[nzlug] Ubuntu and video

[Craig Box]

>> Why can't Ubuntu play a simple mpeg out of the box?
> 
> Because they put too many Windows programs on the CD and don't have
> enough space for anything other than a very basic array of Linux
> programs. This did not used to be an issue with the 2-disk set, and
> they get a fair bit of criticism for this.   

That's totally and utterly wrong.  Referring to the previous edition as a
"2-disk set" is a misnomer, as there were two CDs that had effectively the
same data on them.  Are you saying there media formats can't be played now,
that could on Warty? 

> All is not lost. There are now kits for building "Ubuntu"
> distribution CDs, and the folks at Ubuntu will doubtless learn from
> what users actually want.  

Users want something that Canonical is not currently prepared to give -
things like DVD playback "out of the box".  The first few paragraphs of
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats spell out why. Debian
isn't prepared to give it, either, and I'm pretty sure Fedora doesn't, to
pick a couple at random.
 
> Meantime, download the "Server CD" ISO rather than the "Live CD", as
> there is less unwanted crap on it - even if you can't actually boot
> directly off the thing.  

You mean 'can't boot directly into X from the CD'?  You can boot the CD and
install off it.  Hell, if you want "less unwanted crap", start at
http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/dapper/main/installer-i386/current/im
ages/netboot/.

If you don't want the live CD, there's always the 'alternative installer
CD', which is a debian-installer CD that lets you install in text mode, and
upgrade other systems, the same as there always was.

Craig