PLEX works perfectly on my 11" 1.4 GHz MBA playing 1080p mkv files. The size of my files were 9 GB and 15 GB. I am starting to like PLEX more than VLC. It's a more sophisticated piece of media player software, but not for everyone.
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The 11.6" MBA and 1080p MKV
- Thread starter ImperialX
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PLEX is great as a media center piece of software. I have it on my mac mini that is connected to my plasma tv. I find it too complicated and clunky for using on any of my laptops though. It really is designed for use with an apple remote and browsing and couch surfing. I use vlc on all my laptops and my mkv files play fine. I have gotten a bit of jitter on a few of them on the air, but nothing outrageous, and for all I know it could be my crappy encoding that is causing it, and not the air's gpu and/or processor.
Well you aren't reading the thread then. The 11" netbook model -CAN- play very large 1080p, h264 AC3 encoded MKV's, just not with VLC. You need to use Plex to do that. They play stutter free under Plex although I did find that I was pretty much stuck with whatever native settings were in the app....I can't seem to even do simple things like manipulate volume once the file is playing. Could just be user error as its not an intuitive UI at all.
Thats well and good for you but I don't want to use Plex. I have been using VlC for years on all my computers and Im not about to change that now, especially considereing the MBA is a $1300+ investment for me. Never had a problem with VLC it is an amazing piece of freeware I must say. I don't want to install different apps for different formats, where would I draw the line? I must say though 98% of my MKV movies are under 4.4GB so maybe VLC with the 11" air would work?
Look, I think you are trying to talk yourself OUT of buying this netbook. Thats fine, you've got a reason now.
VLC = Free
Plex = Free
OSX = Ctrl Click any file and choose "Open With" and you can pick and choose which app plays what, alternating feely.
But don't sit there and say "ZOMG I gotta use a different program!??!?!" Its no big deal. If it is IS a big deal to you, then you've got plenty of other reasons to stay away from either variant of the MBA. This one is silly by comparison.
VLC = Free
Plex = Free
OSX = Ctrl Click any file and choose "Open With" and you can pick and choose which app plays what, alternating feely.
But don't sit there and say "ZOMG I gotta use a different program!??!?!" Its no big deal. If it is IS a big deal to you, then you've got plenty of other reasons to stay away from either variant of the MBA. This one is silly by comparison.
$1300+? It may work with the 1,6GHz C2D.
Anyone here who tried it out on a 1,6GHz?
All my testing is with the 1.6, 4gig 11" netbook model. VLC just chokes on my 1080p MKV's. Plex does not.
I have no problem adjusting volume, fast forward/backward whatsoever with PLEX.
As for why PLEX was needed, it's already been discussed. At the moment, vlc (Mac) does not take advantage of hardware decoding, and so it can only handle 1080p mkv with a faster processor. PLEX, on the other hand, is a more advance piece of software that better utilize the GPU.
MBA is an ultraportable notebook in which Apple sacrifices computing power for battery life. So the slower processors had nothing to do with the price ($1300 or not). It was never meant to be the most powerful computer, and if that stops you from buying it, then MBA was never meant to be for you.
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PLEX has too many nested menus to be fiddling with on a small notebook. It is not designed for a computer the size on the 11.6" air. PLEX was always meant to be for using as media center software in my opinion.
It depends on the size of the mkv. If the mkv is under 6 gigs or so, you should be fine.
Yes. It is working on my 11.6" ultimate, but stutters on the larger mkvs. Anything under 6 gigs or so is working fine though.
I don't understand what is so "small" about the MBA that makes it less suitable than a media center (with TV) with FLEX. MBA has nearly a full size keyboard with the same number of keys as any keyboard. It also has the same screen resolution as a 720p TV.
I never have any problem navigate the menus with the only the arrow keys and enter. Also the keyboard shortcuts work as in any other Macs.
Yeah plex is too front row like for me. I like the simplicity of VLC. So I think I could care less about 5gb+ MKV files right now. So what is the final verdict VLC with a 4.5gb MKV, 11.6" 128gb SSD, 4 gigs. Oh and throw in a 27" hp 1080p monitor as well.
I didn't say it wouldn't work. It's a piece of software, of course it will work on any os x device with the right version of the os and enough memory.
I simply meant that the experience is too much like front row for my tastes. I don't see front row as being a good piece of software for a laptop and I feel the same way about PLEX.
It will play just fine.
I have the 11.6" ultimate and I hooked it up to my cinema display monitor and watch several mkv movies. (more to test the air than a real need to watch movies from my computer at the time. ) The movies played fine with no stutter. 
If he doesn't feel comfortable with Plex you shouldn't push him. I think is making a reasonable argument for himself. He doesn't justify a purchase where he has to use a program that is not comfortable with.
VLC will get Hardware acceleration eventually on OS X? Maybe you will reconsider then.
VLC will get Hardware acceleration eventually on OS X? Maybe you will reconsider then.
It seems the VLC folk have not even started to work on the feature yet :
http://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/3558
Anyway, VLC is pure junk. Their font rendering is horrible. Mplayer is an all around better player, in any form (be it Mplayer OS X Extended or mplayerx).
http://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/3558
Anyway, VLC is pure junk. Their font rendering is horrible. Mplayer is an all around better player, in any form (be it Mplayer OS X Extended or mplayerx).
I do also prefer MplayerX over VLC, BUT... VLC managed to play a 1080p MKV movie without any problems or hick-ups , MplayerX really didn't, not watchable.
Still first I run a movie with MplayerX, if it runs bad then I try it on VLC.
Hi Guys!
I'm still struggling with my new MBA 11,6" 1,4 GHz, 4 GB
Test file :
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/disney/piratesofthecaribbeanonstrangertides/
18% of CPU under QTX > perfect
50% VLC > ok
70% MPlayer > ok
85% Plex > ok, but less smooth
Last version of XBMC doesn't work
Another file :
http://mirrorblender.top-ix.org/peach/bigbuckbunny_movies/big_buck_bunny_1080p_h264.mov
QTX gives the best results
Tried a mkv trailer of Tropic Thunder. VLC give the best results, but it's still slow Many dropped frames...
QTX with Perian is the worse!
AVC High@L4.1 1920x1080 12,2 Mbps @ 23,976 fps
DTS 510 kps 48 KHz 6 channels
How can I get video acceleration on my mkv? A very cheap netbook ion based can perfectly do the job!!!
I'm still struggling with my new MBA 11,6" 1,4 GHz, 4 GB
Test file :
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/disney/piratesofthecaribbeanonstrangertides/
18% of CPU under QTX > perfect
50% VLC > ok
70% MPlayer > ok
85% Plex > ok, but less smooth
Last version of XBMC doesn't work
Another file :
http://mirrorblender.top-ix.org/peach/bigbuckbunny_movies/big_buck_bunny_1080p_h264.mov
QTX gives the best results
Tried a mkv trailer of Tropic Thunder. VLC give the best results, but it's still slow
Many dropped frames...QTX with Perian is the worse!
AVC High@L4.1 1920x1080 12,2 Mbps @ 23,976 fps
DTS 510 kps 48 KHz 6 channels
How can I get video acceleration on my mkv? A very cheap netbook ion based can perfectly do the job!!!
I had this setup in the office when I first picked up the 27 ACD and it seemed to work absolutely perfect. The only times I noticed a hiccup was when loading media intensive webpages and trying to scroll down or up rapidly while they loaded.
I bought the following MiniDisplayPort>HDMI cable/adapter a couple of weeks ago,
and I'm very happy with it, it supports video and audio connected from my 13" MBA to my 42" FullHD TV.
(it's 3 meters and costed €24,99 which is really cheap not having to pay for a seperate adapter and a cable)
With this cable connected I've watched 720p and 1080p MKV movies on my TV.
Sound is great and video!
Just wanted to let you guys know.
Click on the photo to go to a larger photo.
and I'm very happy with it, it supports video and audio connected from my 13" MBA to my 42" FullHD TV.
(it's 3 meters and costed €24,99 which is really cheap not having to pay for a seperate adapter and a cable)
With this cable connected I've watched 720p and 1080p MKV movies on my TV.
Sound is great and video!
Just wanted to let you guys know.
Click on the photo to go to a larger photo.
Can someone play this very high bitrate mkv on a MBA ? What's the CPU load?
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1D4BX1U9
Same questions with http://rapidshare.com/#!download|54...t.1080p.BluRay.DTS.x264-HDB.sample.mkv|104592
I clearly don't get hardware acceleration with these files. The CPU load is very high. Plex is maybe the best to handle these samples.
I don't understand why some h264 encoded files are accelerated, and some aren't. Does Apple provide some details about that? What would be the highest level / bitrate that QTX can handle with acceleration?
Thanks
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1D4BX1U9
Same questions with http://rapidshare.com/#!download|54...t.1080p.BluRay.DTS.x264-HDB.sample.mkv|104592
I clearly don't get hardware acceleration with these files. The CPU load is very high. Plex is maybe the best to handle these samples.
I don't understand why some h264 encoded files are accelerated, and some aren't. Does Apple provide some details about that? What would be the highest level / bitrate that QTX can handle with acceleration?
Thanks
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