UBUNTU? Any good?

computershack

ses6jwg wrote: »

Like I said if you just use your laptop for browsing the net, emails, word processing and listening to music. Its brilliant. especially on older laptops,

but anything else and it gets difficult.

How do you listen to MP3s in Ubuntu in a default installation? MP3 support isn't included and requires both the enabling of repositories and installing the ubuntu-restricted-extras package.

As stuartk suggests, installing it via wubi is the way to go. That way if you don't like it you uninstall it from Windows using Add/Remove Programs.

spud17

How do you listen to MP3s in Ubuntu in a default installation? MP3 support isn't included and requires both the enabling of repositories and installing the ubuntu-restricted-extras package.

Rhythmbox, comes with Mint and Ubuntu plays my cd's ripped to mp3.

Set up playlists etc, sort by genre, album or artiste also handles podcasts, but not explored that.

Or have I miss understood what you're asking?

turbobob

computershack wrote: »

How do you listen to MP3s in Ubuntu in a default installation? MP3 support isn't included and requires both the enabling of repositories and installing the ubuntu-restricted-extras package.

As stuartk suggests, installing it via wubi is the way to go. That way if you don't like it you uninstall it from Windows using Add/Remove Programs.

In my installation (version 9.10) it did not require any modification to the default software sources. Easiest way is just to click "Applications", "Ubuntu Software Centre", "Other" and installing the Ubuntu restricted extras package. This adds support for MP3, WMA, AAC, Flash, Java and DVD (non protected DVD's) in a couple of clicks.

ses6jwg

Yep, just went on software centre and installed the restricted extras package and rhythym box, no problems.

spud17

Is the 64 bit version to be recommended?

Are there significant advantages over 32 bit? If it's only used for general surfing.

After all Win 7 64bit seems to be the favoured option.

gaming_guy

spud17 wrote: »

Is the 64 bit version to be recommended?

Are there significant advantages over 32 bit? If it's only used for general surfing.

After all Win 7 64bit seems to be the favoured option.

i have had 8.10 amd64 installed on my rig for the past year or so and haven't had any problems with it.

flash can be a bit hard to install but there are several guides on ubuntuforums on how to install a 64bit version of flash

computershack

spud17 wrote: »

Rhythmbox, comes with Mint and Ubuntu plays my cd's ripped to mp3.

Set up playlists etc, sort by genre, album or artiste also handles podcasts, but not explored that.

Or have I miss understood what you're asking?

Yes. Until you've installed MP3 CODECS, Rythmbox will not play MP3s.

bat999

computershack wrote: »

Yes. Until you've installed MP3 CODECS, Rythmbox will not play MP3s.

That's right.
The mp3 codec needed by Rhythmbox is:-

gstreamer0.10-fluendo-mp3

It's in the repo, use Synaptic Package Manager to install it.
:cool:

spud17

Until you've installed MP3 CODECS, Rythmbox will not play MP3s.

As soon as you move an mp3 to Rhythmbox, it says codec required and immediately downloads the appropriate file (s).

Exactly the same happened with a flac track, didn't need to even go to Synaptic.

Ubuntu also installed an HP laserjet 1320 printer that I'd forgotten was connected.

I had to search for the XP driver on the HP site.

It took longer than an automatic download of a codec.

computershack

spud17 wrote: »

Ubuntu also installed an HP laserjet 1320 printer that I'd forgotten was connected.

I had to search for the XP driver on the HP site.

It took longer than an automatic download of a codec.

Very nice. Perhaps you'd like to get the scanner on my Epson SX405 working? That'll take longer than installing Windows, all the updates, all the drivers, all the software and copying your files back.

With Linux, if it works OOTB, its great, as is Windows. Difference is when it isn't. With Windows, finding drivers is a breeze. With Linux, its a crapshoot.