Jeff Fisher wrote: > There are actually very few open source products that even come close to > what is out there. For example, over the weekend, I loaded up ubuntu on a > spare PC. I typically use this PC to as a print server, messing around box, > and to play music while I work. On the windows side, I use applications like > MediaMonkey, JetAudio, and Winamp to play music. Anything like that out > there for Linux? Not even close and I have tried quite a few alternatives > now. They won't play my MP3's, did find something to play my WMA's but no > way of creating a playlist. Most of the interfaces look like they were > developed way back in '95 and even then, most won't work at all. Some of > them required that I go back to a command line to install - haven't seen > that in the rest of the world for decades. And to top it off, the damn thing > just locked up on me again - had to reboot. But even with that said, you > would pick it over Microsoft.
Jeff, I'm *supposed* to be working today, so I'm just going say that I've had the opposite experience with Open Source, and comment on the few apps that you mentioned above that I do have experience with. First, I have to agree with you about Ubuntu. I keep downloading and trying the latest versions of Ubuntu, because so many people rave about it, I figure I MUST be missing something. But, and I'm sure this is because I'm an idiot, I CAN NOT get the damn thing to see my hard drives to save my life, let alone "right out of the box." But I've had great success with Knoppix and Suse - maybe you might want to try them. Regarding interfaces, I've had just the opposite experience you've had. Some of the Linux interfaces have too damn much Eye candy, and I have to turn some of it off. Most of the rest are about the same was Windows, and yes, there are a few clunkers (ditto withWindows). As far asWinamp, I think it's the best Windows media player there is, which is why when I'm on the Linux machine, I use XMMS - a Linux Clone that's pretty much indistinguishable from Winamp, down to the look and feel, controls, and skins. I don't know why they haven't been sued, yet. I don't know what media monkey, etc, are, but if they're Audio Editors, I'm very happy with Audacity, which does everything I can think of. Ditto for Gimp for graphics. As far as source code, Tortoise SVN is a no-brainer. If there's an X on the folder, right click and choose commit. Done. Finally, there is so much cross-platform writing going on, that a lot of the tools I use in Linux are the same ones I use in Windows: Adobe, Real Player, Open Office, Thunderbird, Fire Fox, Opera, Apache, Bitcomet, NX Client, VNC, Python and Skype are just the ones the come immediately to mind. In short, try something besides Unbuntu. Or.... don't. Stick with what you like. Free will. Gotta love it. :-) _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
