How to save mp4 or m4v to mpeg-4 format

I am new to QuickTime Pro7, and so far I can't get figure out how to save/export (whatever you want to call it) an iMovie9 movie in the mpeg4 format so that I can put it on an SD card and play it on a simple digital picture frame.

First off, the default output from iMovie '09 is H.264/AAC (also know as MPEG-4/AVC video with MPEG-4 audio) in an M4V file container. So the first question is really to determine what compression formats and file type is required for playback from your SD card for "Picture Frame" playback. For instance,

1) Does it require MPEG-4 (i.e., Part 2) only or will it also accept the newer MPEG-4/AVC (i.e., Part 10)? (I.e., both MP4 and M4v files contain MPEG-4 video but the question is, is it an MPEG-4 format that your "Picture Frame" can use?)

2) Whichever compression format(s) it may accept, does it require/limit the compression to a specific "Profile"/"Level" for compatibility? (I.e., this determines limitations of display dimensions, data rates, frame rates, entropy modes, etc. that can be used.)

3) Does the "Picture Frame" player require a particular "container?" (E.g., an H.264 file may be wrapped in an M4V, MP4, or MOV file container while an MPEG-4 would normally be found in am MP4 or MOV file container.)

Once you know the specific file requirements, then you can select the best work flow. For instance, if the player will accept H.264 video, then your iMovie '09 file may already be compatible or be made compatible if placed in a different container (with or without the audio track) or may need to be re-compressed using different settings. Since the specific work flows involved here are dependent on what you need to do, I can't really go into the details for all possibilities at this time without more information.

To answer your original question, however, you would normally use the QT 7 Pro (or iMovie '09 "Share > Export using QuickTime") "Movie to MPEG-4" export option to create either an H.264 or MPEG-4 compressed video in an MP4 file container. As to the difference between "save" and "export," the "save" option normally does not require recompression of data but may require the dated be re-written to a new MOV file container. The "Save As..." option always saves the data in your source file a new MOV file container without recompressing the date. The "export" option, on the other hand, always re-compresses the data and may remove data tracks not supported/"mux" supported in the new target file container.

I am disgusted by the incredibly poor customer service I received from Apple (over two hours on the phone to simply obtain the registration number for QTPro7 I purchased online and to confirm/enable QT7 Pro to work,

According the latest postings here, if your purchase was processed normally, the QT registration number should have been available at the following URL:

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?checkSoftwareDownloa ds=yes

where you would simply sign in to your account to see your QT 7 Pro purchase along with the registration key. As to proper installation/registration/confirmation instructions, that could have been found at the following URL:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3678

for your OS.

refusal of Apple to just resend the registration/purchase info,

This may indicate the purchase data was not stored correctly—especially if you did not receive an immediate purchase message with registration information.

and my inability to use iMovie9 to make dvds or send movies to anyone that doesn't have a Mac).

Authoring DVDs requires a DVD authoring application—iDVD. It sould halve come pre-installed in your Application folder. Its function is to convert video content (for iMovie or other sources) to "muxed" MPEG-2/PCM files (or photos to slideshows), create interactive menus, and either create DVD disc images from your iDVD project or burn the iDVD project directly to DVD(s). As to sending files to other persons, the default H.264/AAC "share" option should be playable by anyone having a compatible multimedia player installed (e.g., QT 7 for Windows). Of course, your recipients may opt not to install such applications but that would be a matter of personal choice of the recipient and hardly your fault or that of Apple.

A more major problem might be how to "send" the files since video files can easily exceed the email attachment size allocation of your ISP. The easiest method for sending larger files might then be via an IM service. Other options would be to post files to a server or web page and simply sending the URL to the people you wish to see the files. Of course, if all else fails and/or you are novice, the "sharing" files to YouTube might be your best alternative.

I acknowledge that I am a novice w/ Macs, but the entire purpose of buying a Mac was to be able to use simple programs and send files/pics/vids to family without having a degree in computer programing.

Unfortunately, with the demise of MobileMen and its built-in personal "gallery" area for the posting of photos and movie clips directly from various Apple apps, you will likely have to subscribe to an alternative service whether free or requiring an annual commercial subscription.

The export of movies from iMovie9 to Quicktime7 or my harddrive (and then I opened the file in Quicktime7 pro and tried to save in whatever formats you mentioned above) that I did attempt resulted in "jumpy/poor" frame rate (from interlacing or whatever they call it I presume).

The object here is to export from from iMovie directly to your target user compression format. Exporting from iMovie to a format only to re-compress the data with QT 7 can lead to degredation in video quality. As to frame rates, my advice is to not change them if at all possible. (I.e., use the "Source" frame rate since QT typically uses a simple drop/duplicate and add algorithm to change frame rates.) Interlacing problems usually refer to a "comb" effect caused by the temporal displacement of objects in motion during the time difference between the two fields that comprise a single interlaced movie frame and is probably not what you are referring to here.

Enough is enough...I give up.

You might consider checking to see if there is an active Mac user group active in your area. Most have SIGs (Special Interest Groups) that could provide "one-on-one" assistance covering everything from the use of the various pre-installed applications to third-party alternatives to how to best distribute your finished projects to friends and family members.