Adrian Try wrote:
Hi Harold
Other things to determine include features like being able to
download podcasts (does Itunes run on Linux?),
You don't need iTunes to download podcasts. Most Linux media players
can download podcasts. And podcasts are just media files attached to
an RSS feed, so any RSS reader can download podcasts. Personally, I
use the RSS feature in the Opera browser.
The real question is about media files you have purchased from the
iTunes store. Apple are working very hard to lock you into using
iTunes and iPods to listen to their music. This is concerning.
However, if you want to go on buying music from the iTunes store, it
is possible to get the Windows verions of iTunes working under Linux,
and there is also a Linux program that allows you to buy software from
the iTunes store.
If you are concerned about being able to transfer music to your iPod,
most Linux media players are able to do this, and there are also
standalone programs written specifically for that purpose. There is
even a "plugin" available for the normal file manager to allow you to
transfer music to and from the iPod.
listen to CDs,
Easy and automatic.
watch DVDs,
Requires the installation of one file.
record CDs/DVDs and other multi-media gadgets.
If you mean recording to CD/DVD (burning), there are excellent burning
programs. If you mean recording from CD/DVD (ripping), then it is also
quite possible. There are many easy and effective ways of ripping from
CD, and also programs that can convert DVD movies to different formats.
Image manipulation, for example, is another area to consider.
Many excellent tools and programs to do this. Do you have any specific
concerns?
If you are looking for powerful photo editing programs, then have a
look at Gimp (www.gimp.org) and Krita (www.koffice.org/krita). If
you'd like to play with them, Gimp is available for Windows, and Krita
probably will be next year.
My newish digital camera came with software for Windows and MAC but
not for Linux although there might well be something out there (I
haven't looked).
Probably most of the software that came with your camera were basic
photo editing programs. That's been my experience when buying cameras
and scanners. And I never used any of them!
Linux photo management programs (like digiKam www.digikam.org)
automatically recognise a wide range of cameras and scanners. It is
also normally possible to transfer photos by mounting the camera as a
usb drive, or by using a compact flash or SD card reader. I've never
had a problem transferring photos.
I think most if not all of this is available under Linux but I
believe require more work than under Windows. Somebody please tell me
I'm wrong.
There are many different Linux versions. Some are designed to be very
configurable, which means more work by default. Others are designed
for new users, and require very little work. It is difficult to answer
"ease of use" questions about Linux, because it varies from distro to
distro, and people mean different things by the term.
It is a bit of an art choosing a suitable distribution. Ask questions
if you are interested. As has been mentioned, Ubuntu is quite a good
distribution, but others like PCLinuxOS and Freespire require less
fiddling for a beginner. It's probably better to start with a distro
that is too easy rather than too hard. With many good options, I'm
sure you will be offered lots of varying opinions. Listen to all of them.
Hope this helps. If you'd like more details on anything I've touched
on, please ask!
Adrian
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Adrian Try wrote:
watch DVDs,
Requires the installation of one file.
What file would that be? Will it allow me to watch commercially made
(Hollywood) movies? If so, where do I get it from?
The Totem Movie Player plays home made DVD's, but will not play a
regular movie DVD. Where do I get the stuff to make it play a regular
movie DVD from?
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