End of the Day Update

After researching MP3 and DVD codecs, I have set up a machine with a new Ubuntu install that will be the model, the ideal machine that could be used at our school. After testing programs on the test machines, they will be added to the model machine and added to the log. I have also compiled a list of software that runs on a standard school machine, and will find versions that work in Linux or alternatives. In addition, I have installed Wine to play around with.

MP3s and DVDs in Linux

One thing I discovered was that DVD codecs would be illegal to install on our systems since we are in the United States. I also checked out MP3 codecs, which Ubuntu was not packaged with. I found one codec from a company that sells legal codecs called Fluendo. They offer all these codecs including Windows media codecs for a price and supposedly the legal issues are covered. They offer MP3 codecs for free, however, and so I downloaded it. I had to add it to a library of codecs to which only root has access, so I had to use the terminal and do a simple chown command. Even after I added the codec, Rhythmbox wouldn’t play MP3s. So I researched some more and found there were no issues for MP3 codecs for personal uses, so I dropped the Fluendo codec and added one from Automatix. I still have to research DVD codecs however, and see if there is some legal way to play DVDs in Linux.

EDIT: Due to the legal issues, it seems we will not be able to play DVDs on our Ubuntu machines.

Back to Ubuntu

I have been playing around some more with Ubuntu. I liked using Automatix2 to install basic programs such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. However, I occasionally had problems downloading Java JDK and the JRE, which is when I would install it through Synaptics. Firefox was good about downloading and installing Flash, although I could have done that though Automatix2. For learning bash commands, I found some handy reference guides, http://www.ss64.com/bash/ and http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/linux/cmd/. In addition I have been reading this guide http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/cli.html. Although distros such as Ubuntu use a gui that helps beginners and end users who only need basic functions, the terminal is still important to accomplish more advanced functions.