How to make AVI file smaller so I can email it family using a PC

Look, there are two very easy things that the other people can do, and you can send the file in total.
1. Everyone get a Gmail account (free), so you can email up to 100 MB's. This is a must. Some ISP's may block such a large file in an email, but most don't care.

2. Get Skype (free). Then you can pass the movie P2P

Otherwise, iMove or QT Pro can make the file somewhat smaller, but it will impact quality, depending on how small you make it.

If they are running XP Pro you can upload the file directly to their computer using XP's remote desktop window sharing utility.
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Using-Remote-Desktop-Windows -XP-Pro.html
Or you could setup an FTP transfer to their computer.

AVI is already compressed as far as it can go. You could, with software, reduce the resolution. That is why the YouTube videos look so horrible.

Exactly, and that means MORE "compression". I gave him perfectly good advice.

Hi Mark,

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is file-exchange servers. Sites such as Rapidshare, MegaUpload, YouSendIt, etc, allow you to upload files of file-sizes up to 500 MB (in some cases) to their servers, where they will be kept for a certain amount of time, with a given URL. You can then direct your recipients to that link to download the file. While these sites are generally subscription-based, most offer free-registration or even free-use, with some restrictions - file-size, duration the links are maintained, bandwidth.

The good thing is that you avoid the email size restrictions on mail servers as well as the inbox clog it will cause. Also, it's a matter of convenience as you can upload it and have the recipients download it at their leisure - often at higher transfer rates as well, as it's simply a http connection.

Yang