quick basic question

mikamika · 03 Mar 2010

Hi all i have just got my new laptop with windows 11 and need help figure out what to use here. It came with with the following installed:

Windows media player
Windows media center

I have also head of this program called Windows media player 11.

Widows media player looks very basic

Windows media center looks very high tech, user friendly, looks awesome with its grapthics/animations etc

Windows media player 11 i know nothing about.

So what do you recommend? what is the general concesus as to what is best to use?

Pichu · 03 Mar 2010

It is generally a good idea to use the windows media player because the software is faster than windows media center. Windows media center is usually used for TV tuners and a full multimedia experience. however, starting windows media center takes some loading time. For you information, windows 7 comes with windows media player 12, not 11 =).

I use windows media player all the time. However, when I want to show off the graphics of windows 7, I use windows media center (in front of my friends) =).

whs · 03 Mar 2010

I hardly ever use Media Center. It is a pain to navigate. For day to day use I would recommend the Media Player. It is the standard default for media files anyhow (unless you change it). But there are some media files ( e.g. .flv) for which you need another player (because of the lack of the appropriate codec). For that I recommend VLC.

Pichu · 03 Mar 2010

In my opinion, using windows media player with shark007 codec package is the best way. I found VLC to be take more memory and cpu in various situations. Also, VLC isn't as integrated into windows 7 as windows media player.

The shark007 codec package won't alter any of the windows 7 codecs already there. It is the best codec package available right now.

whs · 03 Mar 2010

Before you mess with Codec packs, you better read this: Why Codec Packs Are Bad - How-To Geek Wiki
And regarding VLC, I cannot follow you. It is an 83MB program - that's pretty small for what it does. Besides, what do you want to do with your memory and CPU - save it for a rainy day?

Pichu · 03 Mar 2010

Regarding codec packs, shark007 is an excellent codec package that is superior to all the others. CCCP, K-lite, all do horrible stuff to your directshow and media foundation. However, shark007, as far as I know, is also a person who posts on sevenforums. His codec packs do not mess up with any of the windows 7 media foundation files. He regularly updates his package nearly every one and half week. I suggested this package because it is the only pack that I found to be user friendly and fast. He has 64 bit components and even includes a quick way to make 64 bit media player default.

I can understand where your suspicion of codec packs come from, however, shark007 is an exception.

Also, regarding VLC, is it not true that the extra ram and cpu is indicative of the quality of the program? A well-made program will arguably take less cpu because of an optimized configuration, and the same for the amount of RAM used. However, if you play an H.264 file using windows media player incorporating the windows media foundation, you shall see that the program regularly uses around 80 megs of ram, but the cpu usage hovers around 2 to 3 percent. It is an amazing display yet it is completely true. You should try it for yourself.

Just my experience, because VLC just doesn't seem as graphic or user friendly as the familiar windows media player, that's all, (I find the interface horrible...but that is only my opinion ^^) I hope you didn't feel like I insulted you or anything.

Note: Windows media center is a 64 bit program. Thus, to add codecs to windows media center, you need 64 bit codecs.

whs · 04 Mar 2010

Don't worry, you did not insult me. What you say about VLC is pretty irrelevant as far as I am concerned. Whether it takes 80 megs or 800 megs, who cares. And as far as sharks codecs go, I already had the discussions with him on several occasions. I think he means well and is a good programmer. Still, I am very cautious when it comes to codecs. Read all the war stories I linked including the links contained therein. And as far as a good program differs from a bad program, your view is just one aspect. I think I know a little about the subject having been a programmer myself since 1961.

Pichu · 04 Mar 2010

I understand that taking more memory sometimes can make the program run faster, instead of dedicating time to allocate the memory smartly. However, isn't VLC just like a codec package? Many of the codecs VLC uses are based on the libavcodec library from the FFmpeg project. It too is basically a program bundled with many codecs. I guess the difference is that they can actually work well with each other.

Regarding shark007's package, have you ever used his package? If you have ever tried it, you shall see that the default configuration doesn't modify the windows files at all. I have never had a problem with his codec pack.

in addition, since I have a netbook, the extra ram used by the program is very important for me. If the resources used is too high, the video experiences SEVERE lagging. However, the H.264 and mpeg codecs in media foundation for windows media player causes virtually no lagging. This is good because with the divx media foundation codec, I can watch mkv without stutter.