aRTee

Look here: http://www.lindows.com/lindows_dvd_info.php and see that it is just Xine. So they got a license for (a similar lib to) libdvdcss and are packing that. Since it is Xine as a front-end and engine, I doubt it is very different. Remember, the only problem with dvd-playback on linux is decss, thanks to the dmca. Which also implies that outside of the USA everyone can use libdvdcss (urpmi libdvdcss2 IIRC, check my site) without any problem. So, they are selling xine for 4.95$ and if they don't give any money to xine devvers, they are being their usual selvish rats...

I will maybe leave Opera behind and move to Firebird and Konq. Firebird is a lot better than Mozilla (full).

Epson buttons: don't know, don't care, but you may email epson about it; they are quite good in supporting linux (they made/ported their own linux scanner tool plus driver, iscan)... On ocr: the windows programs you get with the scanner are quite decent at times; lots better than gocr; maybe you can use those with wine? Camera: check http://www.smcc.demon.nl/webcam/ I have the top philips cam, be sure to pick one where it's not mentioned that they came out with newer versions that are unsupported. Anyway, the cam worked upon plugin, got a gnomemeeting icon on the desktop. I also use SDLcam (urpmi SDLcam) to take snapshots with it. BTW most decent webcams are vga res (640x480) but some are advertised as 1280x960 snapshot mode,... don't believe the hype, it's interpolated. The gimp can do that too... You do need some extra driver for philips webcams to have 640x480 (compression algorithm is proprietary, and needed to pass all data on usb1 bus), check my site for install hints. Anyway, hang in there, you're doing great: That's really the right way, don't switch to another program if something is not working LIKE IT SHOULD! but fix things. Your mentality will get you far in linux, even though right now you have to cope with a very steep learning curve. From your last posts I gather that you have already learnt a lot! I hope that you will soon find that plateau in the learning curve where you can use your system 100% instead of spending/wasting time to find out how to this or that..

Standard questions: Have you set everything in the bios to default or failsafe (no overclocking etc)? Have you set the bios to "PNP OS=no" and "shadow video bios=no"?

Ok, I'll explain: with the resulting pdf the prints come out the right way; it's to print on envelopes, and I have to put them in sideways to be sure the back flap doesn't get stuck. With direct printing, OOo combined with the printer want to print on a4 paper (even with my own pagesize and paper definition), meaning the info gets put at the last part (left top) of an A4 paper, so if I use a (much smaller) envelope, the printer starts printing only after the whole envelope is transported through... If I'd mess around long enough with the paper size I'm sure I could get it right, but with OOo1.0.2 exporting to pdf, previewing with kghostview and then printing the desired pages went fine. So since I was using that flow, I wanted to be able to use it with OOo1.1 as well. Which is when I found out it doesn't work like it should anymore. For me this is not a real blocker, but it is an annoying error and one that should get fixed. But apparently it is not repeatable on all systems, so maybe I just have to fix it on my side... BTW, to get to your other question: the eps as embedded background allowed me to position my own address whereas I could reset the normal text (of all addresses) to begin somewhere halfway the page, and when my girlfriend asked to change (shift) it a bit, I could just ctrl-a (select all) and slide the control point at the top ruler a bit and voila, on all envelopes the recipient address was shifted as desired. What you probably didn't realise is that I have fifty addresses or so (and my girlfriend has a similar number) in that size..., just go to the end of the address and hit ctrl-enter, the next one will also have the embedded sender-address at the top left corner, just hit enter 10x and start with the next address. Clean and easy. Anyway, thanks a lot for helping me on this one!

The only thing I ever looked at is Xephem (in contrib): urpmi xephem I will have a look at celestia soon. Thanks for the hint.

I do know that with pdf in OOo it matters if you have a specific printer selected and then export to ps + ps2pdf, or pdf directly, that it doesn't embed the necessary fonts, meaning that on different systems you may have complete text missing.. But with a general ps driver it should always be ok.

You can set up lilo during install to boot default to windows, no need to go in later and edit /etc/lilo.conf

For system files that are updated (bugs, security issues) I normally check with the graphical 'browser' in mcc-software/updates, then use urpmi on the command line, with --noclean. That way, if I have to reuse anything for another pc here (nasty bugs), I have it locally. For security updates and fixes, I usually don't do them on all machines, especially for local exploits. I'm just don't see the point. Mind you, I do do it for stuff like .pdfs that can have code executed through xpdf or so, but not for ssh if it can be locally exploited; my machines are firewalled through another, so no need there.

Hey, thanks, yes it does look much much better. The only thing that is not good yet, is that the address in the left upper corner is 'pixelised' whereas it is just text in .eps form, so it should be very sharp (vector/text) and not get pixelised when zooming. Could you please tell me what settings you used? Thanks!

Check out the command ln it allows you to make a hard link to a file, which then can be deleted, and the hardlink will be the same file, not deleted. I occasionally use it whenever I think the system/wizard may just delete something that I'd like to keep or have a look at. So when the system is downloading whateverpackage.mdk.rpm I just do a ln whateverpackage.mdk.rpm copy_of_whateverpackage.mdk.rpm while the system is writing to it. This creates another filename pointer to the same inode. Which can still grow/finish download. Then when the system does: rm -f whateverpackage.mdk.rpm the other filename that I gave will still exist. Of course, for updates etc I just use urpmi --noclean whateverpackage which makes sure the downloaded package doesn't get deleted.

Just tried OOo1.1rc2 but the pdf export is still as crappy as before,... and my bugreport is still unconfirmed... Should (can) I confirm it myself? What does it take to get them to notice it?

Yes I'm still following this thread. Erasing (some) files from multisession cdrw,.. I don't know, never done that. I'd also advice against it, cd-rw doesn't have good defect management, even in UDF packet writing. In mount-rainier/easywrite, maybe. But that's not in k3b or kernel 2.4.21pre4 (the mdk 9.1 kernel) anyway. On ocr: yeah, it sucks. I never really needed it, but I did try gocr and I agree: here's a definite gap in FLOSS. Movies in Konqueror: don't know, did you try with mozilla or are you really set on konq? Open a new thread on that. Usb videocam: remember, it's the shortcoming of the manufacturer if there are no drivers... Not that that helps now you've already bought it though... But that one is not going to get solved anytime soon, unfortunately. See if you can swap with someone who's still using that other os... Epson front panel buttons: hey, didn't think about mine, but true: they don't work. Hmm, have to add that to the (very short) list of things that don't work under linux in my config. Anyway, enjoy the weekend too!

Whatabout OOo? It exports fine to .html, the (code) output is quite readable. And the result is fine.

cdrecord on cli? Whatabout audio files if you don't want gaps -- you'll also need cdrdao. ;) Anyway, I nowadays use K3B, but also have used gcombust, gcdmaster. Gave Xcdroast a try but just couldn't manage to burn a cd. (It would have worked, but I had nothing to burn, and later I just used other programs..)

I was thinking about it. But then, to what end? So why did you join? Also, I don't speak the local language (swiss german) well enough yet..

Good work Andrewski! Question: she wants to learn linux? Why? As in: Why not just use it? Question2: if she wants to learn linux, why not guide her through the install? Or is that what you did? In any case, enjoy! And keep spreading Linux! ;)

Sorry, don't agree with lots of the comments here. Look at RH. They are getting out of the boxed stuff. Why? 6 months is too short for retail channels, but very long in linux/ FLOSS land. So there's a problem: your product is outdated once it hits the shelves. BTW I have passed plenty of 9.1 with just some plf and texstar extras to friends with dialup or no internet. Why would they care about these updates? Apache patches or whatever?? Really, you don't need all those security updates if you're not on cable/adsl. So 400MB of updates are really only necessary if you're using all that Mandrake provides and are connected permanently. In which case it is also no problem to get it. Since I always install with urpmi --noclean I have all downloaded stuff in the usual dir, which now has about 200MB worth of stuff, 80% of which is from plf, texstar and contrib. So really, when talking about updates worth of 400MB: IT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. The problem is the 6month release schedule, but all others have that (RH, SuSE being the big other players that Mandrake has to compete with), so I'm not sure if they can really change that. Also, did anyone ever try to get a system running with no proper mobo chipset support of the distro? I did with Mdk 8.2 on my A7V333. *necessary kernel compile for DMA* mean anything to you? How does that look for beginners? Well, they couldn't care less, so let's start at the beginning: dvd playback shaky, and even for experienced users hard to find it is the dma that's not working... Now, how does that look for beginners? Think they'll be impressed?? So with no new Mdk in September, any newbie with a mobo chipset from after March this year: better don't switch!! Or you have to compile the kernel!!! And if something scares newbies off it's words like 'kernel' and 'compile'. Yeah, I know it's not hard, but they don't and it's their perception! BTW same for all other new hardware that may well be supported but that's not in the 9.1 database. Beginners would have trouble setting up their monitors (max H, V refresh??? Huh??)... Wait for 2.6? It would be nice, and for all of us that have working systems (as I mentioned before, the only thing I can't do on my system is get the cpu-fan speed readout, the rest of my complete setup is fully functional), that would be the big plus. But Linus has already mentioned that it may be until December or so for the 2.6 final. We may be willing to wait for mdk9.2 until then. But for all others, especially those with new hardware looking to switch, Mdk9.2 in September is going to be the first choice if all goes well. Besides, the improvements in the draketools etc will be welcome, and we all know there is plenty to improve in 9.1. Let's help them fix the remaining problems in 9.2beta and rc's so that the final in September, even without 2.6kernel (I hope that will be added as an option, a 2.6rc or test kernel), will be something goodlooking smoothworking that you can get your remaining windows friends hooked on!

On the OOo website it is mentioned how to do the similar thing to a network install; you don't have to do install -net anymore, just install as root, then as a user run the installer again. Check the OOo website. It just copies some 3MB to your homedir (settings etc) and you're set to go. So no need to file a change request or so.

I use xine and mplayer, for both need you to do urpmi libdvdcss2 (the exact name may be slightly different) before you can playback encrypted dvd's. Xine is more gui, mplayer is command line, but if you start it as gmplayer it also has a gui; I prefer the phony gui... (btw check my site for setup of various other things in mdk)

Hey i just meant what specific thing is wrong and that all the pdf's i have made have been alright not to say that your's should be as you hadn't said at the time what the problem was. I don't use accented characters and have only tried jpg's for images so far with 1.1rc, the results for what i have done have been acceptable. I know, I know, read the smiley... :P ;) Anyway, I have filed the bug report, just hope someone will fix it. If not, I can always still print to .ps and then ps2pdfpress from there...

On the pc versus HP (et al) machines: I'm sorry, but it takes a very powerful very very expensive machine to outrun my 2GHz AthlonXP. I work on a daily basis with HP PA-RISC 32GB RAM machines (well, we have some of those, and also less powerful machines) and bottomline is: for jobs that fit into 4GB, I'd be faster / better off with a P4 3GHz or my own athlon.... Running linux, the designsoftware we have doesn't even run on MSWin... :P In any case, what do you guys think are the heaviest lifting apps? Chip design scores quite high as far as I know. Forget database stuff (although google is quite something), raw calculation power plus database stuff combined is much heavier. We have to do simulations that take days and days. Some things we can't run because we'd get the result after our design has to be ready onto the market... What does AMD design the K9 on? On Hammer/K8. Really, in speed the pc has outdone the high end cpu's except power4, ItaniumII .... in price/performance, pc cpu's are really much much better. Back to linux: so yes, Unix will be supplanted by linux, because people using that kind of equipment will buy from whomever will guarantee and provide service. BTW our most important software vendor (Cadence) has by now ported all software to linux. Due to Market Demand. BTW: not that linux being cheap and pc's being cheap was the point. It's value for money, and affordable speed. Where I work, a 'designers seat' (each designers setup/system) costs 35.000 dollar per year. (50kCHF) Sure they'd love to bring that down, but kicking out MS is not going to be a big thing there. Some of the software we have is 100k$ per license..... If you can run it on faster hardware, you can make do with less licenses. Really, linux on pc has a point here. On a side note, there is one department that decides when/where to use what. and I know they have/use linux, but for now we can't... ah well, at least I know they are looking at it seriously..

If it works for you, it should for me?? :o :P Anyway, it really doesn't work well, I have just uploaded the files that show/make clear what the problem is. The basic file is the following: http://www.mandrake.tips.4.free.fr/ooaccen...bg-eps_test.sxw Note: - The file has accents on some characters. - It has a nonstandard size (envelope size of what I happen to have) - There is a background eps image (with tiff preview, no epsi, no lwz compression) in the file, which is here: http://www.mandrake.tips.4.free.fr/addressbg.eps From that, I print to file, which I normally wouldn't have, but anyway, this is ok: (apart from that I couldn't print to 'screen size' when selecting this real life printer and then postscript; with OOo1.0.2 it was possible to just print to pdf file and select 'screen' as the paper size) http://www.mandrake.tips.4.free.fr/ooaccen..._bg-eps_test.ps What I needed/wanted was the proper pdf; what I got (export pdf, press quality) was this: http://www.mandrake.tips.4.free.fr/ooaccen...bg-eps_test.pdf Due to the accents, the next line drops off, so this is not usefull. When doing this I reduced the full firstname to the initial F. but then the second line with Résidence got annoying..... and besides, this should just work.... Note also that the pdf then printed to ps turns out like this: http://www.mandrake.tips.4.free.fr/ooaccen...eps_test.pdf.ps Where you can clearly see that the background address has become ugly / pixelised, as if only the preview tiff was used, not the eps/postscript that was behind it. So, really, I call this a showstopper if anyone wants to claim 'easy pdf exporting' as a feature of OOo.... I'll be off to report this to those guys, I'm sure they will want to fix it asap. ;)

Don't edit /etc/mtab! It's /etc/fstab that you may edit, if you know what you are doing. You do make a backup before hacking around in it, right? Just restore the backup.... Or remove the extra lines. You don't have to umount anything normally. In any case, your way of learning is fine as long as you have nothing important without any backups (mail, stuff you worked on for hours..).

I know from experience that you can have a tv only system. If you have no monitor attached, the tv becomes the main display. You could just install from there by the way.. ;) BTW It is a pain if you ever have to do nasty stuff like configuring the network (so you don't have vnc, ssh or whatever).... Try it, and post back your results, or if you get stuck. Basically, the nvidia readme that comes with the driver should get you there.