Great Media Players

One of the benefits of owning a computer is being able to listen to your favorite songs while you work or perhaps taking the time to enjoy watching DVDs on your computer. There are many programs that will support audio and visual files, but which is the best one for you? The four most popular media players are Winamp, Windows Media Player, PowerDVD, and Quicktime.

Winamp is the player that will take up the least amount of space on your computer. The file size is only 6.34mb. It is free and will support audio and streamed video. Users can even access radio stations worldwide using this player. It is compatible with Windows 98, 2000, and XP.

The Windows Media Player (WMP) is also free and plays audio and video, but users can also view their DVDs with this device. WMP allows users to burn a compact disc with more songs than the norm and will permit recording/playback of files, as well as, uploads to portable devices. However, it does require much more space than Winamp. With a file size of 24.56mb, users have reported long install times and slowness to open. Another downfall of the Windows Media Player is it will only work with Windows XP. PowerDVD is another good media player for computers. It will give the user excellent graphics and superb audio. The program is fast, but users have complained of problems with the installation and install time. It works with Windows 2000 and XP. Drawbacks of the PowerDVD include the purchasing price of $49.95 and it does rely on newer technology to perform at its best. For example, to get surround sound quality one will need the 5.1 or 7.1 Channel Soundcard or something very similar.

Probably the best media player available that will meet the average person's needs is the Quicktime 7 player. It is a free program and the file space needed for this program is only 11.73mb and it performs on Windows 2000 and XP. It supports a wide range of audio and video files well, and users have the ability to view DVDs. The Quicktime player will automatically detect your computer's connection speed in order to determine the highest possible quality of streaming video. If for some reason Quicktime is disconnected, it will auto-reconnect.

Of course, while Quicktime 7 is perhaps the best player for the average person, the best player for you depends on your computer habits. You must take into account how much time is spent listening to music and watching videos on the computer. You should also consider how much memory you have on your computer and how old your computer is. Also, with the introduction of PowerDVD, you must also decide if you wish to pay for one of the most cutting edge forms of technology. Media players for your computer are a great tool that offers a form of entertainment unlike any other, but when it comes down to which one you should have, it really is a matter of your own computer preference and habits.