Re: Trying out Linux for newbie

From: P.T. Breuer (ptb_at_oboe.it.uc3m.es)
Date: 11/12/03 

Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 22:51:04 +0100

Dariusz <ng@lycaus.plusyour***.com> wrote:
> (Suse) - Kaffine Media Player 0.3.2
> 1)
> Although not exclusive to this "Live" Linux distro, can you get the
> mediaplayer to auto adjust the dimensions of the video (like Windows

Depends on the app.

> 2)
> Are there any codecs that will allow playing of the Microsoft WMF / ASF
> formats?

Probably, I guess. mplayer seems to use windows codec.s Ask microsoft.

> 3)
> Can you stop the scrolling text at the bottom of the player from telling me
> the properties of the video playing? It's irritating.

What player? Depends on the player.

> 4)
> Does Linux play DVD films?

Yes. But not Linux. Linux apps.

> Internet connection:
> 5)
> How can I check whether my ADSL-PCI card is recognised / working with the
> Linux distro - not necessary dialing ISP, but at least seeing it's got the

Either try it and see, or get one that works - an external with an
ethernet connection to your NIC will work by definition. In general
anything external will always work, because it provides the standard
compliant interface mandated for it.

> I take it that Winmodems are pretty much unrecognised under Linux unless

No - there are drivers for most nowadays. But why fight? Get an
external. Then no driver is required.

> you pay for a driver, is this correct? My Winmodem does Fax as well, is it
> recognisable as a Fax in Linux or not?

Eh? What do you mean? Either your driver does fax or not. Nothing to do
with the moanodem. Forget such stuff and get a decent external. Class 2
fax in hardware is ideal.

> 7)
> Whilst trying out one of the "Live" distros, an application locked up (but
> didn't lock Linux :) ). In Windows the "Control + Alt + Delete" keys will
> allow (usually) the ability to kill the offending programme. I would like
> to try to redo the same thing I did to lockup to see how it kills a
> programme. Could anyone tell me how to do this with Linux?

Sure. Kill the app using "kill". Or bring up a gui that uses kill for
you. I imaine that ca escape does it. I've never heard of cad doing
that in windows!

> 8)
> Suse 9.0 Live CD, I tried to get my printer recognised to print a test

Recognized? What do you mean? Use the approproate filter for it.

> page, but it said something like could not find / communicate with LP0.

So I guess you don't have a printer there.

> Although I ignored the error I saw my printer is supported. How can I get
> the printer to work. I didn't have problem with Mandrake.

Just cat some code for it to the printer port and see what happens.

> As a prospective newbie to Linux, I am concerned a bit on reading that
> people compile this that and the other for their use. Can anyone allay my
> fears on having to do this. I have also read about something called

Sure - stop worrying. What's the problem?

> "dependencies", how "bad" is this issue?

Not bad at all. Good. You have to get things that you need in order for
the thing you want to work to work. Sounds great to me.

> Thanks

No probs.

Peter

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