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    Help with Linux

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by mckinneydij, Jan 26, 2009.

  1. mckinneydij

    mckinneydij Notebook Geek

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    I would like to give Linux a shot. I would like to be able to use my webcam and HP tv tuner on my HP dv9260us and perform video editing with my Sony HDR-SR12. Any suggestion of what distro and software I should try would be appreciated.
     
    mckinneydij, Jan 26, 2009
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  2. JCMS

    JCMS Notebook Prophet

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    Ubuntu is great for newbies.
     
    JCMS, Jan 26, 2009
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  3. radioblaster

    radioblaster Notebook Enthusiast

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    I personally haven't done any video editing in linux yet but I hear kino is good.
     
    radioblaster, Jan 26, 2009
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  4. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    There is an Ubuntu spin-off distro called Ubuntu Studio which may suit your needs well. However I haven't been able to find any decent video editing programs under Linux.

    http://ubuntustudio.org/
     
    Bog, Jan 26, 2009
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  5. Dragunov-21

    Dragunov-21 Notebook Evangelist

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    I use Ubuntu 8.10 on my M50, and it required a little bit of help before my webcam worked, but I'd recommend giving it a shot.

    I'd recommend Ubuntu (8.10) because it's designed to act similarly to windows, and is therefore easier to make the transition to.

    You should be able to get drivers for your tuner and webcam, but you'll need to get help from the ubuntu forums to find and install them. See if you can cross reference your laptop model and/or the models of your tuner and webcam with ubuntu 8.10 (or ubuntu studio, or whatever, depending on which you go for) to see what other users had to do to get them working.

    Basically, if you want to use ubuntu, be prepared to do a little research and ask for help to get your machine fully operational. It can take a litttle while, but the community is great.
     
    Dragunov-21, Jan 26, 2009
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  6. oldcpu

    oldcpu Notebook Guru

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    I use kdenlive on openSUSE. But there are other video editing packages than just kdenlive.

    I helped contribute to a wiki on this subject here:
    http://en.opensuse.org/Video_editing
     
    oldcpu, Jan 30, 2009
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  7. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

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    Another vote for Ubuntu 8.10.
     
    The Fire Snake, Jan 30, 2009
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  8. Bungalo Bill

    Bungalo Bill Notebook Deity

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    Most hp tv tuners are just rebranded Hauppauge cards. It should work with little to no effort in most distros. 8.10 is a good starter.
     
    Bungalo Bill, Jan 30, 2009
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  9. hongrboi

    hongrboi Notebook Enthusiast

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    In Ubuntu, you can get your webcam working with a program called Cheese. You can install it through command line or through the Synaptic Package Manager. Be sure to reload your package manager the when you first start it so you get the latest packages.
     
    hongrboi, Feb 7, 2009
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  10. puter1

    puter1 Notebook Deity

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    The best advice you can get, if you want to try Linux, is to avoid Ubuntu and all their offshoots. Don't use it, please.
     
    puter1, Feb 7, 2009
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  11. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    Care to give reasons for this advice, other than the claim that the best advice one can get is your advice? :rolleyes:
     
    Bog, Feb 7, 2009
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  12. Amranu

    Amranu Notebook Consultant

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    While Ubuntu is a great distro, it's always good to have a little variety. You could check out Linux Mint which is based off Ubuntu and is an even easier distro to setup, or Fedora if you want something with newer and shinier stuff then most distros (and is just as easy to set up as Ubuntu)
     
    Amranu, Feb 8, 2009
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  13. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    I suggest you also check out this thread Bog posted, when you have time. :cool:
     
    pixelot, Feb 13, 2009
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  14. puter1

    puter1 Notebook Deity

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    My two favourite distros right now is sidux and Fedora. sidux is based on Debian and Fedora is close to Red Hat. Introducing yourself to those two gives you two different perspectives in a way. I also have Kubuntu installed in a partition which I prefer over Ubuntu.
     
    puter1, Feb 14, 2009
    #14