Linux PVR [was] Is Linux ...frustrating

[Michael Gargiullo]

On Wed, 2004-04-07 at 15:43, duncan brown wrote:
> about your radeon card, there are unaccelerated 2d drivers that work like a champ and ship with fedora, but for 3d acceleration, you're going to have to hit ati's website (www.ati.com).
> 
> their installation procedure is NIGHTMARE.
> 
> first off, it's not even an rpm.
> secondly, you have to go through alot of esoteric configuration options that the average user will NOT know
> thirdish, they use the old xf86setup script (which hasn't been in wide use in YEARS) to configure x instead of taking what you already have
> 
> they're relatively new to everything on linux, so don't expect alot from them.  nvidia sucked for quite a while, but ever since about 2 years ago, they're getting pretty nice.
> 
> i think that alot of the problems with ati and other companies putting out linux drivers is internal resources... everyone's so damned right-size happy that they don't have enough people to support windows and mac, let alone linux.  i think the growing market in linux is the only reason they're doing it, not just to be nice.
> 
> as far as tv capture, the hauppauge cards are supported really well under linux, i'm not so sure about the ati cards.  on a good week, you can find the happauge cards on super rebate at one of the electronics stores for like $20, they're normally like $50.  oh, and the pvr version of the card just has more powerful windows software, for the most part.
> 
> -d
> 
> also, i'd appreciate it that once you're linux conversion is complete if you'd do a small write up (a paragraph or two) on how happy you are now with linux vs ms for my site.  i want to collect as many 'switch' advocates as possible.
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: live4bacon at optonline.net
> Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2004 14:41:54 -0400
> To: fedora-list at redhat.com
> Subject: Linux PVR [was] Is Linux ...frustrating
> 
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Ross M Karchner <ross at karchner.com>
> > Date: Wed, 07 Apr 2004 13:06:03 -0400
> > To: For users of Fedora Core releases <fedora-list at redhat.com>
> > Subject: Re: Is Linux always so frustating^
> > 
> > > live4bacon at optonline.net wrote:
> > > 
> > > >In regards to making the switch, I wish I had done it sooner.  I purchased a new Dell with XP in Jan. and switched my old box over to Fedora and barely touch the XP machine.  I would like to switch it over to Linux as well (being that on the rare occasion that I find myself working on the XP box it usually crashes) but I think the hardware, specifically the video card, would not be compatible w/ Linux, and I like the fact that my XP box records TV (much like TiVo), however is someone could point me towards some literature into turning my linux box into a PVR I would be most appreciative.
> > > >
> > > >Thanks,
> > > >JWP
> > > >
> > 
> > Duncan Brown Wrote:
> > 
> > >wow, today's just an apt happy day.
> > >
> > >you can also install mythtv and other such software.  
> > >and what makes you feel that your video card wouldn't be 
> > >compatible?  or are you talking about your capture card?
> > 
> > >if you install apt and synaptic (http://www.linuxadvocate.net/apt) 
> > >and then add some repositories like dag's and freshrpm's, 
> > >you'll be set for software, including macromedia flash.
> > 
> > >http://dag.wieers.com/home-made/apt/
> > >http://www.freshrpms.net
> > 
> > I based the assumption of my Hardware not being compatible on all the articles I have read about newer Hardware not being Linux compatible, no solid evidence, and I am new to Linux (as of Jan 04).
> > 
> > The computer in question is a new Dell Dimension 4600 with Windows XP Media Center edition.  With a Raedon   ?400? video card..... The specifics escape me now, I will post the details this weekend if anyone cares to help me out.  
> > 
> > Thanks for the pointer to Freevo, it looks promising and i will be setting the XP box up to dual boot this weekend and find out if I can completely remove myself from the clutches of M$
> > 
> > Thanks folks,
> > JWP
> > 
> > 
> 

If your video card is an ATIRadeon 8xxx or 9xxx series card ATI's
drivers will work (TV out and all).  I'm using an ATI 9200 with Mythtv 
(LOVE IT!)  output display's fine on the TV, and using ATrpms site for
the YUM repository, it's as simple as yum install mythtv-suite.  They
also have a great fedora-core HOW-TO at mythtv.org.