Windows Media Player

Designed for use on 64-bit computers running a Windows operating system, Windows Media Player is a handy tool that lets you play music and watch videos on your computer. Though you may have a different media player installed on your computer, this one is a good option for those who like watching videos that use different extensions and formats.

Though many manufacturers no longer include disc drives on laptops, if you have a disc drive on your old laptop or have a desktop computer, you need a good media player. The right media player will let you watch all the files you have saved on your computer and enjoy using physical discs that you have around your home. Windows Media Player can play both DVDs and compact discs.

The newest version of Windows Media Player can rip and burn clips and tracks for you too. When you put a compact disc or DVD in your computer, you can simply click on the files that you want to rip and ask the program to do the ripping for you. It will then save copies of those files on your hard drive. You can also use the program to burn discs as well, making it easy to create home movies and discs that you can listen to in your car.

Once you download and install Windows Media Player, it will become your default media player. Anytime you insert a disc or click a media file on your computer, this program will automatically load. To use a different player, you'll need to go in and adjust the settings on your computer. Another possible issue is that it doesn't change the video clarity as much as you might like. Its clarity is pretty similar to that found on the last version. As it's a big file, it can take some time to download too.

Windows Media Player also comes with lots of customizable features too. You can decide whether to let the program play files automatically or only with your permission, and you can even change the color and layout of the program. It features simple buttons for fast forwarding, rewinding, pausing, and even stopping content, and you'll find an easy to use volume button too. There are a lot of free media players available online, but Windows Media Player is one of the best.

Pros:

• Comes with lots of options for customizing the player
• Lets you rip and burn both music and video files
• Easy to use interface and layout
• Works with lots of different file formats
• Can automatically save copies of some files for future viewing and listening

Cons:

• Will not run effectively on older Windows systems
• Must have a Windows operating system to use it
• Some features require additional extensions and plug-ins
• Requires a lot of hard drive space
• Download and installation times are too long for some