What processor(s) can handle iTunes videos?

[ceruleanventure]

Since I don't have cable in my dorm, I like keeping up with cable shows via iTunes. Anyways, what apple processor (in a laptop) can handle iTunes videos easily? I have an iMac G5 (isight) which does fine, but my G3 ibook can't open them. Since I'm studying abroad next year, I need a better laptop than my slow G3. Can G4 powerbooks or ibooks handle iTunes videos? Thanks (and if someone could post the minimum specs for iTunes videos, that would be awesome)

 

[Eidorian]

I'd never use iTunes for video playback. It's terrible. If you're buying shows off of iTunes then you're stuck with it though.

 

[thegreatluke]

My brother's iBook G4 (1.2 GHz) can play videos fine, even back when he had the stock 256 MB of RAM.

The minimum requirements for video playback are:
* Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
* 500 MHz G4 processor or better
* QuickTime 7.0.3 or later
* 16MB video RAM
* 256 MB RAM
(Stolen from the iTunes download page.)

You can get a 500 MHz iBook off of eBay for about $400-500 US.

 

[Killyp]

A G4 will have absolutely no problems with decoding an iTunes video. Make it at least an 800 MHz G4, with 512 MB RAM on OS 10.3/10.4 and it should be fine!

 

[Chundles]

My 1.2GHz iBook handles them very easily. It can play 480p trailers from Apple's movie trailer website but struggles with 720p (some work moderately OK, others just look crap) haven't even bothered with 1080p but I'd be surprised to get more than 0.5fps.

You can open them in Quicktime if you don't like the way iTunes plays back videos (I don't like it much, no control at all in full screen mode, it's OK when you're just letting them play through in the background though).

 

[ceruleanventure]

Thanks for everything, this was just what I needed to know. I should've thought about looking up the specs on iTunes (duh)

 

[Hytower77]

My 1.2GHz iBook handles them very easily. It can play 480p trailers from Apple's movie trailer website but struggles with 720p (some work moderately OK, others just look crap) haven't even bothered with 1080p but I'd be surprised to get more than 0.5fps.

You can open them in Quicktime if you don't like the way iTunes plays back videos (I don't like it much, no control at all in full screen mode, it's OK when you're just letting them play through in the background though).

This is bang on. My old G4 1GHz powerbook did great with the iTunes vids, and all HD movie trailers at 480p...720p was choppy, but it played, and 1080p...yeah right, it never got started.

As the above have said, most higher end G4's should be just fine.

 

[Josias]

You can get a 12" PowerBook G4 with 1.25 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, SD, AE+BT, 64 MB nVidia FX Go5200. A loaded last rev. 12" PB for $510 on eBay. Here.
It's super portable, and you get extremely much bang for the buck.

BTW, I believe there is a program for converting MP4 to i.e. .avi so you could play through VLC. If I were you, I'd go for that PB...

 

[ceruleanventure]

Cool, what program?

 

[eidrunner247]

My brother's iBook G4 (1.2 GHz) can play videos fine, even back when he had the stock 256 MB of RAM.

The minimum requirements for video playback are:
* Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later
* 500 MHz G4 processor or better
* QuickTime 7.0.3 or later
* 16MB video RAM
* 256 MB RAM
(Stolen from the iTunes download page.)

You can get a 500 MHz iBook off of eBay for about $400-500 US.

As an owner of both an iBook G4 1.2ghz, I can attest the it can play videos fine, although I am wary of it playing well on 256mb RAM, but then again, I never tried on so little. It does play well on 512mb RAM. If you look at my sig, my iBook g3 meets the minimum requirements, but it simply cannot do video playback at all. It's horrible... (one of the downsides of an otherwise great iBook, showing its age...). There are other options which other people have mentioned, but, if you do download movies or shows or whatever, you'll have to use another program or convert them or something. Really, a G4 processor I think is the min.

 

[Nermal]

my iBook g3 meets the minimum requirements

No it doesn't. An iBook G3 doesn't meet the "G4 processor" requirement.