why is ubuntu not "sufficiently"user friendly???

[richard.stallman]

why is ubuntu not user friendly??? this is the doubt in my mind, five days after switching to it from XP.

My reasons:
No codec for .avi at all!!!
No codec for mp3 files( Oh my God!!)
No codec for other media files also
Default bittorrent client is the worst
Why should repositories not be all-enabled??

How should new users who don't have internet connection( like my friends) play movies/songs ever??? From where can i get files, which i can give them in a pen/flash drive?? (VLC doesn't have one!!!)

Shouldn't a guide be enclosed which provides information useful to those switching from XP/Vista to Ubuntu??? Or atleast create a "free" PDF for this??

[dca]

When a license is purchased for Windows whether through OEM (you bought the PC at the store) or you bought the install software a portion of the price you paid goes from Steve Ballmer's check book to the license and patent holders of said technology. ie: MP3=The Germans, DVD codecs= whoever created the encryption/descrambler mechanism, etc, etc. That's why it's a little difficult the get these things working in a free OS...

...not to mention, it's against the law in the US to install all the items you're referring to w/o compensating the license & patent holders...

[Het Irv]

The codecs are not installed by default because Ubuntu does not have the license to distribute this software with it's OS versions, you can easily install these by going to Add/Remove and searching for Ubuntu Restricted Extras, (you may have to go to the top right and select all avalible). Azureus can also be install from their and is a great bit torrent client. Ubuntu is based around a high speed connection, and it is very hard to get it going without some kind of Internet.

[Bruce M.]

why is ubuntu not user friendly??? this is the doubt in my mind, five days after switching to it from XP.

My reasons:
No codec for .avi at all!!!
No codec for mp3 files( Oh my God!!)
No codec for other media files also
Default bittorrent client is the worst
Why should repositories not be all-enabled??

How should new users who don't have internet connection( like my friends) play movies/songs ever??? From where can i get files, which i can give them in a pen/flash drive?? (VLC doesn't have one!!!)

Shouldn't a guide be enclosed which provides information useful to those switching from XP/Vista to Ubuntu??? Or atleast create a "free" PDF for this??

From my experience Ubuntu is very user friendly.

I admit that the points you bring up are an issue, but that is because the codecs are not FREE (as in free beer). You can however open the multiverse repositories and get them quite easily.

Open System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager
then: Settings > Repositories and select:

Software restricted by copyright or legal issues (multiverse)

Now you can get your codecs.
Bruce

[philinux]

For your friends get Linux Mint. Based on Ubuntu but has all codecs installed by default.

http://linuxmint.com/

Only 32 bit version though.

For torrents I use Deluge. Really smart. http://deluge-torrent.org/
The download is a .deb file so easy double click install.

[richard.stallman]

For your friends get Linux Mint. Based on Ubuntu but has all codecs installed by default.

http://linuxmint.com/

Only 32 bit version though.

For torrents I use Deluge. Really smart. http://deluge-torrent.org/
The download is a .deb file so easy double click install.
thx but what about copyright stuff???? are they not applicate to linuxmint??

[wolfen69]

go to system>admin>software sources

make sure all boxes are checked.

then open terminal and
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
that will give you a good start.

in ubuntu, avi, mp3, and most codecs will work. just ask us how.

[richard.stallman]

For your friends get Linux Mint. Based on Ubuntu but has all codecs installed by default.

http://linuxmint.com/

Only 32 bit version though.

For torrents I use Deluge. Really smart. http://deluge-torrent.org/
The download is a .deb file so easy double click install.
what about GNOME version???? http://linuxmint.com/download.php

[cowboysurfer]

For beginners user guides to Ubuntu programs i suggest here (http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Gutsy) or here (http://diveintomark.org/archives/2006/06/26/essentials-2006)

[jan quark]

the main and light version of mint are gnome versions

what do you want to know with this question?

[wolfen69]

thx but what about copyright stuff???? are they not applicate to linuxmint??

the copyright stuff only applies to the US.
mint is from Europe.

[richard.stallman]

The codecs are not installed by default because Ubuntu does not have the license to distribute this software with it's OS versions, you can easily install these by going to Add/Remove and searching for Ubuntu Restricted Extras, (you may have to go to the top right and select all avalible). Azureus can also be install from their and is a great bit torrent client. Ubuntu is based around a high speed connection, and it is very hard to get it going without some kind of Internet.
so ubuntu is clearly not meant for "everyone"!!! it is just for a limited few with broadband connections??? "Very Nice" philosophy, especially when ubuntu wants to replace windows xp!!!

[SuperMike]

This is a troll. Why would a person capable of even knowing who Richard Stallman is, and what he stands for, post a ridiculous comment of wanting to put proprietary media drivers inside Ubuntu? Why anyone responds to this thread seriously is beyond me.

[jan quark]

what is the goal of this discussion?

just asking humbly....

[richard.stallman]

what do you want to know with this question?

I want to be able to solve all the above problems Or else, atleast a codec package should be available for offline installation( like KLC codec for Windows Xp). Otherwise, it makes no sense to say to my friends, " Ubuntu OS is free, but to use it, U need a net connection, which is not free".

[richard.stallman]

the copyright stuff only applies to the US.
mint is from Europe.
k. thx for d info

So why can't Ubuntu work from Europe?? It makes no sense to irritate millions of users and would-be users. Or atleast an official alternate version should be released for non-US users. ( Remember that US laws are valid, only in the US and not in the rest of the world).

[stchman]

why is ubuntu not user friendly??? this is the doubt in my mind, five days after switching to it from XP.

My reasons:
No codec for .avi at all!!!
No codec for mp3 files( Oh my God!!)
No codec for other media files also
Default bittorrent client is the worst
Why should repositories not be all-enabled??

How should new users who don't have internet connection( like my friends) play movies/songs ever??? From where can i get files, which i can give them in a pen/flash drive?? (VLC doesn't have one!!!)

Shouldn't a guide be enclosed which provides information useful to those switching from XP/Vista to Ubuntu??? Or atleast create a "free" PDF for this??


The shortcomings you speak of are pretty trivial. The installation of a few codecs are all that is needed. The online Ubuntu documentation tells you exactly how to do it.

What is XP's or Vista's default bittorrent client? Granted the default bittorrent client for Ubuntu is pretty weak, but it beats XP or Vista's default torrent client.

What Office suite comes pre-installed on XP or Vista?

What Image editing program is on XP or Vista by default?

What IM client comes by default on XP or Vista?

Granted Vista has a lot more to it as far as default software over XP (XP has pretty much nothing for the $140 you spend on it), but Ubuntu has way more software by default that eith XP or Vista.

Once you have your codecs installed you can unplug your Ubuntu machine and have it be an island.

You mean there are people that don't have internet connections?

[LaRoza]

The CD is shipped free of charge, the OS is completely free.

If you do not have the ability to use the internet, you can get all the official repositories (including the stuff not enabled by default) here:

http://www.thelinuxstore.ca/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1392&zenid=7habbeackn0mgae8jgadcvlft1

If you want a distro that comes with more, they are available. Ubuntu isn't the only choice.

[seventhc]

XP is for broadband
On a fresh install of xp you have to download the second half of the of OS ermm i mean updates.

[stchman]

XP is for broadband
On a fresh install of xp you have to download the second half of the of OS ermm i mean updates.

Agreed, any modern OS pretty much requires a broadband connection.

[chrisch]

I am getting sick of these dumb down computer users creating these threads to bash the best OS on the planet. If you want a Windows replacement, buy a Mac. If you want the best OS then you've come to the right place, but please leave your complaints with Bill!

[Niniel]

Default bittorrent client is the worst

I disagree.
It's functional and works very nicely. It's more than good enough for downloading files in the background. What is it you are missing?

[richard.stallman]

I disagree.
It's functional and works very nicely. It's more than good enough for downloading files in the background. What is it you are missing?
i have CLEARLY explained waht i need. a method to solve these problems.

[richard.stallman]

This is a troll. Why would a person capable of even knowing who Richard Stallman is, and what he stands for, post a ridiculous comment of wanting to put proprietary media drivers inside Ubuntu? Why anyone responds to this thread seriously is beyond me.
because this is a genuine problem.

[LaRoza]

because this is a genuine problem.

No it isn't.

Ubuntu is free of charge and free to everyone. You should expect nothing from it.

That is like complaining that ReactOS is not usable.

Ubuntu is popular, but it isn't the only choice. Other distros have the codecs, and have more than Ubuntu by default. OpenSuSE may interest you.

Just to inform you:

* Richard Stallman won't buy or accept as gifts encrypted DVD's. (That means almost all movies)
* Richard Stallman won't use hardware that requires closed source software. This includes recording equipment.
* Richard Stallman uses gNewSense, a distribution based on Ubuntu 6.06 which has all the non free components removed including kernel parts, and has the non free (as defined by the FSF) repositories removed.

[p_quarles]

because this is a genuine problem.
Perhaps, but it's also one that's very easy to solve through a simple forum search, and one which has also been solved in posts to this thread.

[richard.stallman]

The shortcomings you speak of are pretty trivial. The installation of a few codecs are all that is needed. The online Ubuntu documentation tells you exactly how to do it.

What is XP's or Vista's default bittorrent client? Granted the default bittorrent client for Ubuntu is pretty weak, but it beats XP or Vista's default torrent client.

What Office suite comes pre-installed on XP or Vista?

What Image editing program is on XP or Vista by default?

What IM client comes by default on XP or Vista?

Granted Vista has a lot more to it as far as default software over XP (XP has pretty much nothing for the $140 you spend on it), but Ubuntu has way more software by default that eith XP or Vista.

Once you have your codecs installed you can unplug your Ubuntu machine and have it be an island.

You mean there are people that don't have internet connections?

this user has clearly just seen my post and not read it. his reply is half-baked. and yes,
there are people that don't have internet connections. i'm from india and THIS IS A FACT. i'd be happy, if the questions asked by me are answered first. i agree that ubuntu is v.good in many other aspects, but i don't need them now.

[NightwishFan]

On the other hand Ubuntu perfectly suits my needs. My cds get ripped to flac. My recordings are done in ogg. Mp3 is a proprietary codec which I prefer to have no use of.

[rune0077]

This is a troll. Why would a person capable of even knowing who Richard Stallman is, and what he stands for, post a ridiculous comment of wanting to put proprietary media drivers inside Ubuntu? Why anyone responds to this thread seriously is beyond me.

Well you responded didn't you? Why would anyone knowing who Stallman is want to install proprietary software inside Ubuntu? Uh wait, maybe because we want to be able to play our MP3 files and watch DVD's on our computers and really couldn't care less if Stallman or whoever thinks that's a bad idea.

[NightwishFan]

Well you responded didn't you? Why would anyone knowing who Stallman is want to install proprietary software inside Ubuntu? Uh wait, maybe because we want to be able to play our MP3 files and watch DVD's on our computers and really couldn't care less if Stallman or whoever thinks that's a bad idea.

Then stick with a commercial OS. :lolflag: Or if you live in an area where it is illegal, go ahead and break the law.

[p_quarles]

The specific questions the OP had have already been answered. Thread closed.