Xvid, DivX and compression question

[Reverend]

Dudes:

I download an .avi movie and it's 800 meg. That won't fit on a CD, so I cut it in half with Virtual Dub. Now I get two files each 600 meg!

Today I cut a 1.4 gig movie in half and ended up with two files of 400 meg. I always use the same MPEG 4 option in VD but there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the resulting sizes.

The difference between xvid and divx seems to have more to do with licensing and who's responsible, rather than any significant differences in format.

My player only reads CDs, what's the best option in the best tool to get the smallest .avi?

Thanks - rev

[Train]

I don't know about all that stuff, but that 800 MB .avi is a dual layer DVD when converted to VOBs.

Soon as you can, get a DVD burner and save yourself some grief if possible.

[Reverend]

Train:

I have a burner, that's no problem but my consumer DVD player attached to my 60" digital TV doesn't read DVD media, only CDs.

Nobody seems to know about 'all that stuff' - the explanation must be related to the compression method, tools used and source format. Knowing all about it might not change anything for me, I'd still have to get it onto a CD.

I'm considering attaching a laptop to the TV, I'd never have to convert or burn anything because VCL Media Player plays everything, even repairs the file headers when necessary.

[fink]

I'm considering attaching a laptop to the TV

That's what I've done (older desktop actually but same deal). I use it to view streaming media via my online browser and the occasional DVD or CD that my stand alone player balks at. The video quality isn't as good as the stand alone player but it's quite acceptable. My tv only has svideo in so if your tv accepts vga then that would be much better.

[Train]

consumer DVD player doesn't read DVD media

$18 is all I paid for a dvd player with RCA jacks for connecting to the tv.

And 1.5 MB .jpg do not jam it up either. Fact is, it does better than a more expensive brand I have.

Video cds, the went out of fashion about the time I bought my first dvd burner.
But Nero will burn them. Never used it.