RMS, Free software and the Ubuntu CDs

[jean gruneberg]

> Fine. So, you're saying that XP is better than Ubuntu, as XP can playback
> DVDs after installing third party software, whereas in Ubuntu, you
> need to install 3rd party software to playback DVDs?
> 
> Doesn't sound *too* logical to me.

just checked, media player 10 plays dvd's out the box.

Actually i'm not saying xp is better, I support over 150 desktop 
machines all of which run windows, mostly from my linux laptop or linux 
workstations at the various sites.... But installing xp and pop in the 
dvd software disk and it installs itself is easier that telling people 
to  get into a terminal, get to their sources list, edit it to enable 
the universe repositories or add the plf repositories and then sudo 
install the necessary codec and decoders.

Sorry if you want to get the average joe to use linux this has to be 
included whatever the source, as long as Linux wants to get to the 
average user, putzing around with is it open is it closed is detracting 
from the end goal and means we will never make any significant inroads 
into the windows market.

If we said floss is nice but... here is a distro that when you install 
recognises your video card (even if it means you have a disk with closed 
source drivers with your card like windows), sets up a dvd player if 
hardware detection finds it, xmms plays mp3 without jumping through 
hoops, only then I believe we have a snowballs hope.

Jean