| RealPlayer 8.0 |
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| CNET rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 best |
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The good: The only streaming player that plays Real's popular audio and video formats; links to loads of online content channels; solid audio playback quality; runs on Windows 95. The bad: Won't rip and encode tracks from CDs without additional software; no way to organize media content on your hard drive without RealJukebox. The bottom line: Unless you're running Windows 95, RealPlayer is no longer the best streaming media player. Stick with Windows Media Player or run both for the widest range of compatibility. |
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CNET review |
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RealPlayer has long ruled the streaming media roost, and with good reason. It still plays the most popular streaming media formats on the Web, RealAudio and RealVideo (although Microsoft's Windows Media Player is gaining ground faster than you can say "antitrust"). It links to loads of online content and cranks out swell-sounding audio and acceptable video to boot. But its days as king of all the players have ended. RealPlayer can't rip and encode tracks from audio CDs without a separate app, RealJukebox, and version 8.0 doesn't play the increasingly available Windows Media format. (Though it's worth noting that if you have RealJukebox, you can encode MP3s, which Windows Media Player won't do.) If you don't mind keeping two players on your machine, download RealPlayer 8.0 to cover all the bases. Otherwise, Windows Media Player should meet your needs.
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| Quick facts | |
| Software requirements and specs: | |
| Platform: | PC: Windows 95/98/Me/2000; Mac: OS 8.1 |
| Processor: | Pentium-120; PowerPC 604/200 |
| RAM: | PC: 16MB; Mac: 32MB |
| Disk space: | 8MB |
| Display requirements: | 16-bit color |
| Sound requirements: | 16-bit sound card |
| CD-ROM required: | No |
| Downloadable full version: | Yes |
Gregg Keizer is an Oregon-based contributor to CNET Software. Got a question or a comment for him? We'll pass it on. |
