Do you really watch movies on an IPAQ?

MD

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Apr 17, 2004
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I see there are a few software programs that allow compression of DVDs into
about 128MB to fit on SD cards and then can be viewed on an iPAQ etc. I am
interested in this and now that SD cards are getting cheaper (just got a
256mb card for under $20), and since i have a good dvd collection, it is
desirable.
But, a few questions -- before I shell out the $25-30 or so for the
software...
What is the best software (I have an iPAQ 4355)?
If you have bought the software do you really use it or is it just a neat
gimmick?
Do the movies, say a 1.5 hour film, really fit on a 128mb SD as advertised?
Will two fit on a 256mb SD?
How is the sound on IPAQ? I have not tried MP3s yet...with headphones or
earbuds is it pretty decent sound? Can it double as an MP3 player?

any feedback appreciated. thanks. mark

"Anything is Possible if You Don't Know What You are Talking About."
--Third corollary to Murphy's Law
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

I am not touting any certain player. I use whatever worked first. I have
a Dell Axim X5 and have a much cheaper 512Meg CF card. I
use the Divx player with headphones and yes I watch 2 hour Divx
movies with it. Many PDAs only have SD slots and should work
just as well. I am waiting for a 512Meg SD card but at the right price.
As for MP3s. I load up 5 hours of MP3s and run the Axim's output
through a car cassette adapter for a pleasant drive to the river.
It works great. -Ron-

"md" <info@NOspamPLEASEkramden.net> wrote in message
news:cft875022cv@enews1.newsguy.com...
> I see there are a few software programs that allow compression of DVDs
into
> about 128MB to fit on SD cards and then can be viewed on an iPAQ etc. I
am
> interested in this and now that SD cards are getting cheaper (just got a
> 256mb card for under $20), and since i have a good dvd collection, it is
> desirable.
> But, a few questions -- before I shell out the $25-30 or so for the
> software...
> What is the best software (I have an iPAQ 4355)?
> If you have bought the software do you really use it or is it just a neat
> gimmick?
> Do the movies, say a 1.5 hour film, really fit on a 128mb SD as
advertised?
> Will two fit on a 256mb SD?
> How is the sound on IPAQ? I have not tried MP3s yet...with headphones or
> earbuds is it pretty decent sound? Can it double as an MP3 player?
>
> any feedback appreciated. thanks. mark
>
> "Anything is Possible if You Don't Know What You are Talking About."
> --Third corollary to Murphy's Law
>
>
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

I too watch movies all the time, I rarely ever sit and watch from start to
finish in one go (who has 2 uninterrupted hours anymore) but I always try to
keep a movie on hand, works great for killing time at lunch, or sitting in
a doctors office, etc.. there are several approaches to getting/ encoding
movies, many people like the divx format, which requires either pocketMVP or
beta player (2 popular - freeware divx players) or the default windows media
format works well to. if you are trying to stay "above board" and not get
into pirated movies, the simplest and easiest way is with "DVD to PPC" its
an all in one ripper and encoder for your DVD collection. (I think it's
approx $25.00) works fairly painlessly, rips DVD to windows media format
(plays in default windows media player) lets you choose 128 or 256 mb target
file (you can get a movie down under 128mb, but the quality does suffer, if
you aim for the larger target (just under 256MB) you will actually be
surprised at the quality and sound. Windows media encoder works great (and
is free from Microsoft) to convert Divx movies you might have to pocket pc
compatible format. it has preset options for pocket pc, and as you get more
comfortable you can adjust the settings to suit your own preferences.
DRDivx, will do the same but in .avi (Divx format) depending on your
preference. Long and short, is having movies on the go, is great, and
everyone I know who has a PPC, is amazed when I show them what their
pocketPC can do.

"md" <info@NOspamPLEASEkramden.net> wrote in message
news:cft875022cv@enews1.newsguy.com...
I see there are a few software programs that allow compression of DVDs into
about 128MB to fit on SD cards and then can be viewed on an iPAQ etc. I am
interested in this and now that SD cards are getting cheaper (just got a
256mb card for under $20), and since i have a good dvd collection, it is
desirable.
But, a few questions -- before I shell out the $25-30 or so for the
software...
What is the best software (I have an iPAQ 4355)?
If you have bought the software do you really use it or is it just a neat
gimmick?
Do the movies, say a 1.5 hour film, really fit on a 128mb SD as advertised?
Will two fit on a 256mb SD?
How is the sound on IPAQ? I have not tried MP3s yet...with headphones or
earbuds is it pretty decent sound? Can it double as an MP3 player?

any feedback appreciated. thanks. mark

"Anything is Possible if You Don't Know What You are Talking About."
--Third corollary to Murphy's Law
 

MD

Distinguished
Apr 17, 2004
62
0
18,580
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

Thanks for the support. i am waiting on a 256meg sd card and then will get
the encoder. I am just looking to copy my own movies (have all my favorites
on dvd) nice that the SD cards are now under $20 for the 256mb.....

One more question -- can I reduce multiple movies to the 256k format and
leave them on my laptop as files...putting them on the SD card before I want
to watch any one? Say, have 10 movies 'on deck' and then put them on the SD
and remove the previous? Is that how it works?

Also, is 128 good enough? maybe put 2 files on one 256mb SD card? or do I
want to use 256 all times? m
"KDE" <knott_me@NOSPAM.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ukOtQiJhEHA.396@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> I too watch movies all the time, I rarely ever sit and watch from start
to
> finish in one go (who has 2 uninterrupted hours anymore) but I always try
to
> keep a movie on hand, works great for killing time at lunch, or sitting
in
> a doctors office, etc.. there are several approaches to getting/ encoding
> movies, many people like the divx format, which requires either pocketMVP
or
> beta player (2 popular - freeware divx players) or the default windows
media
> format works well to. if you are trying to stay "above board" and not get
> into pirated movies, the simplest and easiest way is with "DVD to PPC"
its
> an all in one ripper and encoder for your DVD collection. (I think it's
> approx $25.00) works fairly painlessly, rips DVD to windows media format
> (plays in default windows media player) lets you choose 128 or 256 mb
target
> file (you can get a movie down under 128mb, but the quality does suffer,
if
> you aim for the larger target (just under 256MB) you will actually be
> surprised at the quality and sound. Windows media encoder works great
(and
> is free from Microsoft) to convert Divx movies you might have to pocket pc
> compatible format. it has preset options for pocket pc, and as you get
more
> comfortable you can adjust the settings to suit your own preferences.
> DRDivx, will do the same but in .avi (Divx format) depending on your
> preference. Long and short, is having movies on the go, is great, and
> everyone I know who has a PPC, is amazed when I show them what their
> pocketPC can do.
>
> "md" <info@NOspamPLEASEkramden.net> wrote in message
> news:cft875022cv@enews1.newsguy.com...
> I see there are a few software programs that allow compression of DVDs
into
> about 128MB to fit on SD cards and then can be viewed on an iPAQ etc. I
am
> interested in this and now that SD cards are getting cheaper (just got a
> 256mb card for under $20), and since i have a good dvd collection, it is
> desirable.
> But, a few questions -- before I shell out the $25-30 or so for the
> software...
> What is the best software (I have an iPAQ 4355)?
> If you have bought the software do you really use it or is it just a neat
> gimmick?
> Do the movies, say a 1.5 hour film, really fit on a 128mb SD as
advertised?
> Will two fit on a 256mb SD?
> How is the sound on IPAQ? I have not tried MP3s yet...with headphones or
> earbuds is it pretty decent sound? Can it double as an MP3 player?
>
> any feedback appreciated. thanks. mark
>
> "Anything is Possible if You Don't Know What You are Talking About."
> --Third corollary to Murphy's Law
>
>
>
 
G

Guest

Guest
Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

"md" <info@NOspamPLEASEkramden.net> wrote in message
news:cft875022cv@enews1.newsguy.com...
> I see there are a few software programs that allow compression of DVDs
into
> about 128MB to fit on SD cards and then can be viewed on an iPAQ etc. I
am
> interested in this and now that SD cards are getting cheaper (just got a
> 256mb card for under $20), and since i have a good dvd collection, it is
> desirable.
> But, a few questions -- before I shell out the $25-30 or so for the
> software...

No need for that. You can download freeware (donatate if you like it)
software :

DVD Decrypter:
http://www.dvddecrypter.com/index.php?act=download

PocketDivXEncoder:
http://divx.ppccool.com/

BetaPlayer Divx/Xvid player for Pocket PC (and MS Smartphone):
http://betaplayer.corecodec.org/

I use this software to play movies on my iPAQ h4150. They are fast and
simple to use and the quality is good. If you have mpeg og DivX-movies you
can also use PocketDivXEncoder to reencode them to fit your Pocket PC.

> What is the best software (I have an iPAQ 4355)?
> If you have bought the software do you really use it or is it just a neat
> gimmick?
> Do the movies, say a 1.5 hour film, really fit on a 128mb SD as
advertised?
> Will two fit on a 256mb SD?

I have only used the standard properties when using PocketDivXEncoder. Then
I usually get about 100MB per hour. I have not tested it but you can turn
the video qality down from the default and probobly get smaller files.

If you can afford it get at least a 256MB SD-card!

> How is the sound on IPAQ? I have not tried MP3s yet...with headphones or
> earbuds is it pretty decent sound? Can it double as an MP3 player?
>

Yes the sound is decent with earbuds.
--
KS