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macblackbook · Jun 27, 2006, 03:22 PM

Hi all,,

I have a blackmacbook and i'm a new mac user. Macs definitely look nicer than any pc but lack features that pc have. I have a few questions. If you have a response of 'research it' don't bother to respond at all and rather i suggest you grumps should cool off with some bengay because i'm apparently here to do the 'research'.
1) What happen to WMV files? I can't play them on windows media player or the other flip program on this.
2) What's a suitable RAM for gaming? Is 1.25 gb enough?
3) Why are yahoo mess. and msn messenger 2-3 years old without any updates? They don't like macs?
4) Is there a voice communication applications or chatrooms for mac? because yahoo mess. and msn messenger for mac both are primitive versions which don't have the voice features that they have in pc. I would have considered a sony if i knew these programs were not going to be updated...
i have no clue where to test my internal mic..ichat is apparently not free.
Thanks for your responses.

Nai no Kami · Jun 27, 2006, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by macblackbook

...If you have a response of 'research it' don't bother to respond at all and rather i suggest you grumps should cool off with some bengay because i'm apparently here to do the 'research'.

That was not very nice. Nevertheless, here are some answers:

Regarding WMV, you can play them on VLC. You may be unable to play them using Flip4Mac, since it's not an Universal Binary as of yet. Despite this, there is a beta around. I have to say it: do a research and you may find it mirrored somewhere (hint: begin at Digg).

As for gaming, I don't know. Anyhow, the golden rule applies: the more RAM, the better. Maybe 1.5 GB will fit you needs (depending on your expectations). Remember that the MacBook is not a machine for gaming. Don't expect the best results.

Yahoo Messenger and MSN messenger, well, yeah: they don't like macs. Mac versions of this programs are fugly and feature-crippled. Luckily we have Adium, which supports not only those but many more IM protocols. You can get it here. Appropriately configured it can look very pretty also. See here.

As for voice communication software, you can use Skype and iChat mainly. Those work well on a Mac. iChat is free. You have to sign up for the trial and your .mac address will still be valid for iChat use after the expiration of the trial period. I have been using my iChat address for years and have never paid the .mac services (and never used them). Also, iChat can communicate with the PC AIM client flawlessly. On a sidenote, a MSN clone named aMSN (search at macupdate) supports voice communication but I understand it's butt ugly. I have never tried it but a friend of mine did.

Hope this helps.

macblackbook · Jun 27, 2006, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Nai no Kami

That was not very nice. Nevertheless, here are some answers:

Regarding WMV, you can play them on VLC. You may be unable to play them using Flip4Mac, since it's not an Universal Binary as of yet. Despite this, there is a beta around. I have to say it: do a research and you may find it mirrored somewhere (hint: begin at Digg).

As for gaming, I don't know. Anyhow, the golden rule applies: the more RAM, the better. Maybe 1.5 GB will fit you needs (depending on your expectations). Remember that the MacBook is not a machine for gaming. Don't expect the best results.

Yahoo Messenger and MSN messenger, well, yeah: they don't like macs. Mac versions of this programs are fugly and feature-crippled. Luckily we have Adium, which supports not only those but many more IM protocols. You can get it here. Appropriately configured it can look very pretty also. See here.

As for voice communication software, you can use Skype and iChat mainly. Those work well on a Mac. iChat is free. You have to sign up for the trial and your .mac address will still be valid for iChat use after the expiration of the trial period. I have been using my iChat address for years and have never paid the .mac services (and never used them). Also, iChat can communicate with the PC AIM client flawlessly. On a sidenote, a MSN clone named aMSN (search at macupdate) supports voice communication but I understand it's butt ugly. I have never tried it but a friend of mine did.

Hope this helps.

Sorry for my preemptive strike. Some people responded others in a thread in an arrogant "i know it already, you wasted my time, so you should research it" manner so I was just telling those type of people to buzz off. Thanks for your responses. I'm going to try your application advices later. Do any of those chat programs have chatroom access?

pat++ · Jun 27, 2006, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by macblackbook

Sorry for my preemptive strike. Some people responded others in a thread in an arrogant "i know it already, you wasted my time, so you should research it" manner so I was just telling those type of people to buzz off. Thanks for your responses. I'm going to try your application advices later. Do any of those chat programs have chatroom access?

File->"Go to chat" for iChat I suppose... to join the specified chatroom.

harrisjamieh · Jun 27, 2006, 05:22 PM

Gaming... I hope you dont expect too much from the MBs graphics... and RAM should be installed in pairs for max GFX performance, ie 2 x 512

masugu · Jun 27, 2006, 11:18 PM

MacBook and gaming should not be mentioned in the same sentence...Oops!

macblackbook · Jun 28, 2006, 12:50 AM

Any one have a direct link for an application for the macbook to play WMV files?

harrisjamieh · Jun 28, 2006, 01:01 AM

Just google VLC, its the 1st hit

ael719 · Jun 28, 2006, 02:51 AM

Its called flip4mac, they posted a 24hr beta test upgrade yesterday, i think its down now, you shoulda jumped on that yesterday on digg like harris said

and if youre still lazy, click here for a direct link to be able to play .wmv

you can either type "flip4mac" or "vlc"

and if youre too lazy to type them in, just copy and paste, but be sure to remove the quotes

pat++ · Jun 28, 2006, 06:18 PM

Some WMV files cannot be played on Mac by Windows Media Player, Flip4Mac, VLC or MPlayer... It's because Microsoft doesn't support its own format. WMV is crappy and proprietary. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do about it. Windows Media Player should play most of them though.

amazing · Jun 28, 2006, 09:32 PM

ichat will work with your AIM screen name, you don't need to get a .mac name. Here's a link to an excellent ichat reference page, everything under the sun about ichat, including how to talk to buddies with PCs on page 12. Also, links to other info pages. Great resource...

http://www.ralphjohnsuk.dsl.pipex.com/index.html

-for info on why MBs aren't much for gaming, go to barefeats.com and look at their testing.

-I use my bluetooth mobile headset (cardo scala) with my PB for skype and ichat. works great.