The state of 64-bit Desktop Linux

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Wed, Feb 11, 2009 at 12:33:33PM -0500, ted leslie wrote:
> my thought exactly, and after installing sidux/debian, (after using ubuntu
> fiesty, gutsy, heron, ibex), to my surprize i discovered ubuntu isnt really a
> distro at all, just a install front end for debian, to bad i found that out this late.
> also having a fix date release distro (i.e. ubuntu) really is turning out to be
> the worst distros to use.

Hardly news.  That was true of redhat as well when they used to do
6 month release cycles on the redhat releases years ago.

> i was able to get TS video play back to work with the necessary installed codecs pack,
> even the w64codecs, but i couldnt get it to play some DVD's, i guess they had certain
> DRM, and i have libcss, libdvdread, etc, but no dice, could play brand new TS stuff from
> my haupauge HD PVR. I took a 32bit mplayer and libs from my old ubuntu set up
> (where is was also needed to be 32 bit) to get it  (mplayer) to play some DVD proper
> also shuttling in HD TS files is rough, but i think thats just the state of linux for 
> MP4/TS files at this time :( . i didnt use a chroot, just moved my mplayer from old machine to 
> /usr/bin/mplayer32 on new, and ldd to locate and move those 32bit libs to the  /usr/lib32 on the new box,
> and i can use that 32 bit mplayer for those certain DVD's.

Well DVD's play fine on mythtv on 64bit debian for me, so DVD playback
is possible with 64bit.  Not sure which player program you use for DVDs.
mplayer has always been awful at playing DVDs.  ogle and mythdvd are
much much better.

> if you dont need access to 3-4+GB ram (i do for vmware), not sure need go 64bit route
> at this time, having said that, i havnt run into any 64vs32 bit issues thus far.
> (but havnt done anything with java customization yet).
> 
> i did have trouble with vmware install, but since the new vmware server (web console) suxs,
> i decided instead to upgrade a free vmware workstation license i got at a toronto linux show a few years back,
> added 99$ and got a new workstation that installed and runs well.
> so you might have issue with vmware serevr, but seems like its doable.
> 
> kde 4.2 gave me nothing but grief (but having said that , Xinerama has a tendancy to expose lots of DE bugs),
>  i dont think its ready for prime time yet.
> i use gnome, with  xfce and flux in a Zephyr, and wanted to try Xephyr'ing kde to,
> but no point until they get it to work.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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