is there an alternative to VLC? i tried to install it but it doesn't seem to be working....

I like BSplayer, it doesn't automatically play quite as much as VLC, but is nicer to look at, and easier to use.
VLC is typical nerd stuff, absolutely brilliant, but with a horrible clunky interface.
In life you only get one lap, might as well make it a good one.
I used to use Mplayer on Windows, Mac & Linux, but prefer VLC now. You'd find it on www.sourceforge.net
HTH
VLC is a bit overrated I feel.
BSplayer is good and media player classic is just as easy to use but generally plays a bit more than BSplayer in my experience.
WinAmp 5.33 is my new friend.
But I like VLC's post processing abilities.
vlc seems to have difficulty pausing and then playing again, and it often pixilates afterwards, and sometimes has problems with the audio and video going out of sync (media player is more reliable) but it could just be this laptop.
No amount of genius can overcome a preoccupation to detail.
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