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Video Production in Linux …

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Another look at Gtk-RecordMyDesktop in Ubuntu 9.10

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Istanbul in Ubuntu 9.10 – Record your desktop.

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Ubuntu 9.10 Gtk-RecordMyDesktop – Bad quality sound …

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The wrong question about Linux on the Desktop …

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T40p and Windows 7

I have successfully loaded Windows 7 Professional onto my T40p Thinkpad, it took a LONG time, but at least it installed. After the initial reboot after installation I went to Device Manager to see what hardware was not installed. Audio adapter, Video adapter, Wireless adapter, Bluetooth adapter, as well as the UltraNav device drivers were all missing in action. So I set about locating all the drivers from the Lenovo/IBM website and downloaded the Windows XP versions since there were no Vista/7 versions available for download. I set all the downloaded drivers to run as if in Windows XP SP3 and installed the lot of them. Finally after over an hour and multiple reboots I had my hardware working – almost … I say almost because the ATI Catalyst Control Panel would not open due to compatibility issues and I could not experience Aero … and without Aero Windows 7 is just SP2 for Vista – ugh! So now I had Windows 7 installed and the hardware working to a usable degree, however I still had to install my Office suite of choice, a PDF reader, an Email Client (yep there is none by default now), an image editor and Anti Virus software. All in all it took me about 4 hours to:

1. Install Windows 7
2. Download and install device drivers and troubleshoot issues
3. Acquire and install basic software

Now … what happened with Ubuntu Linux.
I installed the latest Ubuntu 9.10 and after about 20 min was rebooting into the fresh install. Once booted up I checked out my devices for functionality. Wireless, Bluetooth, Video and Audio and UltraNav were all functioning with one exception – I could not scroll with the middle trackpoint mouse button .. wow! What’s more I could run the cool Compiz effects (including transparencies of course) with the click of a mouse button in the Appearance dialog. And … I am not done … remember those apps I had to install in Windows 7? … well Ubuntu already has OpenOffice (Office Suite), GIMP (Image editor), Evince (PDF Viewer), Evolution (Email and Calendar) and no need for Anti Virus software! All in all it took me about 1 hour to:

1. Install Ubuntu Linux / hardware drivers
2. Install VLC, Skype and a host of other free and so easy to acquire software

Why Windows is touted as an “easier” OS to use and work with is beyond me …