transfer video from windows to mac

[flannob]

Is avi in windows the same as that in mac?
can mac read avi from windows?
how to transfer? burn a CD? Disk-on-key?
What about dvd format (Vob+ifo)?
many thanks

[Cornucopia]

"AVI" is just the container, there can often be a LOT more to it than just container issues...

1. Video & Audio codecs.
2. Type 1 vs. Type 2 issues
3. DV issues (if used)
4. AVI v1 vs. v2 (OpenDML) issues

In a simplified form (common accepted/supported codecs, Type2, OpenDML or <2GB, 1 VIDS + 1 AUDS streams only), YES Mac would have no trouble. But RARELY is it this simplified, so rarely is it no trouble.

Media used is rarely the problem (although it ought to have a common denominator: don't normally use NTFS on Macs or HFS/HFS+ on PCs). CD or DVD in standard DAO burned formats (ISO9660/UDF1.02) are no-brainers.

DVD-Video (aka VOB+IFO) can be Read/Played/Ripped by both Macs & PCs, but should be used mainly for final consumer distribution, not intermediate TRANSFER, as there is much loss that way...

Scott

edit: also, even if you can play a simple AVI on a Mac, it doesn't play "optimally" (smoothly) very often.

[Ai Haibara]

edit: also, even if you can play a simple AVI on a Mac, it doesn't play "optimally" (smoothly) very often.

I wouldn't say that; I don't remember having any problems playing AVIs of any sort through Quicktime on my Mac (with Perian installed). However, I've certainly never tried editing any AVIs through any of Apple's video editors, and would much rather use MPlayerX or sometimes, VLC, to play videos.
But, yes, the Quicktime architecture wasn't designed with AVIs in mind, so keep that in mind if you want to play and edit AVIs natively on a Mac. It may take a little work to get it working the way you'd want it.

[flannob]

Thanks Cornucopia
Will try and report results.