after that you can play almost any video in VLC. Installing many programs is this simple. Yes the basic user it is still to complicated to do some things but it's mostly because they are use to the ways of windows, some unbuntu things are not that much harder and once you get it working it runs nicely.
Automatix is even easier than that. simply choose Automatix in Synaptic and install. Choose to install codecs and presto. most other software cna be had by using a package manager. Simple and efficient.
With windows, you have WMP, then you download CCCP and you're good to go. Even without CCCP, you'll be able to play most commercial videos... you can do it on linux easily, but you have to know how to do it first. Using the command is simple, knowing what it is is not.
Have you ever tried to play a DivX video in pre-XP Windows? It doesn't work. You have to go download DivX codecs (and if you search for DivX you get the terrible DivX Player). My mom wouldn't know how to do that and she'd end up calling me. Codecs are a universal problem, not just a Linux problem.
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For video codecs it's simple
open terminal and type
sudo apt-get install vlc
after that you can play almost any video in VLC. Installing many programs is this simple. Yes the basic user it is still to complicated to do some things but it's mostly because they are use to the ways of windows, some unbuntu things are not that much harder and once you get it working it runs nicely.
How is that simple?
It's simple when you don't have to read a manual.
ya, my mom would totally know to do that without being told.
Automatix is even easier than that. simply choose Automatix in Synaptic and install. Choose to install codecs and presto. most other software cna be had by using a package manager. Simple and efficient.
How is that simple?
To know this, I'd have to do a research on the web or get my hands on a manual.
Simple = not having to do something like that.
Er, sorry about that.
@Blair Thiessen
That's what I was thinking. Doesn't he even know about VLC? It plays just about everything.
With windows finding the right driver can be a pain in the ass, but with Ubuntu most everything is recognized
With windows, you have WMP, then you download CCCP and you're good to go. Even without CCCP, you'll be able to play most commercial videos... you can do it on linux easily, but you have to know how to do it first. Using the command is simple, knowing what it is is not.
So, your mom would have no problem with that, right?
To those asking why installing VLC is "easy", I wonder if you have used a Mac before?
VLC is a must-have on there, too.
Have you ever tried to play a DivX video in pre-XP Windows? It doesn't work. You have to go download DivX codecs (and if you search for DivX you get the terrible DivX Player). My mom wouldn't know how to do that and she'd end up calling me. Codecs are a universal problem, not just a Linux problem.
@dj-kenpo your mom would not know how to download VLC or any codec pack in the first place.