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32 Comments
- chrono13, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Automatix (my personal choice) or EasyUbuntu (not quite as feature rich) - both do this automatically and much more.
- moshguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Here's an interesting question.
Let's say for ***** and giggles, I was willing to pay for a legitmate copy of software that uses patented codecs. Is there a place where I can pay for legitmate codecs for linux?
I just wanted to put that out there since a lot of people (like the RIAA/MPAA) look at these cracked codecs as malware. Instead of the only way to get what we want. - citrusfizz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ Gurkinjar (0)
try knoppix
its a bootable live cd that doesn't touch your hard drive
you just burn the iso and put it in your cdrom drive and restart... so now you get to try a debbian based distro with out worrying about anything
http://www.knoppix.com/
ubuntu has one too(live cd) ... just not as feature rich
http://mirror.mcs.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/5.10/ - RacerX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Just installed Ubuntu on an external USB (previous digg). I have to say Ubuntu is by far the easiest and most fun linux distro to work with. Plus the forum is a huge resource for information.
Automatix is the way to go, but remember it does not work on the 64bit kernel. - plamoni, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Gurkinjar: I beg to differ about Linux being user friendly. My girlfriend has been running Linux almost exclusively for years. She doesn't know much at all about using the command line for things, she does everything via KDE. She was able to install mplayer and get it running DVDs just fine with no help, despite not being a super-techo-geek like me.
It is simply a matter of what you are used to. Installing a RPM is no different than installing with a .exe, possibly even easier. - tehciv, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1jbus: Linux will never succeed on the desktop while users are told to stick with Windows rather than have Linux explained to them.
Whether this is a good or bad thing is debatable, however... - xiangxianni, on 12/29/2008, -0/+1I installed Ubuntu about 1 week ago and think it's awsome
http://www.tips5.com - 0Troy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1LINUXX AER TEH SUCKKKZZZ!!
J00 HAEV TO TYPE 1 COMMADN 2 MAKE DVD WORK! THAT R 2 HARDDD!!!111ONE13
If you're unwilling preform one google search to make something work, then we don't want you on linux anyways. Continue to enjoy windows as its usability and functionality becomes more and more encumbered. - makebbekus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Ubuntu is pretty slick. I've got the win32 codecs working and am eager to get DVD's playing.
- LiquidPenguin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@automagically
"You didn't tell the user where to download the file."
Short of a gross misconfiguration with apt, you don't need to. Distros like Debian include apt during the installation. If you download a .deb, I'm sure most people would've figured out where to get the file they want. It's not much different than downloading your typical windows file.
"You didn't tell the user what directory to put that file in."
When you download files, does it really matter? It's all a matter of preference anyways. You're bitching about "apt-get" and it's really a moot point. Apt manages all of that for you.
"You didn't tell that user how to change directory in the command line so that that command works..."
Unless you're downloading a .deb manually, you don't need to do this. Of course, if you can download a file, put it in a directory, there's a safe bet a person knows how to change directories. If you're one of those people who downloads a file and "loses" it, the better question would be, why are you using a computer in the first place?
"Didn't even tell the user what program the command line is. I'm assuming it's Terminal in Ubuntu, thats the only thing I could find."
YOu mean all you ever use is the Windows GUI and not once ever dipped into.. ahem.... DOS?
"I tried linux a few years ago and it came with 3 of them, dunno why."
Three of what? Terminals? Without looking, I would guess either different shells or different logins. Have you thought about asking at a linux forum about that?
"Anyways, when giving directions, include "all steps"."
When you're confused about an issue, there are two awesome resources available to you. One is Google, the other is a forum. Try them out, I hear they work wonders. - manfesto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@Gurkinjar
That is not true of many modern distros - I've heard only good things about Ubuntu's hardware support. I myself use Fedora Core 4 - just about all of my hardware was detected on install (i.e. soundcard (though Dmix wasn't on by default), gigabit ethernet, burners, etc) and it automatically picked up an IP address from my DHCP enabled router - you'd be surprised by just how expansive the included drivers are. I very much doubt you'd have all that much trouble with your devices, and if you did, there is a worldwide community of Linux users willing to help you out.
As far as installing programs and whatnot goes - again, with modern distros, it couldn't be easier. It can be as simple as "apt-get install mplayer" or "yum -y install win32codec" in the CLI - or you can use Synaptic and literally point and click your way to insalling programs (and I'm willing to bet it's fewer clicks than a wizard in Windows).
And you shouldn't fear the command line - you'll never have more power over your system.
//Not bashing Windows - I use it too - SDNick484, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The w32codecs have been available from www.mplayerhq.hu for years.
- citrusfizz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1for those of you wanting to see what automatix is all about
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=66563&highlight=automatix - jbus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Like Alt1ma said
Automatix is the best way to go. - citrusfizz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0or in ubuntu's(debbian based) case a .deb
simple as
dpkg -i program.deb
then your done
or from the repositories
apt-get install program.you.want
done - blugu64, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0ohh ya, cool article by the way. I always hated tracking down those files
- citrusfizz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0and for anyone lookin into linux
distrowatch.com will show you all the distros linux has to offer
linuxquestions.org is a forum for any (noobie or not) linux questions and answers) - tehciv, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1The normal simplicity we're used to with Linux then ;-)
Something tells me Microsoft don't have much to worry about. - Alt1ma, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Automatix will save you a lot of time in the long run.
- Gaferion, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Like everyone else said, a lot easier using Automatix http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=66563
Also, you can find instructions for DVD/Video playback setup at the unofficial ubuntu guide @ www.ubuntuguide.org ... PLUS there are a TON more things it will tell you how to do that is commonly asked. Why not point them there instead so they can find even more information instead of linking to your
blog to get more hits ... - shangothrax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0VLC for the win.
That is all.
Oh, and for RealPlayer files, you might want to give this a go. - Jammerdelray, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0it's not so much being user friendly as it is trying to get things to work properly....like hardware support....latest version of ubuntu did not detect my alot of my hardware.....spent hours trying to get it to work right. then I tried to uninstall it from dual boot and I ended up having to reformat since the dual boot app would not uninstall.
Maybe in a few years it will be up to par for general consumption.....also depending on if linux can come to grips with having 1 standard and not soooo many distributions...literally almost a hundred of them. 1 standard will allow them to focus more on making it a better product. - manfesto, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0@automagically
If you actually put any real effort into checking out the Wikis, you'd know what Apt and Yum are (well, maybe not yum - that's a RedHat thing). You'd know that you don't have to download any of the packages manually or cd to any specific directories. You'd know they're packet managers, and if you know the name of the package you want, it auto downloads and installs the package and all of its dependencies.
"So by your reasoning, I can go look for the command line program... type "yum -y install divx" and it'll know that I want to play divx files?"
Basically, yes (though the command is wrong, but close).
The command line program in Debian based distros (like Ubuntu) is called apt-get, and for RedHat based distros (like Fedora Core 4), it's yum. And all I had to do when I wanted to watch Divx files on my system was open a terminal (believe it or not, all three of them work):
su
yum -y install w32codec mplayer
and voila! It magically downloaded and installed for me the win32codecs package (that's a package some nice person out there compiled to provide us Linux users with Divx/Xvid, Quicktime, and WMV playback) and Mplayer. The syntax for apt-get is more or less the same (but I don't know what's in their repositories, so the packages may have different names) - and they can be executed from any directory.
Yes, it really is that easy, but if you're not willing to put forth any real effort into learning (there is no shame in asking a question - if you ask it civilly, you'll get a civil response. If you post your question the way you did, you'll almost always get brushed off), then you're never going to learn - and even these simple tasks will always be out of your reach. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Saying installing is as simple as "apt-get" or "yum -y install" is twisting the facts.
First of all, a newbie searching for codecs will search for "codecs". They don't know apt or yum exists. I myself have searched the ubuntu site for codecs, java, flash, etc... and followed the ubuntu wiki guides to install that stuff. It didn't mention this apt yum thing.
Next, saying its as simple as typing that is wrong. You didn't tell the user where to download the file. You didn't tell the user what directory to put that file in. You didn't tell that user how to change directory in the command line so that that command works... Didn't even tell the user what program the command line is. I'm assuming it's Terminal in Ubuntu, thats the only thing I could find. I tried linux a few years ago and it came with 3 of them, dunno why. Anyways, when giving directions, include "all steps".
So by your reasoning, I can go look for the command line program... type "yum -y install divx" and it'll know that I want to play divx files? Simple as that? - AToMusK, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0so i understand that "libdvdcss2" is illegal in the us of a, cause of the copyrights thing, but what about the win32 codecs?
+sweet digg - Googled, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I installed Ubuntu about 1 week ago and think it's awsome, but whats stopping me from using it all the time is the fact the when I use amarok, XMMS or Kaffeine to play media files it will crash often :(.
- macewan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0 Jammerdelray, think of the different Linux distros as you do automobile manufacturers. Ford, Toyota, GMC & others all produce "cars". These cars all have basicly the same parts and provide the same function (moving people or things).
Ubuntu would be a Toyota?? Whereas Novell's DTL would be a Lexus. :-) - Darth_tater, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0for those confused. it is my opinion that you shouldnot use linux if you cant go to google and look for forms that cn help you out. if you canteven try some BASIC googeling then you shouldnt belong on linux.
windows is a fine OS if you know how to use it, and i have 14 years experiance with it. its a FINE OS if u know how to use it. linux is for those that like to do things for themselves..... a FINE OS, IMO the best opensource project to date.
if you find yourself relying on the popups in XP and www.microsoft.com for tech suport. stick with windows. but if your not afraid to think for yourself and do BASIC trouble shooting first without going straight to geek squad then try out linux....
my 2cents - jbus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Jammerdelray -
You are probably better off sticking with Windows. You don't seem to understand the benefits Linux offers.
I've installed Ubuntu on many different systems and I can't say I've ever seen as system that had "a lot of hardware" not detected. I'm not sure what kind of hardware you are talking about, but in most cases you are going to spend more time downloading and installing vendor drivers for your hardware on windows than you would on Ubuntu.
My install process is running ubuntu setup, installing automatix, installing any specific apps I want (extremely simple in Ubuntu) and customizing the look of the desktop... That's it.
You also didn't need to reformat your HD just to uninstall ubuntu from a dual boot (Does Microsoft teach that to people or what?), but I guess it's too late to worry about that now. - blugu64, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Where are all the anti-software piracy advocates now??
There a reason they're not included in ubuntu!
How about all of those people who would crusify someone for thinking about installing OSX on a dell?
ok I'm over my rant, I love ubuntu, and I love my mp3s and dvd's. I just don't love people who tell me what to do with what I bought. (for what's it's worth I have both a broken DVD player, and a spare copy of windows xp with media player....does that give me a license for both libdvdcss2 and the win32codecs????) - citrusfizz, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0@ automagically
EXUSE ME for trying to help DICK
i gave some great links out there for newbs to get started
and reference to the ubuntu forums and the guide to install automatix and get it working..
if a person cant google for more information then he/she shouldn't be trying to run linux in the first place
and that sounds just like you
troll - aznboi04k, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0god, linux blows. i regret giving a pro-linux speech in in my speech class.
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