Video playback s/w

[powersmo]

Hey all. New to the forums and after looking around couldn't find my answer. Question is related to work computers.

My boss sends me on travel around the world on business with a very heavy laptop. Only thing is he and the IT department will not fix MS Media player so I can play a movie on the laptop. Even with an original copy of "I Am Legend" the computer wouldn't play it. Is there a good software that I can run from the desktop that will not try to load on the computer but will play a dvd in the dvd player built into the laptop? I'm not trying to hack the laptop just play a dvd on those 12 hour flight from the US to Asia. Thanks.

 

[Harvey]

I know others have complaints about Real Player, but I think it has a better sounding codec than Windows Media Player, and it works great for me because I declined ALL additional stuff. I turned off their message center and any means they include that allows them to reach out to you. The basic player works very well.

Apple's QuickTime Player will also play your DVD's very well. Unless you want to play with iTunes, download just the player, and again, turn off every means they include to try to reach out to you.

In either case, skip the Yahoo or Google toolbars if they try to install one. They just sap more resources.

 

[sswingle]

VLC media player. Free, no bloat like real and quicktime, and can play anything you throw at it.

 

[Sam25]

+1 for VLC media player, pretty much plays everything you throw at it flawlessly.

 

[mechBgon]

Bigger picture: be aware that some I.T. staff take very dim views of defiant users installing software on the company's computers, no matter how harmless it may seem to you. Don't get yourself onto :evil: The List :evil:

Taking a couple of the suggestions above: RealPlayer is one of the top-ten most exploited softwares on WinXP systems, according to Microsoft's latest Security Intelligence Report. QuickTime is another. If you install them, you increase the system's attack surface. Let your I.T. staff be the ones to sit in that hotseat.

Easy alternative: pick up a portable DVD player and use that.

 

[0roo0roo]

mediaplayer classic for basics

gomplayer has better seeking/time stretching for most things cept dvd..for me

smplayer is a bit messed up on dvd menus but it will time stretch dvd once you get to it

 

[powersmo]

I thank you folks for the replies. I may just do what mechBgon said and get a dvd player and be done with it. One alternative I had someone in the office say was that you can adjust a NDS Lite to play video on it some way or another. Maybe I could do that to my sons and use it on my next trip. That would be cool and I could play games on it as well. Thanks again.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

the video players i've seen for the nds are pretty weak. i suggest downloading the latest media player classic, since it doesn't install anything. you might want to check "save settings to .ini file" it will be created in the same directory as the .exe.

 

[Modelworks]

Another player often overlooked is KMPlayer . I have not found anything it could not play, even things VLC could not play it could.
http://kmplayer.en.softonic.com/

 

[Sam25]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Another player often overlooked is KMPlayer . I have not found anything it could not play, even things VLC could not play it could.
http://kmplayer.en.softonic.com/

Haven't tried this but definitely looks to be a good player.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Sam25

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Another player often overlooked is KMPlayer . I have not found anything it could not play, even things VLC could not play it could.
http://kmplayer.en.softonic.com/

Haven't tried this but definitely looks to be a good player.

About the only bad thing I can say about it is the options. It has so many it can be overwhelming at first.

 

[powersmo]

Thanks again for all the responses.

 

[lxskllr]

PortableApps has VLC, as well as a bunch of other software that'll run completely from a flashdrive. It's handy to have in general since you can carry your favorite apps and docs for use on a foreign computer.

http://portableapps.com/suite

 

[Hacp]

As mentioned, VLC aan be run from a flash drive.

 

[vshah]

vlc or media player classic from a flash drive

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: Sam25

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Another player often overlooked is KMPlayer . I have not found anything it could not play, even things VLC could not play it could.
http://kmplayer.en.softonic.com/

Haven't tried this but definitely looks to be a good player.

About the only bad thing I can say about it is the options. It has so many it can be overwhelming at first.

Yep I felt the same way at first.