Divx/Xvid VS MPG

[zehd]

The main factor when people say "the MVP can't play divx" is the on-the-fly-transcode.

With mpg, I can happily have three MVPs playing stuff. If they had to be transcoded, the server just wouldn't have enough steam to do it. If your gbpvr server is your normal PC, you will notice performance loss when it's transcoding and you're doing something else.

For many people, transcoding on-the-fly IS considered dreaded. I certainly see it as quite streamlined and only a minor nuisance, and from a viewers point of view, certainly acceptable. (a few seconds wait as the transcoder fires up)

The different ways of looking at it is simply pedantic geeks, of whom, I am one... (so I guess I can say that)

The MVP can't play anything but MPGs. Period!

...unless you transcode before hand or transcode on-the-fly. The On-The-Fly method gives the end user the illusion that the MVP can play files other than MPG.

But the MVP can't play anything but MPGs. Period!

You see where the confusion comes from...?

[mvallevand]

I'd say that 90% of the posts on this forum about the mvp and gbpvr are related to firewall problem, file permissions, bad network, initial Vista setup, and under-powered machines and playing DVD ISOs.

Many people can help with all but the underpowered machine and the DVD ISO's but I found people who try to use their under-powered machines are the biggest time wasters for me so I've given up trying to help them.

A simple solution is just to say "mpeg only" because if these files work, gbpvr is working 100%. If your machine is up to it, all the other formats "might" work and this can be evaluated though trial and error but there is nothing more sub can do. Frank can potentially help them look better or transcode differently but I know feel the end result is going to frustrate everyone involved.


Martin

[ACTCMS]

Some of the issues with playing Non-MPEG files on the MVP are documented in the wiki

1.2  Playing Non-MPEG files

There's nothing about the PC grunt factor though...

BTW before anyone comes back with 'why don't you do it then'. I'm hopeless at documentation - way/far/much too verbose/long winded/complex... :o

[HtV]

I know my mvp-system plays avi's quite nicely, but according to Murphy's 2nd law (I think), whenever I play an avi in the wild (meaning with the family present) something goes wrong all the time. Somebody pushing the stop-button instead of the pause-button when getting a beer, timesynch-problems, etc etc.
So if I'm really desperate to play an avi, I transcode it to mpg 1st.
In general we don't get to watch all the recorded shows, so there's no real desperate need for being able to play avi's.

Hans

[zehd]

I know my mvp-system plays avi's quite nicely, but according to Murphy's 2nd law (I think), whenever I play an avi in the wild (meaning with the family present) something goes wrong all the time. Somebody pushing the stop-button instead of the pause-button when getting a beer, timesynch-problems, etc etc.
So if I'm really desperate to play an avi, I transcode it to mpg 1st.
In general we don't get to watch all the recorded shows, so there's no real desperate need for being able to play avi's.

Hans

You may want to watch out for a major upgrade on ZProcess. Recently I had enough trouble that I had to revamp quite a bit. My Alpha that I'm running into the ground is quite stable, and when people get a beer, others, can press all the buttons they want.

Well sort of...

[HtV]

Ok Zehd I might try it out with a few beers. If that works I might even let the wife try it out.:eek:

Hans

[pbb]

Could the MVP dongle be modified to give the capability to play divx/xvid without transcoding?

[mvallevand]

Could the MVP dongle be modified to give the capability to play divx/xvid without transcoding?

Impossible. The only reason the mvp even works with its tiny 266 Mhz processor is because it can play mpeg files using hardware decoding.

Martin