Linux + education = frustration

[jimmy the saint]

I have switched to linux almost completely. The almost is only because for all the community's focus on enabling education they seem to be missing some very basic points. I have taken three online math classes, and many of my regular classes have online material. So far I have needed windows for all the math classes, and much of the online material for the other classes is also inaccessible.
The reason? Lack of shockwave and projector support. I know that shockwave is proprietary, but so is mp3, windows, css and many other technologies that the linux community has seen fit to enable. I certainly don't have the knowledge to do this, but I am sure there are developers out there who can.
To any college students out there who take online classes: contact the companies who provide the program and encourage them to develop linux support. So far Thinkwell and MyMathLab offer none. Pressure Pressure Pressure.
Im sick of having to maintain a windows installation simply to do my classwork!!

[totalnub]

you could always run a VM for your windows needs

[subs]

I have switched to linux almost completely. The almost is only because for all the community's focus on enabling education they seem to be missing some very basic points. I have taken three online math classes, and many of my regular classes have online material. So far I have needed windows for all the math classes, and much of the online material for the other classes is also inaccessible.
The reason? Lack of shockwave and projector support. I know that shockwave is proprietary, but so is mp3, windows, css and many other technologies that the linux community has seen fit to enable. I certainly don't have the knowledge to do this, but I am sure there are developers out there who can.
To any college students out there who take online classes: contact the companies who provide the program and encourage them to develop linux support. So far Thinkwell and MyMathLab offer none. Pressure Pressure Pressure.
Im sick of having to maintain a windows installation simply to do my classwork!!



here is a link which will make ur life a little easier...

http://www.ubuntux.org/shockwave-player-ubuntu-linux

[xeth_delta]

About the projector support, aren't most of them using a standard VGA interface? If the one you want to use falls in this category, I can confirm that it works, as I have used one before on a a laptop of mine that had gentoo on it at the time.

Xeth

[jimmy the saint]

Subs: Thanks for the link, Ill try it out. Functionally it is an ok solution. I still have to install another instance of a program I already have. I still think someone should craft some kind of shockwave functionality for linux. I know it is low priority, but I guess I was in a compalining mood last night after trying to get thinkwell to work right in a linux environment.
Xeth: I dont know what the issue is. I am taking a class that uses Thinkwell and their player wont work in linux. They were going to put out a *nix player, but decided not to.
Thank you both for your tips!

[xeth_delta]

Subs: Thanks for the link, Ill try it out. Functionally it is an ok solution. I still have to install another instance of a program I already have. I still think someone should craft some kind of shockwave functionality for linux. I know it is low priority, but I guess I was in a compalining mood last night after trying to get thinkwell to work right in a linux environment.
Xeth: I dont know what the issue is. I am taking a class that uses Thinkwell and their player wont work in linux. They were going to put out a *nix player, but decided not to.
Thank you both for your tips!

I am not sure I understand the nature of the problem with the projector. Is it a sofware issue in which you cannot play certain files in some proprietary format, for instace provided by Thinkwell? Or is it a hardware problem, in which you basicaly can't get any output whatsoever? Do you have a link to the projector?

[subs]

I am not sure I understand the nature of the problem with the projector. Is it a sofware issue in which you cannot play certain files in some proprietary format, for instace provided by Thinkwell? Or is it a hardware problem, in which you basicaly can't get any output whatsoever? Do you have a link to the projector?



exactly....