2011-03-08, 07:23
First let me say, Ubuntu has been nothing but good to me in the past. I love Linux, and think it's a worthy cause. I think it's great for low-powered devices, and has many practical uses.
However, I've been having a fair share of issues running XBMC with Ubuntu concerning video playback. For some reason, XBMC cannot play my HD .mkv files from within XBMC with sound, but can play them outside in media player. I also have 2 seasons of Seinfeld (.avi) where the sound will not work from XBMC (or Linux's media player) but I can play them in Windows perfectly. And for some reason, I have it in my head that it'll be a lot easier to equalize sound from Windows than it would Linux. ALSA is a huge pain in the ass and has not been working for me.
Other issues include some things that unfortunately are not Linux's fault. I have a free subscription to Netflix, and Linux is not supported, sadly.There are other add-ons I'd like that won't work on Linux.
However, and this is why I put it in the Linux forum because I believe these answers would be less partial, the thing I like the most about Linux, on a 1.6GhZ 1GB RAM ION baby computer, is that there aren't a lot of background processes, and has a very small footprint.
I have an extra key for Windows XP I never used from college, and probably should before MSNDAA realizes I'm no longer a student, so I'm willing to install it on my PC if switching to Windows will fix my video issues (mkv and that odd avi issue) and the footprint isn't so big that running XBMC will lag. I also haven't tried XBMC on Windows, has anyone tried it or can tell me if there is any kind of difference? I'd assume it's the same across platforms, but there might be some compatibility issues I'm not aware of.
Another option is that I could always buy another stick of RAM. I don't think it will fix my .avi issue (nor my sound/netflix issue), but would it help me run .mkv files within XBMC? And if I were to beef up my RAM, why not switch to Windows then?
Sorry if this is a long, boring post. It's 12:30 in the morning and I can't decide and would like some opinion before I try it myself because I don't have much free time anymore. Anyway, thanks to any responders. Much karma to you.
However, I've been having a fair share of issues running XBMC with Ubuntu concerning video playback. For some reason, XBMC cannot play my HD .mkv files from within XBMC with sound, but can play them outside in media player. I also have 2 seasons of Seinfeld (.avi) where the sound will not work from XBMC (or Linux's media player) but I can play them in Windows perfectly. And for some reason, I have it in my head that it'll be a lot easier to equalize sound from Windows than it would Linux. ALSA is a huge pain in the ass and has not been working for me.
Other issues include some things that unfortunately are not Linux's fault. I have a free subscription to Netflix, and Linux is not supported, sadly.There are other add-ons I'd like that won't work on Linux.
However, and this is why I put it in the Linux forum because I believe these answers would be less partial, the thing I like the most about Linux, on a 1.6GhZ 1GB RAM ION baby computer, is that there aren't a lot of background processes, and has a very small footprint.
I have an extra key for Windows XP I never used from college, and probably should before MSNDAA realizes I'm no longer a student, so I'm willing to install it on my PC if switching to Windows will fix my video issues (mkv and that odd avi issue) and the footprint isn't so big that running XBMC will lag. I also haven't tried XBMC on Windows, has anyone tried it or can tell me if there is any kind of difference? I'd assume it's the same across platforms, but there might be some compatibility issues I'm not aware of.
Another option is that I could always buy another stick of RAM. I don't think it will fix my .avi issue (nor my sound/netflix issue), but would it help me run .mkv files within XBMC? And if I were to beef up my RAM, why not switch to Windows then?
Sorry if this is a long, boring post. It's 12:30 in the morning and I can't decide and would like some opinion before I try it myself because I don't have much free time anymore. Anyway, thanks to any responders. Much karma to you.