Why MPEG?

[Mutt]

Why is MPEG the most popular video format choice for surfers?


I swear I can't tell the difference between a movie encoded with Windows Media or Quicktime versus most of the MPEG's I download. In fact often the WMV movie is superior.

But there is no denying it, it is in the public's head that MPEG is the best.

Here are some great poll numbers about streaming and downloadable video formats. They are from a very popular movie paysite. Almost 25,000 people have taken the poll, people who buy memberships so their opinion really does matter.

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What format do you prefer for short downloadable clips? *
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Real Media (.rm)
3579

Quicktime (.mov)
1888

Windows media (.wmv)
3821

Mpeg (.mpg)
8750

Avi (.avi)
1934

votes: 19972

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************************************************** *
What format do you prefer when watching streaming movies ? *
************************************************** *



Real Media
5109

Quicktime
3028

Windows Media
10588

votes: 24781

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All of these formats can be downloaded. I think there is a misperception that WMV, Quicktime and Real Media files are only for streaming.

[DjSap]

wmv is the way to go, it just takes time to adjust...

[.:Frog:.]

Windows media player is pre-installed. Answer your question?

[Machete_]

With Mpeg you get better quality (like avi.) but mpeg is not a "wrapper" like Avi. You can start playing the Mpeg before its 100% downloaded.. that the greatest thing for surfers...

[DragonAss]

We go with MPEGs for the simple reason of less hassles. When doing almost any other format, there's a 99% chance the surfer will need to download and install some type of sofware or codec to play it back. To many people in here, that probably seems like a simple enough task but, apparently, with Joe Public this causes major stumbling blocks (at least it did a few years ago).

Offering both MPEG and a higher resolution version in a superior format is a possibility for keeping everyone happy. The only downside to this method is the extra server space consumed (and making the 2nd set of compressions).



Hmmm... maybe the members in that poll prefer MPEGs so they can take'em over to P2P networks and trade'em with their buddies.

[Phoenix66]

Hmm. I don't know much about surfers, but MP4 DivX (though the file is usually *.avi, not mpg) gives 3 times less file size comparing to wmv of the same (or even worse) quality. However when the quality is too low, the difference is not that big.

[BigL]

What would be recommended in the scenerario of a large movie paysite - would you offer MPEG & WMV to make it perfect?

Is it worth bothering with the other formats and does anyone think it's worth encoding the ie: MPEG & WMV into 56k and Broadband, shouldn't the Broadband be enough w/more surfers on high speed now?

What's the standard majority of ppl use now? Most I usually see is the effortless route with MPEG or AVI only.