drag playhead for a smooth preview

I have tried that (using the right arrow key) and that method is even slower than simply playing the video. For example, I timed how far the playhead would move during *60 seconds* as I held down the right arrow key, and it only moved through the first *35 seconds* of the video.

By contrast, I can grab and move the playhead across 60 minutes of video in the EyeTV editor in less than 30 seconds (which is more like the iMovie behavior I'm looking for).

This is with the Quicktime player -- do I perhaps need to have Quicktime PRO to have this functionality in QT?

Let me try again (perhaps I am using the wrong terminology (?? - "scrub" ??)

Say that I have a 1 hr TV show in mp4 format. I want to be able to 'grab' the playhead and move back and forth through the video very quickly and smoothly ... to locate a particular part of the show (e.g., the title). I am not looking for something as small as one individual frame -- the title typically stays in view for several seconds.

The QT player does not seem to be 'happy' when I try to 'scrub' back and forth by grabbing the playhead and moving it back and forth in very small increments.

Does that make better sense?

Klaus, This is a file on my HD -- i.e., not streaming.

Kirk, I had heard about the keys you refer to ... but in this particular use I really do need to 'drag' the playhead around.

I agree that it does sound like my older/slower machine could be a factor. (However, the 'scrub'-ability within EyeTV with its format does work just fine ... no performance issues at all.)