> I've never quite figured out why I'm supposed
> to install DivX on my Mac

A couple of reasons. First, if you are creating DivX files then you should use the DivX encoder. Install DivX on your Mac and use DivX Converter or Streamclip or Quicktime Pro to create your own videos. VLC can not create DivX videos.

Second, if you purchase DivX VOD titles from sites like http://warnervideolive.com/ then you will need DivX Mac Player to view them. VLC will not work.

"DivX certification means squat- do you need your PC to be DivX certified to play video?"

Actually, you should indeed use DivX certified software on your Mac and PC. DivX software is free and other players like VLC cannot display DivX subtitles, interactive menus, alternate audio tracks or video tracks. Furthermore, only DivX certified devices and software can play films from the DivX Video On Demand system.

Perhaps more important than any of that, most DivX certified devices use hardware acceleration to decode video which means they can typically play much larger and higher quality video than your average cell phone using a software player like TCPMP or even the official DivX Mobile Player.

If it isn't "DivX certified," you are missing out.

That's like saying, "why does Wal-Mart sell DVD anymore when Blu-Ray is clearly better?"

There are over 100 million existing devices that support DivX with DRM. There are zero devices that offer DRM for MKV H.264 files which makes that option a non-starter for premimum content distributors like CinemaNow.

Apple could sell protected MP4 H.264 files but they do not license their DRM so that limits your market to iPhones and AppleTV owners. In contrast, there is a lot of variety from DivX including portable DVD players, in-car units, picture frames, televisions, PS3, etc. Also consider the cheapest thing that will play video from Apple is a $150 iPod but many DivX DVD players cost less than $40.

DivX isn't going away anytime soon. All things considered, it's clearly the best option for selling digital media because of the size of the potential market and the low-cost for consumers. It has nothing to do with who-has-the-highest-compression.

Samantha is exactly right. TakeTV is more expensive and lower quality than a DivX certified DVD player with a USB port. Look at the Philips DVP5982 (Circuit City $59). Add a 500 Gig USB drive like the Beyond Micro BM500MD3U28M (eCost $94). Same price as the 8 GB TakeTV but you get HDMI, 60x more storage, and a DVD player to boot! Also much cheaper than XBox or MediaGate.

You could strap cargo to it's upper legs.

"NY Senator Clinton proposes an inventive solution to the pothole problem."