Hello Linux folks- my bro has given me a portable hardrive with films on it in mp4 format- tried to play one and it said I hadn’t a programme to play it. What programme would play it and would I get it from the package manager? My bro did these on his macbook. Thanks.
Oh and some are not even mp4s but something called Matroska, whatever that is!
VLC will probably play them, and should be available in your package managers.
It would help people give a more precise answer if when you ask a question, you mention which Linux distribution and version you’re using
eg.
Mint 15
Ubuntu 13.04
Fedora 19
etc.
and if you know … whether you’re using 32bit or 64bit.
Thanks Mark. I always forget about distributions- even though I’ve had Linux since last year I still forget that cos I have to use Microsoft at work and my poor brain has to keep switching between the two operating systems! I’m on Mint but forget which one- next time I switch off I’ll make a note which Mint it is- it’s not Peppermint I know that as much. I don’t actually know what 32 and 64 bit mean… :-[
Wow VLC is amazing- the picture quality is the sharpest I have ever seen and this is the 1960s Star Trek series!
Yup, VLC will play just about anything (video or audio) 
I used to know someone a few years ago who had VLC on his Microsoft PC- he was well into it! Bet he had to pay for it though ha ha.
VLC is pretty awesome - free, open source and skinnable.
What’s not to like?
Indeed! I am beginning to wonder why people bother with Microsoft- ok most PCs one buys have it loaded, but hey they don’t have to keep it!
I am beginning to wonder why people bother with Microsoft
Because, for the most part, they don’t know anything else exists so they don’t look for alternatives. MS spend a lot of time and money trying to stop people from finding out. As you and I and all the other Linux users know - it’s possible to rely on your PC and enjoy using it, without having to mortgage your house to Apple, or obtain a degree in Computer Science, to do so.
You are right- most people haven’t heard of Linux and some want to get Mac, as let’s face it it is better than Microsoft ( better system less viruses) but cannot afford it. I tell people about Linux but I think they don’t believe me that the best OS is free!!!
Hi Melissa
I’m not sure it’s entirely fair to say Mac is better than Microsoft, for one thing Microsoft dont build computers they’re a software company, and their product like Linux has to be able to work with all sorts of variations of hardware and hardware configurations, whereas Apple (if I understand it correctly) control the software and the hardware ie you can only run a MAC operating system on a MAC computer which gives Apple much tighter control not only over the computers they sell but also the unfortunate customers they sell them to, these customers don’t only pay a high price for the hardware they pay an even higher price with they’re liberty, some may call that better I have other names for it
Graeme
ie you can only run a MAC operating system on a MAC computer
Hmm … there are (as usual) way and means … at least as far as OS X goes 
(after all, Intel Mac’s are just x86 PC’s using off the shelf components … in an Apple case, and at exorbitant prices)
Hmm .. there are (as usual) way and means
I’m sure there is but I’m equally sure none are legal
Bit of a grey area that … different countries treat it differently.
You buy the latest Mac OS X say for a real Mac … now do you own the OS or not ?
You buy the latest Mac OS X say for a real Mac .. now do you own the OS or not
I think you’re trying to trip me up here Mark but my answer would be no you don’t own it because the purchase will come with conditions and if I understand it correctly the source is closed is it not ?
So in my view if the source is closed then you don’t own it, at least that’s how I see it
No it was a genuine question … read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSx86
it’s disputed whether it’s legal for Apple to say "yuo can only run OS X (after purchasing it) ONLY on Apple branded hardware … certain countries will no doubt interpret this differently.
AFAIK, Apple has never taken any individual “end-user” to court over a hackintosh … so nobody knows :o
Whilst the US courst would undoubtedly side with Apple … there’s no way of knowing for sure over here.
–
I see your point Emegra. I meant Mac as an OS is known to be more efficient than Microsoft but yes it isn’t open source. But why pay through the nose when you can have Linux!!!
You can install anything you want on a Mac, it’s a computer.
Apple make it hard and you’ll void any guarantee in the process, but it can be done, legally.
Now, putting OSX on a non Apple PC gets Apple upset and they start throwing threats and lawyers letters around. I doubt very much indeed if a UK Court would back Apple in prosecuting someone for putting OSX on a non-Apple machine, as long as you didn’t then release the OS you’d used into the wild so others could do the same (and that in itself is an outrageous fact - it’s your PC, why should you be thus restricted as to what you do with it?)
At the end of the day, we’re talking about Corporate psychos, who have the US Government totally wrapped round their finger. The US is miles ahead of us when it comes to venal stupidity and corruption in the leglislature and the legal system, though the Tories are racing as fast as they can to sink to the same level.
it's disputed whether it's legal for Apple to say "yuo can only run OS X (after purchasing it) ONLY on Apple branded hardware .. certain countries will no doubt interpret this differently.
But even if Apple placed no restrictions on what hardware you installed their software on, you still wouldn’t own the software, you would only own the right to use that software on whatever hardware you choose just like you would with Microsoft Windows they’re both closed source so both Apple & Microsoft retain ownership by not allowing the purchaser the right to access the code they’ve purchased
But the point I was originally trying to make was because MacOS is written to work specifically with hardware designed for it of course it’s gonna run sweet so any comparison between a Mac & Windows PC or a Mac & Linux PC would be an unfair comparison
But why pay through the nose when you can have Linux!!!
Very true
Graeme