CD distribution - player?

[tkdaim]

Hi,

I've always got good answers from this website's forum so thought I would toss this one out too. I tried searching but couldn't find an answer, but my search queries may have been too broad.

I've got to make a data CD for distribution to local teachers, community groups, etc. with a curriculum I've converted from powerpoint slides to html. It includes video that was compressed as mpg1 (basically vcd files) and now embedded into my html files/slides. How do I solve the problem of a user not having the right player/codec to watch the videos. Do I include a video player with the CD (hopefully one that won't require any installation process, since my users are less computer literate). Is there html code that I could use that will play the embedded video file in their default video player (which then brings in the issue of having the proper codec).

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

T

[guns1inger]

Every version of windows from 95 onwards has been able to play mpeg-1 through media player. It would be rare (although not unheard of) for someone to still be running Windows 3/3.1. I don't know if all Linux versions can handle them out of the box (so to speak), but if you start including a player you will need to consider

1. OS types and versions to be covered (Macs are still big in education, but quicktime will handle your videos)
2. Getting the rights to distribute the player
3. Installation issues (there is no getting around this)

[thecoalman]

You could always include a page with step by step directions and a link to players. MS Media player is installed by default on most machines, most likely if they uninstalled it thay would know how to reinstall it. For cross platform compatibilty I don't know what to suggest but if they are using something other than windows they'll know what to do. There's not many non-technical people not using windows.

I made a similar DVD, it was demo for a band. I made it VCD so they could easily copy it. Depending on your space you could do like I did and make it so it plays in a standalone along with the regular files for computer playback. I tried to make it as easy as possible for whoever was going to be viewing it.