... there - somebody had to say it.

someone still uses real player?

Simple as that, never adds itself to your start-up group, takes a lot less power, plays all RM files...

While I'm at it, dump Quick Time and use Quick Time Alternative...

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/QuickTime_Alternative.htm

I was hoping to get in first with that one as well.

Jon, I'm with ya on that one!!!

Keep your laser handy! The Computer is your friend!

(Give yourself a pat on the back if you recognize the origins of the phrase.)

couldn't agree more jon

well said!

You are referring to the Paranoia RPG, citizen.

That knowledge is not authorised to a tech of your level (infrared). Please report to room H in zone 3B of the high-energy laser factory for "re-education".

;-) p.s. do I win any qatloos?

Been using both alternative codecs for a while now, much preferable to the bloatware that is Realplayer/Quicktime.

I've been using Real Alternative quite happily for several years with no problems or shortcomings. A codec should just be a codec, no more, no less. Real Player contains, IMHO, far too much junk alongside the codec that I have no desire or use for.

Whilst Real Alternative and QT Lite are massively preferable to RealPlayer/QuickTime, they still contain the same security holes as the originals. Which have demonstated their authors' security uselessness again and again.

Best to install the Alternatives with the 'browser plug-in' option turned off so that these vulnerabilities are not exposed to every web site you visit. Or even better, if you don't need DirectShow Real/QT support, don't install them at all and let VLC handle it.

(This does mean that embedded media players won't work, obviously. The inconvenience of this can, however, be reduced using the Firefox Download Embedded Plugin, which lets you grab media from embedded players easily, so you can then play using a proper, non-postage-stamp-sized media player of your choice.)

And allows me to look at the stuff the M$ folks see. Quite nice for streaming NASA feeds.

So yes, a lot of us that avoid M$ use it, or it's alt.