Linux questions

[Conster]

Does Linux have a media player program and can the media files
with the same extension as Windows uses be played on the program/s,
like MP3 etc.

Also does Linux have a picture/photo program that runs *.jpg,
*.bmp, *.ttf etc. While I'm boning up on the possibility of trying
Linux.

While there have been many benefits as far as safety and reliability
discussed, I want to be sure it's something that would functional for
me and the games I enjoy, the Internet interaction with web cam and
voice chat.

For instance, I couldn't use my Agent on Linux, could I? I've been
doing reading, but I'm looking at a much cheaper -- Except my WinME
full version is a bootleg copy. Everytime I had to wipe and reinstall
(I know that's one of the benefits of Linux), I had to start from DOS
6.0, and upgrade each edition until I hit WinME. I do have the full
installation for XP, But I feel they are playing dirty.

For instance, I installed the student/teacher version of Word. I
haven't noticed much difference with it, but I thought it probably has
special features that I haven't found yet. I installed and registered
it on this desktop, because I use it more frequently. I used it on my
laptop and called in to register it and they basically want me to pay
another copy because it's on a separate hard drive. To me and I know
they are justified, but my laptop is merely an extension of my
desk-top, as a scanner would be. I don't use it much, but it's nice to
have it when I can. And since MS figured out so many people were
boot-legging the programs because of the incredibly high expense, the
newer program now have a usage limit. I can use Office Word 31 more
times.

Connie
Just remember, when you're over the hill, you pick up speed.

Charles M. Schultz

ladyconster - MSN Messenger
Send me email - I love it!!
***@nctv.com

[Dave Laird]

Good afternoon, Connie...

Post by Conster
Does Linux have a media player program and can the media files
with the same extension as Windows uses be played on the program/s,
like MP3 etc.

The built-in sound server supports .WAV,.MP3 and a handful of others, as
well as a sound editor that works pretty well, too. You should hear the
noises my workstation can make. <evil grin>

Post by Conster
Also does Linux have a picture/photo program that runs *.jpg,
*.bmp, *.ttf etc. While I'm boning up on the possibility of trying
Linux.

Oooh yes!!! There are *several* applications, not just one. There are a
handful of viewers, not to mention the world-reknown The Gimp which has
powers and capabilities which Windows doesn't even offer. The list of
applications is simply too long to list, and I'm being totally serious
here.

Post by Conster
While there have been many benefits as far as safety and reliability
discussed, I want to be sure it's something that would functional for
me and the games I enjoy, the Internet interaction with web cam and
voice chat.

Well, there are several programs for running IRC chat, but your web cam
might take a fair amount of work setting it up, depending upon what you
want to do with it. As for your DOS/Windows games, none of them would
probably work in the Linux environment, although I've worked with the
Windows emulator to where Commander Keen actually works, but without
sound. However, that requires a fairly substantial knowledge of how to
make Wine (the emulator) work with old DOS games. Some of the new Windows
games, however, have been ported over to Linux, but I don't know much
about them, as I do not have time to play many games these days.

Post by Conster
For instance, I couldn't use my Agent on Linux, could I? I've been

Who needs Agent? That's for Windows. For reading and writing to newsgroups
there is Pan, which looks and feels a lot like Agent, and Knode, which
runs beneath KDE's desktop and is part of the Kontact system, which looks
a lot like Microsoft's own Outlook.

Post by Conster
doing reading, but I'm looking at a much cheaper -- Except my WinME
full version is a bootleg copy. Everytime I had to wipe and reinstall
(I know that's one of the benefits of Linux), I had to start from DOS
6.0, and upgrade each edition until I hit WinME. I do have the full
installation for XP, But I feel they are playing dirty.

Yes, especially when you consider Microsoft's latest attempt at upgrading
XP security breaks a *LOT* of systems. I'm actually getting a *lot* of
phone calls from people who, six months ago, turned their noses up at
Linux, simply because their systems have crashed, time after time, and
they're sick of it. The other problem, which is turning heads, is that one
of the sales points for XP and XP/Pro has been that it purportedly has a
built-in firewall. The latest security fixes the XP firewall, which
apparently has never worked since XP was released. The real question is,
given the issues the latest security patch purportedly fixes that were
fixed in the last security upgrade, leaves one asking, "So when do we
start trusting Microsoft's word again?" Yes, they are playing dirty with
their customers, in more ways than one.

Post by Conster
For instance, I installed the student/teacher version of Word. I
haven't noticed much difference with it, but I thought it probably has
special features that I haven't found yet. I installed and registered
it on this desktop, because I use it more frequently. I used it on my
laptop and called in to register it and they basically want me to pay
another copy because it's on a separate hard drive. To me and I know

Yup. Not only that, now that they know you are using it on two different
drives and are a student, they may even come and pay you a personal visit
and demand payment. Microsoft's security team spends more time trying to
catch people running bootleg software than they do trying to fix security
issues. It's a fact.

Post by Conster
they are justified, but my laptop is merely an extension of my
desk-top, as a scanner would be. I don't use it much, but it's nice to
have it when I can. And since MS figured out so many people were
boot-legging the programs because of the incredibly high expense, the
newer program now have a usage limit. I can use Office Word 31 more
times.

Well, a year ago, I began using OpenOffice full time as my default word
processor, both on the Microsoft and Linux operating systems, and it has
more than paid for itself. Its word processor is very much like running
MS-Word, and it saves its files in MS-Word format (.DOC) if I configure it
that way, and it does allow Windows users to open the .DOC files it
creates. The spreadsheets it creates can also be saved as Excel
spreadsheets, the presentations like Powerpoint files, and can export
*ANY* of its files as .PDF's, which Microsoft cannot do without purchasing
a copy of Adobe's software program to create .PDF's, which costs another
$200+ dollars.

PLUS, if you have a flatbed scanner (preferably USB) that is a reasonably
mainstream name (HP, Canon, Mustek & so on) it will recognize the scanner
and allow you to scan any images into any of the graphics tools which I
mentioned earlier. It has *several* e-mail agents, usenet news agents, and
a ton of different games. There is simply put, too much software included
for free in the Linux distributions, to list it all, regardless which
distribution you want to use. Ask James about Debian's list. I just
downloaded a working Debian distribution for a server the other day, and
it has more stuff than RedHat *EVER* had. Uf da. Ask Jack in the Cave
about his experiences running Mandrake Linux for the first time in his
life.

Above all else, talk to us about what you expect and want from your
desktop computer. Every little bit helps...

Dave

[James Vahn]

Post by Dave Laird
Yes, especially when you consider Microsoft's latest attempt at upgrading
XP security breaks a *LOT* of systems.

The last Edupage made it sound like a virus or DoS attack. :-)

Post by Dave Laird
I'm actually getting a *lot* of phone calls from people who, six months
ago, turned their noses up at Linux, simply because their systems have

A man I know in Scotland seems to be finally switching over. He has quite
some locked-in investments in Microsoft for his print shop though. I was
suprised when he started asking about Linux.

Post by Dave Laird
purportedly fixes that were fixed in the last security upgrade, leaves one
asking, "So when do we start trusting Microsoft's word again?"

"Someone trusting Microsoft" is hard to imagine..!

Post by Dave Laird
creates. The spreadsheets it creates can also be saved as Excel
spreadsheets, the presentations like Powerpoint files, and can export
*ANY* of its files as .PDF's, which Microsoft cannot do without purchasing
a copy of Adobe's software program to create .PDF's, which costs another
$200+ dollars.

Really though, most programs can output postscript and converted to PDF
with ps2pdf, and the kprinter menu itself has an option to write PDF files.

Post by Dave Laird
for free in the Linux distributions, to list it all, regardless which
distribution you want to use. Ask James about Debian's list.

~$ apt-cache stats

Total Package Names : 21964 (879k)
<......>

--

[James Vahn]

Post by Conster
Does Linux have a media player program and can the media files
with the same extension as Windows uses be played on the program/s,
like MP3 etc.

Like mplayer?

Description: The Ultimate Movie Player For Linux
It plays most mpeg, avi and asf files, supported by many native and win32
DLL codecs. You can watch VCD, DVD and even DivX movies too. The another
big feature of mplayer is the wide range of supported output drivers. It
works with X11, Xv, DGA, OpenGL, SVGAlib, fbdev, but you can use SDL (and
this way all drivers of SDL) and some lowlevel card-specific drivers (for
Matrox/3dfx/SiS) too! Most of them supports software or hardware scaling,
so you can enjoy movies in fullscreen.

Post by Conster
Also does Linux have a picture/photo program that runs *.jpg,
*.bmp, *.ttf etc. While I'm boning up on the possibility of trying
Linux.

I like xzgv, but there are plenty of other choices. Feh is good too.

Post by Conster
While there have been many benefits as far as safety and reliability
discussed, I want to be sure it's something that would functional for
me and the games I enjoy, the Internet interaction with web cam and
voice chat.

The games you enjoy will probably have to be played on the platform
they are intended to run on. I don't know much about web cams and voice
chat but there is Linux software available.

kphone - Voice over IP (VoIP) phone application
gnomemeeting - The GnomeMeeting Voice Over IP Suite
ohphone - Command line H.323 client with X, SVGA and SDL support

This link is provided by the "camstream" project:
http://www.smcc.demon.nl/camstream/

Post by Conster
For instance, I couldn't use my Agent on Linux, could I?

You'll have to ask him. Are you an entertainer?

Post by Conster
I've been doing reading, but I'm looking at a much cheaper -- Except my
WinME full version is a bootleg copy. Everytime I had to wipe and
reinstall (I know that's one of the benefits of Linux), I had to start
from DOS 6.0, and upgrade each edition until I hit WinME. I do have the
full installation for XP, But I feel they are playing dirty.

You'll never have to concern yourself with that again, especially if you
avoid the commercial versions of Linux (of course).

Post by Conster
For instance, I installed the student/teacher version of Word. I
haven't noticed much difference with it, but I thought it probably has
special features that I haven't found yet. I installed and registered
it on this desktop, because I use it more frequently. I used it on my
laptop and called in to register it and they basically want me to pay
another copy because it's on a separate hard drive.

It's been a while since I needed a word processor, but try Abiword.
MS-Windows version too: http://www.abisource.com/

That's "apt-get -t unstable install abiword" for the newest version
on APT systems.


--

[Conster]

Hello James,

The information I've received from Dave and yourself has been very
interesting and of great import to future decisions regarding
converting this computer over.

On Sat, 28 Aug 2004 11:08:11 -0700 (PDT), James Vahn

Post by James Vahn

Post by Conster
For instance, I couldn't use my Agent on Linux, could I?

You'll have to ask him. Are you an entertainer?

It depends what you consider entertainment and what rating category
you prefer..

Thank you for the morning laugh. I much appreciated it :))

Connie
Just remember, when you're over the hill, you pick up speed.

Charles M. Schultz

ladyconster - MSN Messenger
Send me email - I love it!!
***@nctv.com

[James Vahn]

Post by Conster
Thank you for the morning laugh. I much appreciated it :))

Excellent! I really like the Gnome apps Gnumeric and Abiword. Here's a short
description of "GnomeMeeting" from http://packages.debian.org/gnomemeeting ::

H.323 compatible videoconferencing and VOIP/IP-Telephony application that
allows you to make audio and video calls to remote users with H.323 hardware
or software (such as Microsoft Netmeeting).

It supports all modern videoconferencing features, such as registering to an
ILS directory, gatekeeper support, making multi-user conference calls using
an external MCU, using modern Quicknet telephony cards, and making
PC-To-Phone calls.

--

[James Vahn]

Post by Conster
Does Linux have a media player program and can the media files
with the same extension as Windows uses be played on the program/s,
like MP3 etc.

I forgot to mention "vlc".


As for word processors, I just now discovered this gem:

Package: scribus
Version: 1.2.0.cvs20040714-2
Description: a free software desktop page layout program
Scribus is a desktop page layout program for GNU/Linux similar to
Corel Ventura(R), Quark Xpress(R), Adobe PageMaker(R) and InDesign(R).
.
Scribus can be used for many tasks; from brochure design to newsletters
and posters to technical documentation. It has sophisticated page layout
features like precision placing and rotating of text and/or images on a
page, manual kerning of type, bezier curves polygons, precision placement
of objects, layering with RGB and CMYK custom colors. The Scribus
document file format is XML-like. Unlike proprietary binary file formats,
even damaged documents, can be recovered with a simple text editor.
.
Scribus supports professional DTP features, such as CMYK color and a
color management system to soft proof images for high quality color
printing, flexible PDF creation options, editable PostScript and
Encapsulated PostScript import/export and creation of 4 color separations,
Unicode text including right to left scripts such as Arabic and Hebrew
via freetype. Graphic formats which can be placed in Scribus include
PDF, Encapsulated Post Script (eps), TIFF, JPEG, PNG and XPixMap(xpm),
and any bitmap type supported by QT3.
.
Printing, PDF and SVG creation are done via custom driver libraries and
plug-ins, giving Scribus inventive features: the abilities to include
presentation effects with PDF output, fully scriptable interactive PDF
forms, SVG vector file output. The internal printer drivers fully support
Level 2 and Level 3/PDF 1.4 postscript features including transparency and
font embedding.
.
When run from KDE, Drag and Drop, for example from desktop to the canvas,
is enabled. There is easy to use drag and drop scrapbook for frequently
used items such as text blocks, pictures and custom shaped frames.
.
Homepage: http://www.scribus.net/


--

[Dave Laird]

Good morning, James...
<giggling> No, James, Scribus is hardly just a word processor. That little
gem is a true-blue Pagemaker clone, one which Aldus Pagemaker would
probably *love* to see removed from the planet Earth because it is so very
similar in design and function to Pagemaker, itself. It's a bear to
download, because their download site is down half the time, but it's
worth the trouble. However, then you have to play with the libraries a bit
to get it to properly function under both Mandrake and Fedora. Again, a
little perseverance pays off, because it *will* function nicely.

It truly shines at creating real four-part color separations for desktop
publishing, but it has problems (sometimes) printing to an HP Laserjet
when Cups is present and running. However, that too, can be overcome with
a little perseverance. There are a set of instructions that come with it
on how to circumvent this issue.

Post by James Vahn
Homepage: http://www.scribus.net/

<Hint> Use the force, Luke. 8-) Uh, use the mirrors, although it's been
long enough since I successfully downloaded the RPM, I cannot remember
which one it was I used. However, the main download site sucks Beanie
Babies through a straw.

However, given all that I've said (above), Scribus is one of four
must-have applications that I have used for mission-critical projects, the
others being Open Office (replacing MS-Office), xBase (adding a new layer
to database development and implementation) and the Gimp for anything
relating to graphics. I don't have to use Scribus often, but when I need a
precise page layout program for strange formatting issues, or when I need
a Pagemaker clone for Linux, it is invaluable.

Some variations of Fedora and Mandrake may not work properly until you
figure out the page libraries, but heck, if I can figure it out, so can
most folks. The same can be said for plopping a spreadsheet's data in the
middle of a Scribus page, too. 8-)

Dave

[James Vahn]

Post by Dave Laird
<giggling> No, James, Scribus is hardly just a word processor. That little
gem is a true-blue Pagemaker clone, one which Aldus Pagemaker would
probably *love* to see removed from the planet Earth because it is so very
similar in design and function to Pagemaker, itself.

Brand new to me, and it's been right under my nose.

Post by Dave Laird
It's a bear to download, because their download site is down half the
time, but it's worth the trouble. However, then you have to play with the
libraries a bit to get it to properly function under both Mandrake and
Fedora. Again, a little perseverance pays off, because it *will* function
nicely.

"apt-get install -t unstable scribus"
Version 1.2 is part of the debian archives, ready to run. :-)

Had a play with it last night, but when I hit the Help button it said,
"Sorry- no help installed. Use the documentation at scribus.net ..."


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