RealPlayer SP
A newer version of RealPlayer SP is available.
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Full user review
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"lara1981-28"
Pros
easy to use good to work with and listening to music without and aany problems and downloading
Cons
occassionally tries to connect to the internet, which i had configured to stop, but it doesn't stop, had to remove that entry from the registr
Summary
I do like the fact that Microsoft does have some competition in the online media world, but I don't like the software needed to view/hear that media.
RealPlayer is clunky, slow, ugly, and doesn't fit in with the rest of Windows software,
It insists upon "registration" for every user on your computer (including the administrator, which makes absolutely no sense).
The default interface is annoying and is something I turn off immediately. It takes you to real.com and throws videos at you.
The default setting also put RealPlayer in your system tray and pre-selects "alerts" for you. It's annoying and just one more program to clutter your system tray. I disable right after installation (they don't make that easy, either).
And of course you're nagged to purchase the "Pro" edition.
If you don't pay attention, you get other junk installed too (namely a stupid "Try AOL" icon on your desktop and start menu).
Nope, if it weren't for the fact that I want to view RealAudio/Video files on occasion, I'd not even bother installing this sorry excuse for software.
It's really too bad, because RealPlayer for Linux is much nicer and I really like the idea of truly cross-platform media format, but the Windows version of RealPlayer stinks, period.