Comments on: Ubuntu after One Week http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on. - Robert Frost Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:07:36 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Mark http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week/comment-page-1#comment-20768 Mark Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:11:12 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/?p=1082#comment-20768 Greg A - Thanks, but in my text I wrote, "I mean the kind from which there is no CTRL-ALT-DEL." So, I had tried that already, with my mouth held open in various ways. dd - Thanks. That particular application never ran when I clicked the shortcut for it, so I removed it. If there's a secret to running it, let me know. ArtInvent - I appreciate the encouragement. I know there will be a bit of a learning curve and I'm just going to have to spend some time with it. devnet - I have been trying Linux distros for several years -- starting with shell-only Slackware in the '90's. I have tried Suse, Mandrake (now gone?), RedHat, and a few others. None had near the hardware support I needed without someone saying, "Just write your own driver." Well, I'm not a developer, so that wasn't an option. I have not tried Mandriva. Besides the video editing part, I have had no difficulty making the move from Windows XP to Ubuntu, so unless Mandriva offers a video editor that no other Linux distro does, I don't know that it would make it any easier for me. Maybe for the first-time Linux user, it would be better. I wouldn't be a good one to test that theory because I've installed and messed with several distros and the first product I worked with at my current employer was Unix-based -- which resulted in total immersion and a high comfort level with the shell. Greg A – Thanks, but in my text I wrote, “I mean the kind from which there is no CTRL-ALT-DEL.” So, I had tried that already, with my mouth held open in various ways.

dd – Thanks. That particular application never ran when I clicked the shortcut for it, so I removed it. If there’s a secret to running it, let me know.

ArtInvent – I appreciate the encouragement. I know there will be a bit of a learning curve and I’m just going to have to spend some time with it.

devnet – I have been trying Linux distros for several years — starting with shell-only Slackware in the ’90’s. I have tried Suse, Mandrake (now gone?), RedHat, and a few others. None had near the hardware support I needed without someone saying, “Just write your own driver.” Well, I’m not a developer, so that wasn’t an option.

I have not tried Mandriva. Besides the video editing part, I have had no difficulty making the move from Windows XP to Ubuntu, so unless Mandriva offers a video editor that no other Linux distro does, I don’t know that it would make it any easier for me. Maybe for the first-time Linux user, it would be better. I wouldn’t be a good one to test that theory because I’ve installed and messed with several distros and the first product I worked with at my current employer was Unix-based — which resulted in total immersion and a high comfort level with the shell.

]]> By: devnet http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week/comment-page-1#comment-20703 devnet Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:04:04 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/?p=1082#comment-20703 I always find it odd that everyone tries Ubuntu as the "new user" distro of choice. I find that assumption that Ubuntu is the best distro for a new user contrary to actual experiences. For new users, Mandriva is probably the easiest transition from Windows XP period. I always find it odd that everyone tries Ubuntu as the “new user” distro of choice. I find that assumption that Ubuntu is the best distro for a new user contrary to actual experiences.

For new users, Mandriva is probably the easiest transition from Windows XP period.

]]> By: ArtInvent http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week/comment-page-1#comment-20701 ArtInvent Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:54:15 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/?p=1082#comment-20701 Agreed, video is not there quite yet in Linux. I use Cinelerra because I need HD support, and I've had a lot of figuring out to do, especially with input and output formats. Cinelerra works quite well once you learn to work the way it wants to work. Kino is a pretty great low-end app for DV and firewire capturing. I've also used Kdenlive which is very promising, but whose output formats I could not get to work well for HD at this time. Watch for Kdenlive 0.6 coming out imminently, it could be the start of some very good things for Linux video editing. Agreed, video is not there quite yet in Linux. I use Cinelerra because I need HD support, and I’ve had a lot of figuring out to do, especially with input and output formats. Cinelerra works quite well once you learn to work the way it wants to work. Kino is a pretty great low-end app for DV and firewire capturing. I’ve also used Kdenlive which is very promising, but whose output formats I could not get to work well for HD at this time. Watch for Kdenlive 0.6 coming out imminently, it could be the start of some very good things for Linux video editing.

]]> By: dd http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week/comment-page-1#comment-20700 dd Fri, 08 Aug 2008 19:21:52 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/?p=1082#comment-20700 For video editing there is an excellent "OpenMovieEditor" for Linux - just try! Rgds, -dd For video editing there is an excellent “OpenMovieEditor” for Linux – just try!
Rgds,
-dd

]]> By: Greg A http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week/comment-page-1#comment-20697 Greg A Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:17:41 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/?p=1082#comment-20697 BTW, to save yourself reaching for the power button if Ubuntu locks up, you can press Ctrl+Alt+Backspace. This usually works for me. BTW, to save yourself reaching for the power button if Ubuntu locks up, you can press Ctrl+Alt+Backspace. This usually works for me.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week/comment-page-1#comment-20694 Dave Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:42:57 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/?p=1082#comment-20694 *LOL* Did I put an R on there??? Sorry... you're right, EVOlution! I'm going to have to try Thunderbird... hmmmmm *LOL* Did I put an R on there??? Sorry… you’re right, EVOlution!

I’m going to have to try Thunderbird… hmmmmm

]]> By: Mark http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week/comment-page-1#comment-20693 Mark Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:04:38 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/?p=1082#comment-20693 Freevideoman - Your comment seems like an advertisement to me, but I'll think about checking it out. But, compared to Adobe Premiere Elements, which is not a beginner's tool in my opinion, the free editors for Linux are complex. Like I mentioned, however, I haven't given up yet. It might just take a little learning, and that's why I gave myself a month to try Ubuntu. My test is to see if I could live Windows-free (at home, anyway), so even if I have to boot into Windows only to edit video, that's still not Windows-free. Dave - I haven't tried Wine or any kind of VM to run Windows under Linux. The computer I'm using right now doesn't have the horsepower for that with straight Ubuntu. Xubuntu, maybe. I don't use Evolution (not Revolution - ha!), because I was accustomed to Thunderbird on Windows and it looks exactly the same in Linux. I've heard it is excellent, though. Freevideoman – Your comment seems like an advertisement to me, but I’ll think about checking it out. But, compared to Adobe Premiere Elements, which is not a beginner’s tool in my opinion, the free editors for Linux are complex. Like I mentioned, however, I haven’t given up yet. It might just take a little learning, and that’s why I gave myself a month to try Ubuntu.

My test is to see if I could live Windows-free (at home, anyway), so even if I have to boot into Windows only to edit video, that’s still not Windows-free.

Dave – I haven’t tried Wine or any kind of VM to run Windows under Linux. The computer I’m using right now doesn’t have the horsepower for that with straight Ubuntu. Xubuntu, maybe.

I don’t use Evolution (not Revolution – ha!), because I was accustomed to Thunderbird on Windows and it looks exactly the same in Linux. I’ve heard it is excellent, though.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week/comment-page-1#comment-20691 Dave Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:27:08 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/?p=1082#comment-20691 Mark, As you know I've been using Ubuntu for quite some time. I have it running at work in a VM (Virtual Machine), and at home on a dedicated HDD on a PC that I experiment with. Yeah, the text based SUDO stuff is annoying at times, but it still beats Windows in many ways. Oh, have you tried yet running Windows in a VM under Ubuntu? That's my next project. You forgot to mention Revolution, the email client. Very easy to install and get connected to your email accounts, full featured and just plain works. I don't know if I could ever switch completely over to Ubuntu though... that takes guts! *LOL* Mark,

As you know I’ve been using Ubuntu for quite some time. I have it running at work in a VM (Virtual Machine), and at home on a dedicated HDD on a PC that I experiment with.

Yeah, the text based SUDO stuff is annoying at times, but it still beats Windows in many ways.

Oh, have you tried yet running Windows in a VM under Ubuntu? That’s my next project.

You forgot to mention Revolution, the email client. Very easy to install and get connected to your email accounts, full featured and just plain works.

I don’t know if I could ever switch completely over to Ubuntu though… that takes guts! *LOL*

]]> By: Freevideoman http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week/comment-page-1#comment-20682 Freevideoman Fri, 08 Aug 2008 07:33:29 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/?p=1082#comment-20682 Hi Mark - I was intrigued to read that you couldn't find any free video editor to work with your Ubuntu Dist (or rather you could but they were difficult to use) I'm wondering which ones you tried. You might want to head over to http://www.free-video-editing.com/fve where there is a list of numerous free tools that work on windows/ linux/Mac OS etc. You may find one there that suits you. Best of luck with this and keep up the good work on Ubuntu! Freevideoman Hi Mark – I was intrigued to read that you couldn’t find any free video editor to work with your Ubuntu Dist (or rather you could but they were difficult to use)

I’m wondering which ones you tried.

You might want to head over to http://www.free-video-editing.com/fve where there is a list of numerous free tools that work on windows/ linux/Mac OS etc.

You may find one there that suits you.

Best of luck with this and keep up the good work on Ubuntu!

Freevideoman

]]> By: Mark http://blog.markwill.com/2008/08/07/ubuntu-after-one-week/comment-page-1#comment-20678 Mark Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:39:54 +0000 http://blog.markwill.com/?p=1082#comment-20678 Simon - That's the thing -- I was doing everything that most home computer users would ever need, right out of the box (although there was no box). Admittedly, however, if you do more than the average user and don't like tinkering with computers, then Linux probably isn't quite ready for you. I'm thinking that the video editing performance had more to do with the RAM in the machine. I have only 512MB of RAM in it, and was thinking I had 1GB. I still don't understand why you have so many problems with Windows XP. Oh well. A Mac would be cool to have if I had the budget, too. There, because of OS X, you can either use it out of the box or tinker -- best of both worlds! Jamnjazzz - Hey, glad you wandered over here. I just checked out Xubuntu, and it might be the perfect thing for the machine I'm now using to run Ubuntu, because it's made for machines that don't have quite as much RAM or quite as much CPU power. I'm about to install Ubuntu on my main, more powerful system, to see how it does on a 64-bit CPU and 2GB RAM (I think I have 2GB, but I can't check it right now because it isn't turned on). Simon – That’s the thing — I was doing everything that most home computer users would ever need, right out of the box (although there was no box). Admittedly, however, if you do more than the average user and don’t like tinkering with computers, then Linux probably isn’t quite ready for you. I’m thinking that the video editing performance had more to do with the RAM in the machine. I have only 512MB of RAM in it, and was thinking I had 1GB.

I still don’t understand why you have so many problems with Windows XP. Oh well.

A Mac would be cool to have if I had the budget, too. There, because of OS X, you can either use it out of the box or tinker — best of both worlds!

Jamnjazzz – Hey, glad you wandered over here. I just checked out Xubuntu, and it might be the perfect thing for the machine I’m now using to run Ubuntu, because it’s made for machines that don’t have quite as much RAM or quite as much CPU power. I’m about to install Ubuntu on my main, more powerful system, to see how it does on a 64-bit CPU and 2GB RAM (I think I have 2GB, but I can’t check it right now because it isn’t turned on).

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