My purpose was to download a DVD that I could play back on my Power Mac system 10.8 DVD player application. Well, the feature film download which took almost 24 hours, and then it appeared to be a kind of Quicktime file. However, when trying to open it, i received the message that ...."you may experience difficulties trying to view the file since the required compressor (or plug in¿) is not available." When double clicking on the file on my desktop, likewize i get the message and the Quicktime viewer is missing in the Quicktime window; just the solid silver frame color through and through. Well, I checked the Quicktime website, and i have the most recent Quicktime from my Apple automatic upgrades anyways. Would 'Quicktime Pro' do the trick? Does anyone know a work around for this obstacle? Is there not a DVD format for movies anyways, and perhaps i just need to identify it in a file before I download it??

DVD is in mpeg2 format. For QT to play it you will need to purchase the mpeg2 codec. Alternatively, if you're just dwnlding to view on your computer, you can get either of 2 free video apps which will play it. VLC (click for link) which will play various formats incl divx, mpeg1/2/4, dvd & vcd. Another one is MPlayer . With either of these players u won't need to purchase that codec & you'll be able to play those dvd's. Just as a point about QT, go to your Sys Prefs & click QT. Then click on Plug-ins & down the bottom prss MIME Settings. In this new window click all of the codec plug-ins u want QT to handle. Hope this helps. Happy video viewing.

thanks again for all the useful info!

now, i am reading up a little on all these formats, so as to make better use of the technology. in the meanwhile, i note that my system interprets the said file as 'AVI', when getting info on the file, which is also highlighted in the info box inside the QT icon, and wonder if, even though i would need an 'MPEG codec' plug in purchase to play it on QT, the MPEG2 file, which ends in'_.avi' is nevertheless considered a native Quicktime format?? actually, as i've read on, it appears that mpeg2 and avi are different, rather than synonymous. still, , i'll go ahead and try the software you have linked me to. being video apps for converting files, it appears, i'm sure they will help.

the VLC worked great for viewing. The other requires system 10.3. perhaps a little down the road!

thanks again

Good news I'm glad vlc fills the hole! AVI is an older windows native video format, but QT 'should' be able to play it properly. Perhaps I'm mistaken that 'standard' QT can play it (I generally have QT Pro.) But then, in the past there had been that odd avi I had difficulty with for some reason.

It makes sense that QT Pro should be able to play the AVI file, even though the standard non pro informs me that a compression plug in is missing. I will need to edit and save limited sections of films for design and entertainment content, so I am looking into whether QT Pro can give me that capability (say as in iMovie, where one can export a clip to QT), which appears to be at best far too complicated for a non technical type in VLC.

Personally I use Final Cut Pro & DVD Studio Pro. With dsp I got an xtra codec along the way apparently. These apps r probably overkill for what u need. As easy as iMovie is, I still prefer fcp. But as far as the mpeg 2 playback, I'm not sure whether that's a component of Pro or whether it was an addition with dsp/fcp. Check QT here: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/ & the pro specifications here (note the fine print): http://www.apple.com/quicktime/produ...fications.html

Cool. I'm going to look into these options when i finish a work week again. Freelance artist, plus i have to go on a trip this Wednesday, so it will wait till later next week I suppose. Thanks again, and I'll hope to continue this thread in a few days.