A few months ago we ran a poll about the most important non-free Linux apps. We had over 8,000 votes in that poll and we consider the results pretty interesting. Interesting enough to push Linux's market share if a distro capitalized on them?
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Member since:2005-11-11
//Believe me, I will put a ridiculous amount of time and effort to make things work, if needed. I can afford it and I enjoy it. But most people don't and I think that the barrier should be lowered.//
How so?
How hard is it to put a DVD in the DVD drive, and then, when it tells you it needs an extra package to be installed, just go & install that package, using the package manager just as you would for any other package?
Alternatively, I typed in >"play dvd" ubuntu< into google search, and within 3 clicks I found this help:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats
... It really isn't too hard at all. From that page, for ubuntu, to play a DVD amounts to copy & paste the following line into a terminal:
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/examples/install-css.sh
BTW ... you are still ignoring the fact that this is far, far easier to get a DVD player working than it is in Windows. In Windows, you have to find a commercial dvd player application and then find somewhere to buy it from, buy it & install it.
Far costlier and many times more troublesome.
Please address any issues you have fairly and with parity against the alternatives.
Edited 2006-10-25 10:50
Member since:2006-02-10
BTW ... you are still ignoring the fact that this is far, far easier to get a DVD player working than it is in Windows. In Windows, you have to find a commercial dvd player application and then find somewhere to buy it from, buy it & install it.
Far costlier and many times more troublesome.
Not to mention those unpleasant visits to your favourite "warez&crackz" site.
Please address any issues you have fairly and with parity against the alternatives.
Fair enough.
Member since:2005-11-11
//In Windows, you have to find a commercial dvd player application and then find somewhere to buy it from, buy it & install it. //
Well, I exaggerate just a little there.
You could install this instead:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html
which won't cost you.
Edited 2006-10-25 11:07
Member since:2006-05-11
Member since:2006-01-16
BTW ... you are still ignoring the fact that this is far, far easier to get a DVD player working than it is in Windows. In Windows, you have to find a commercial dvd player application and then find somewhere to buy it from, buy it & install it.
Far costlier and many times more troublesome.
Funny, my wife simply put a DVD in her Windows XP laptop, and played it. No software to find, buy, or install.
Me, the first time I tried to play a DVD on my Linux machine, I had to search to figure out what I needed to install, then I had to find out whether my distribution made it available, then I had to download install it, then I think I had to reboot before I could play a DVD. Much easier. 
Member since:
2006-02-10
It really isn't that hard.
Believe me, I will put a ridiculous amount of time and effort to make things work, if needed. I can afford it and I enjoy it. But most people don't and I think that the barrier should be lowered.