To badly go where no OS has gone before.....

[Alias]

Two problems.

First off, why do I have to know what a CODEC is or where to get one?

You don't have to know. You have to know to tick it and then click on
"apply".

I

have never installed a CODEC on a Windows PC. Even to play DVD's, I
never installed a CODEC. I installed a DVD player application that
happened to include the required CODEC but I never had to think about it.

You don't have to think about it with Ubuntu either.

Second, the screenshots for Amarok show a tiny little player window on a
big monitor. Amarok shows the same amateurish user interface as
MusicMatch and other Windows players that try to simulate a desktop
stereo system rather than a computer. The screenshots are from a
monitor probably between 17 to 19 inches and yet Amarok has scrolling
titles because the player is only a couple inches wide.

I'd rather use WMP 11 than that. And I hate WMP 11.

Dale

Do it and then judge it. The codecs will download and install
automatically if you tick them and then click on "apply". It couldn't be
simpler. You'll also find Real Player and a program that will play
Windows Media Videos on line. The programs that come with the ADD/Remove
from the Ubuntu CD are only a few of the programs available for
Ubuntu. And, being as some claim I am a "dumbass", if I can figure it
out, anyone can.

BTW, I see no reason to update WMP 10 to 11.

Alias

 

[MICHAEL]

BTW, I see no reason to update WMP 10 to 11.

There isn't one, and with WMP 11 you can no
longer backup any licenses you have.


-Michael

 

[Dale]

But I really do wish they could find a good replacement for a Media Center
PC. It's beginning to look like the whole Ubuntu/Linux argument is smoke
and mirrors.

Dale

 

[norm]

Ok, I can't figure out who's the biggest Linux promoter here so I just
picked a post at random to reply to.

I keep hearing how easy Ubuntu is and how it is as easy to find software
for as Windows is. With the quality concerns over Vista and high
definition video/audio sources I would like to find an alternative to
Vista for my multimedia. But guess what? I just spent an hour and a
half searching for a suitable media player for Linux or Ubuntu. I can
find all kinds of text lists of available applications no high quality
players.

What there is doesn't compare at all to Windows except that XMMS does
the same stupid thing that most Windows media players do: it tries to
simulate a little table top stereo with little fake 7-segment
flourescent display - trying to be anything other than a PC playing
multimedia.

Like I said before, Linux is just too much work. If any of you Linux
guys know of a media player even comparable to WMP 11, as bad as that
is, feel free to show us why we should consider Linux to get around the
DRM in Vista.

Dale

I don't consider myself a linux promoter other than to say that I use
ubuntu on a regular basis and that it works more than satisfactorily for
me. As for your multimedia question, I use mplayer. I have no idea if it
might satisfy your needs, but here is a site that describes its
capabilities: http://www.linux.org/apps/AppId_8026.html
It is readily available for point and click download and installation
using the ubuntu synaptic package manager. I find it very suitable for
my needs, and it does everything that I need media player for in xp.

 

[Alias]

There isn't one, and with WMP 11 you can no
longer backup any licenses you have.


-Michael

I wish it would quit asking me if I want to update it.

Alias

 

[arachnid]

Same is true of Windows approved repositories.

Installing *all* of one's applications from safe, approved repositories is
the default for consumer-friendly Linux distro's and a rarity under
Windows.

And your point being?

Windows users get their software from a multitude of sources, many being
file archives spread all over the Internet. This is a very common vector
for virii, trojans, adware, and spyware. Even storebought software isn't
safe - one reason I left Windows six years ago was that more and more
games, low-end software, and even the driver CD's accompanying hardware
were accompanied by hidden spyware payloads. Even putting aside the more
serious malware, I got a little tired of commercial applications hijacking
my file associations, plastering AOL icons all over my desktop, changing
my homepage, etc.

Centralizing all of the Linux user's software into one repository means
that the moment a malware problem is reported, further installations can
be blocked for *ALL* of the distro's other users until the problem is
fixed. And since the software is open source, removing the malware is not
dependent upon the application's authors.

 

[Dale]

Where is that central repository. I am still looking for a Linux media
player to replace WMP.

Dale

 

[arachnid]

Two problems.

First off, why do I have to know what a CODEC is or where to get one? I
have never installed a CODEC on a Windows PC. Even to play DVD's, I never
installed a CODEC. I installed a DVD player application that happened to
include the required CODEC but I never had to think about it

What's a codec?

Second, the screenshots for Amarok show a tiny little player window on a
big monitor. Amarok shows the same amateurish user interface as
MusicMatch and other Windows players that try to simulate a desktop
stereo system rather than a computer.

That's just the optional "player" window. You don't need it to play music
from amarok.

 

[arachnid]

Really? Then why aren't many of us bothered with this?

Really:

: http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,118311-page,1/article.html
:
: A survey conducted by Internet service provider America Online found
: that 20 percent of home computers were infected by a virus or worm, and
: that various forms of snooping programs such as spyware and adware are
: on a whopping 80 percent of systems. Despite that, more than two thirds
: of home users think they are safe from online threats.
:
: <snip>
:
: Spyware was an even more common and under-appreciated problem than
: viruses, the survey showed. Spyware or adware programs were found on
: 80 percent of the computers analyzed, with an average of 93 spyware or
: adware components on the infected machines.

That was in 2004. Things have gotten a lot worse since.

Most of those that are, will download and install anything without even
thinking about it. Then they get into trouble. So what else is new?

People aren't just being infected by downloads. One reason I gave
up on Windows was that spyware kept creeping onto my system via
storebought games and applications and even the driver CD's that came
with hardware.

 

[BillW50]

Really!


That was in 2004. Things have gotten a lot worse since.

It figures! Lots of people that will install anything. Yet many of us
have never got anything. And I have been using Windows since '93 running
Windows 3.1. Go figure!

People aren't just being infected by downloads. One reason I gave
up on Windows was that spyware kept creeping onto my system via
storebought games and applications and even the driver CD's that came
with hardware.

I never saw this at all. Just on store bought already configured
computers. In my experience HP was the worst. Although the rest isn't
that much better. No problem though, that is what the add/remove
software is for. Those that doesn't completely handle it, well there is
software like Ad-Watch. No problem.

 

[DCR]

Since Windows 3.1, I have NEVER had a virus.
But I keep on scanning one a month -- nothing!
I have had my e-mail scanner detect and delete only 2 attachments
in all these years.

However, when I call for tech support they ALWAYS insist
that my problem is a virus.

 

[arachnid]

It figures! Lots of people that will install anything. Yet many of us have
never got anything. And I have been using Windows since '93 running
Windows 3.1. Go figure!

That some Windows users haven't gotten anything doesn't mean it's not a
big problem for the rest.

I never saw this at all.

I saw plenty of it. It was one of the things that drove me from Windows.
Video cards, mice, CD burners... nearly anything that came with a driver
was leaving spyware and adware all over my system. And some of it was damn
hard to get out.

Just on store bought already configured computers.

That, too. Fortunately it all goes away when I delete the preinstalled
Windows and replace it with Linux...

In my experience HP was the worst.

How funny, I almost mentioned HP's spyware and decided not to. They've
sure come down in the world. There was a time when if I wanted something
and HP made one, I'd happily pay 2-3 times as much for their quality and
not even look at the competition. Now they're just another cheap
bottom-market brand.

Although the rest isn't that much better. No problem though, that is
what the add/remove software is for. Those that doesn't completely
handle it, well there is software like Ad-Watch. No problem.

It's not that easy. Some of that spyware is well-hidden and tenacious.
Until the new antispyware laws came along a few years ago, some spyware
was written so that removing it would kill peoples' systems.

At any rate I don't want to have to remove it, don't want to have to guard
against it, don't want to be bothered with spyware scanners and virus
scanners and removers and definition updates and losing system speed to
all my security monitors and never knowing for sure if I covered all the
bases. I guess you can't really grok how wonderful it is to be free of all
that until you experience it.

 

[Alias]

That some Windows users haven't gotten anything doesn't mean it's not a
big problem for the rest.


I saw plenty of it. It was one of the things that drove me from Windows.
Video cards, mice, CD burners... nearly anything that came with a driver
was leaving spyware and adware all over my system. And some of it was damn
hard to get out.


That, too. Fortunately it all goes away when I delete the preinstalled
Windows and replace it with Linux...


How funny, I almost mentioned HP's spyware and decided not to. They've
sure come down in the world. There was a time when if I wanted something
and HP made one, I'd happily pay 2-3 times as much for their quality and
not even look at the competition. Now they're just another cheap
bottom-market brand.


It's not that easy. Some of that spyware is well-hidden and tenacious.
Until the new antispyware laws came along a few years ago, some spyware
was written so that removing it would kill peoples' systems.

At any rate I don't want to have to remove it, don't want to have to guard
against it, don't want to be bothered with spyware scanners and virus
scanners and removers and definition updates and losing system speed to
all my security monitors and never knowing for sure if I covered all the
bases. I guess you can't really grok how wonderful it is to be free of all
that until you experience it.

"Grok"? LOL! I haven't heard that in ages.

Alias

 

[Gordon]

Same is true of Windows approved repositories. And your point being?

Would you like to give some URLs for windows "approved" repositories? The
ONLY "windows approved repositories" AFAIK is Microsoft, and that only has
maybe two dozen applications ? Approved Linux distro repositories have
literally THOUSANDS of applications available for download.

 

[Gordon]

Where is that central repository. I am still looking for a Linux media
player to replace WMP.

Try MPlayer. But you can't LEGALLY download W32 Codecs unless you also have
a valid Windows License AFAIK.....

 

[Alias]

But you can't LEGALLY download W32 Codecs unless you also have
a valid Windows License AFAIK.....

I believe that's only true in the USA.

Alias

 

[Gordon]

Two problems.

First off, why do I have to know what a CODEC is or where to get one? I
have never installed a CODEC on a Windows PC. Even to play DVD's, I never
installed a CODEC. I installed a DVD player application that happened to
include the required CODEC but I never had to think about it.

That's because the codecs already come in Windows, as the media formats are
windows proprietary. If it was the other way round, you would have to
install Linux format "codecs" to play Linux-format media files in Windows.

 

[Gordon]

Ah, they're just tweaking noses. Don't take them too seriously.


Yeah, but Linux lacks many widely-appreciated Windows features like WPA,
WGA(N), and Vista's new, improved DRM.

ROTFL!

You missed out the other one, the ability to be installed on ONE machine
only......

 

[arachnid]

ROTFL!

You missed out the other one, the ability to be installed on ONE machine
only......

Oh, you can install it on as many machines as you want to - at $399 per
machine...

 

[Dale]

And where are those Linux repositories? I am still looking for a Linux
package to replace WMP as my primary media player. I use WMP controlled via
COM in an application I wrote myself for listening to music and I use Media
Center for playing DVDs both on the PC and on my television. MPlayer
doesn't meet my needs. So where can I find a Linux media player that can
play DVDs, audio, and can be controlled externally so that I can write my
own shell around it if I don't like the one that comes with it? Oh, and
since this whole thread has recently revolved around high definition media
played through digital outputs, where is the Linux media player that will do
that?

While this post may sound like an argument, it is really not. If I can find
something in Linux or any other operating system that does all that, my
Media Center PC will become my Linux Media PC. With all the DRM and quality
issues resulting from DRM, I am convinced that I don't want to continue
using Windows for my media player. Of course, if I can't find that, it will
remain my Media Center PC because, until I find that, I have no alternative
to using Windows.

Dale