture is crystal 
clear. I use it as my media player / dvd player exclusively now. You 
might want to pick up Perian ( http://perian.org/ )for it so that it can 
read some of the whackier video formats out there. Also, suprisingly, 
although Quicktime can play DVDs, it cannot play mpeg2 files without an 
additional plugin that you have to buy from Apple. I also buy the 
occasional TV show through iTunes with it, and the quality is acceptable.

The only files that I have found that it chokes on are HD .mkv files, 
but I just run em through VisualHub ( 
http://www.techspansion.com/visualhub/ ) or Mencoder and convert them to 
a more Mac friendly format.