downloading videos on a MAC

[DOJO]

I got a MAC facing some problem like most of MAC's do. And it's the software problems as can;t use the software that i used on the PC on my MAC now. And most of the software is not available on the MAC.
I want to download some video from the net into my MAC but it says that i have to buy quicktime pro, and I don't really want to do that. Can any one recommended me somethign else?

[robertgreen94]

First, the $29 for pro is worth it as you can also encode and record videos. Other than that check out VLC use www.versiontracker.com to locate it. If you own an intel mac then you can use Dual Boot, Parallels or VM ware to run Widows XP.

[DOJO]

Well, i never used MAC before so trying to learn and adapt to it now.
I just want to be able to download video into the computer.
with VLC i can download videos?

[aegingo]

Long time lurker - had to jump in - Mac Fanboi

First off, congrats on the move to the MAC, and welcome. I believe after your initial learning curve, you will be very pleased with your decision. I have found that most ex PC users have a hard time grasping how easy things are to do - no offense intended, it's just that after years of learning the 25 steps to burn a CD, they are amazed that on a mac you need to press 1 button (I exaggerate, but you get the point.

Now, as to your question.

Downloading videos - most often, you need press the control key and click your mouse on the movie you wish to download. You should get a pop up menu giving you several options. Click the one that says "Download Linked File." Presto, your movie should download to wherever you have designated as the place it should go.

Your software shouldn't make a difference when downloading - control click, and it will download. Playing the movie is where your software comes in.

Your basic quicktime should do the job - I suggest you download Flip4Mac WMV - google flip4mac and it should link you right up with the site to download it. This little beauty is a plug in for quicktime which will play those pesky .wmv files that pollute the web. Armed with this plug in and quicktime, you should be able to watch most vids you download. Every now and then you'll get some odd format - a lot of times you can convert it with some piece of software. The reason I am piqued by this is that I JUST downloaded a demo program called Visual Hub which converts just about any format into an MPEG that quicktime can play nice with. I downloaded a demo version which only allows you to convert 2 minutes of video, but that's all I needed. Check it out if you are so inclined. And check out versiontracker, as the other poster suggested. Search for whatever you're looking for there, and you're sure to find some answer or direction. Other sites where you can find help are macworld.com forums. And don't forget the apple website, there is a massive knowledge base there. Of course, you can always post on niche hobby sites too!

Quicktime pro is nice, and the 30 bucks is a drop in the bucket. Check out the quicktime section on the apple website. It isn't as sexy as the new ipod touch or iphone, but it is truly one of Apple's crown jewels and a very powerful and awesome pice of software.

Oh, nice modelling here. I can't believe my first post ever is to answer a Mac question. Hope my answer gives you a bit more confidence - I am always glad to help a switcher - too many of them bitch about we apple folks as being aloof and arrogant - and we sometimes forget that the simple and elegant way apple does things does not jive at all with what the rest of the world has begrudgingly become accustomed to.

Hope this helps - sorry for being so long winded - want to make sure you get what you need!

good luck, and welcome from a mac user since the Apple IICX (That's 1989 - and I'm not that old!)

[DOJO]

Thank you for your help, i will try to software and see if it will work out or not. Well, so how I can't save video files on my macbook. And it says that i need pro version to be able to save it so i thought maybe there's an other software for it.