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TICKET ARCHIVE -> MIME Plug-in

bryceee - Jan 20, 2006 - 11:39 am

Hello

I have read several quetions and answers on this website but none of them have answered my problem.

I am trying to access videos through safari but it says i need the MIME plug-in. I cant install this from the website provided because it comes up with that thing where it cant find the file type. ("choose application").

I tried to install Windows Media Player 9 but it doesnt work (i think because i have an OS X) so i tried downloading Flip4Mac, but i dont understand how it works. i open it and it opens Quicktime.

I go to the website where i want to play WiMP videos but it still says the same thing.

Could you please tell me how to get these videos working in Safari, or how to get the MIME plug-in because i already have Flip4Mac and WiMP 9 for mac doesnt work.

Thankyou in advance

Bryce

Drumhum - Jan 22, 2006 - 10:02 am

Bryce,
There are certain types of WMP files that are not compatible with MacOSX. These files are typically for WMP version 10 on the Windows platform. The main reason for using this format is to use the digital rights management of WMP which the mac version does not support (a microsoft decision!).

This is not to say this is the reason of your problems though - just likely. If you can give me the address of the website that has the videos you want to watch I'll have a look and advise as best I can.

regards

Tom

bryceee - Jan 23, 2006 - 5:16 am

Hey Tom

Thankyou for your response

The site with the videos i was trying to access was www.ebaumsworld.com. I recently went into it and it just works now and opens in Quicktime, so i guess flip4mac does work now... Thankyou anyway.

I also found a solution for any problems i may have in the future. I recently discovered the software "Virtual PC for Mac" which is a program which enables Windows XP on my Mac OS X, and i am soon getting that soon so that anything i cant do on my Mac, I can still use Windows software and features on my G5.

Thanks

Bryce

Drumhum - Jan 23, 2006 - 8:55 am

Bryce,

I had a look at that site (and had a laugh!). I believe your problems were due to the slow servers supplying the content rather than your computer or its configuration. Something a Windows computer would suffer with also. Good to know its not "your fault" anyway.

Note that Virtual PC is useful for many situations but all. You will find that windows applications will run pretty slow for example (its hard work for the mac to "pretend" its a PC!). Thats not to say its not useful sometimes, but it may be wise to check that it will do what you want before you buy it!

There is no need to reply to this unless you have further questions.

regards

Tom

bryceee - Jan 24, 2006 - 12:01 am

Tom,

Sorry, i do have just one more question.

If i installed Virtual PC for Mac 7 on my mac, the windows applications will run slow. But if Virtual PC was not running would it have any effect on the speed or performance of my mac or its aplications?

Thanks for the advice,

Bryce

Drumhum - Jan 24, 2006 - 8:13 am

Virtual PC would have no effect on the performance of your mac when running Mac applications. Virtual PC is an application in itself, that creates a "virtual" platform for windows to run. Installing virtual PC just means you have software residing on your hard disk and you will have a new application in your Applications folder called Virtual PC. If its not running then it will have no effect on your computer.

One thing to bear in mind though is that, like all software, it will take up some space on your hard disk. You will also have to have Windows OS on your drive and coupled with any Windows applications that you want, you may find working in this way needs extra drive space (ie a bigger or additional hard disk).

To be frank, other than very specialist applications I cannot see any need for Virtual PC. The Mac is very able when it comes to reading PC generated files (eg Word for PC). Virtual PC is not perfect and you need to check that it will work with the PC software you want to use. I would consider using this software as a last resort. If you need to work with a particular PC file format or do a particular job there is often a "mac way" to do it.

The other point is that unless you have a "spare" copy of Windows, you will have to buy it and coupled with the cost of virtual PC itself, it may be just as cost effective to buy a cheap PC! And even a cheap (secondhand?) PC would probably run software faster than the software running under V.PC

Come on, be brave Bryce - ditch the PC mentality and enter the wonderful, relaxed, happy world of Mac
:-)

Is there anything in particular you are trying to do that you feel needs V.PC? Why not see if there is a Mac based solution first. Macosx.com is the perfect place to ask for advice!

regards

Tom