Should I get Linux

[chimon]

I am currently running a WinXP on a Sony VAIO with 2, 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium(R) 4 processors 1.5 GB RAM and 300GB hard disc. I mostly want to use the computer for video editing, but am completely frustrated with the way Windows handles programs, often causing my comp to crash during a file export.

I have heard good things about Linux, but I have a few questions.

Can I wipe my hard drives and install Linux on this machine, or do I have to buy a new comp? (file types are NTFS)

Does Linux handle resource allocation well, and can I customize resource allocation easily?

Is there a good video editor for Linux that offers similar features as Adobe Premiere Pro, including Chroma Key, Audio edit tools, and multiple overlays, and can handle 2-3 hr of video, for less than $200 USD?

Is Linux easy to use, or do I need to spend a lot of time learning new interfaces and command prompts?

How easy is it to capture to Linux from a Sony digital camera? What about an analog camera through RCA input?

Perhaps I am in the wrong place, but info on Linux is difficult to find.

[techieMoe]

I am currently running a WinXP on a Sony VAIO with 2, 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium(R) 4 processors 1.5 GB RAM and 300GB hard disc. I mostly want to use the computer for video editing, but am completely frustrated with the way Windows handles programs, often causing my comp to crash during a file export.

I have heard good things about Linux, but I have a few questions.

Can I wipe my hard drives and install Linux on this machine, or do I have to buy a new comp? (file types are NTFS)

You most certainly do not need any new hardware. Your existing system will run pretty much any Linux out there on the market (there are thousands) very well indeed. The file systems on your existing harddrives can be easily deleted and written over by the install program of whichever Linux distribution you choose.

Does Linux handle resource allocation well, and can I customize resource allocation easily?

I don't know, honestly. I've never run into any issues with it myself but I'm not an audio/video person so I can't really comment on how that works in Linux.

Is there a good video editor for Linux that offers similar features as Adobe Premiere Pro, including Chroma Key, Audio edit tools, and multiple overlays, and can handle 2-3 hr of video, for less than $200 USD?

I think you'll find that 99% of the software available for Linux is completely free of charge, so the "under $200" part will be easy to meet. I do not know much about video editing software, but I have seen a few programs such as Kino. Perhaps someone else on the forum will have more insight.

Is Linux easy to use, or do I need to spend a lot of time learning new interfaces and command prompts?

We really can't tell you if Linux will be easy for you. Linux is definitely going to be different for you if you're used to using Microsoft Windows. It behaves differently in just about every way, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your perspective. There's a good link in our new user tutorials (link below) called "Linux is NOT Microsoft Windows, Explained".

Perhaps I am in the wrong place, but info on Linux is difficult to find.

We have amassed a few popular threads with useful information for those new to Linux and posted them all here:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html

If you have any more questions, let us know.

[cheesecake42]

you should check out ubuntu studio edition at Home | Ubuntu Studio the kernel is specifically tweaked to handle very low latency for audio recordings and it'll have everything pre-loaded that you'll propobly need as far as video/photo editing.

[Taltos]

1) The file system will be no problem. You can always re-partition your hard drive with a new file system and most Linux distribution installers will do this for you. However, you'll definitely need to do some homework because I recall hearing somewhere that there were definite hardware issues with the Sony VAIO. Since I don't have one, I skipped those articles so I don't know what the issues were. I believe the Ubuntu and Fedora community forums had some how-to guides specificially for Sony VAIOs.

P.S. If you'd like you can also keep part of your harddrive partitioned for NTFS so you can run a dual-boot, choosing to run a Windows or Linux during boot-up. I've never felt it necessary, since I haven't missed Windows since switching over.

2) The specific technical issues of resource allocation is beyond me, but in general, yes, Linux handles resource allocation MUCH better. This allows it to make better use of hardware, especially older hardware, and also prevents situations where windows programs tend to hog memory even after they are closed.

3) I don't know. Graphics and video editing are beyond me. However, I'm sure there are and they will be well below $200, if not completely free. GIMP is very popular for example, free, comes default with some distribution installs, and I've heard it has about 80% of the functionality of Adobe Photoshop. So there is some really nice open-source software available out there. However, I don't know anything about video editing.

4) Linux is easy to use, but you'll still have to spend a lot of time learning new interfaces and command prompts. It's weird. It's important to remember that while the interface is convinient, it's still DIFFERENT than anything you've used previously, and you can't jump into it expecting it to be exactly like Windows or you'll get frustrated. You're first week or so of Linux is going to have a massive learning curve, but this curve is relatively easy and there's a lot of online help and support to walk you through it. People will give you the "how-to" instructions to get up and running quickly, or they'll teach you every little thing about what's going on underneath your computer's hood if you want. It's up to you. It's easy, but THERE IS a learning curve. That being said, the learning curve for me was half the fun.

5) I'm sorry. I have no idea about the capturing from a Sony digital camera or an analog camera through RCA input. If you'd like, I can help you do some research on this.

6) Yes and no. Information on linux is easy to find, but difficult to filter through. There's too much information, most of the time, and most of it will never apply to you at any given time.


Chimon, check out Ubuntu Home Page | Ubuntu. It is one of the many Linux distributions that offer a "Live CD", meaning that you can downlaod the .iso, burn it to a CD, and then boot off it to try out Linux yourself without having to install anything on your computer. It will run the operating system off the CD. Some of the functionality is reduced and the speed is slower, but you can get comfortable with the interface and check out what the default Ubuntu Linux install will look and feel like. If you don't like it, there are coutnless other distributions, many of which offer Live CDs.

[valemon]

you should check out ubuntu studio edition at Home | Ubuntu Studio the kernel is specifically tweaked to handle very low latency for audio recordings and it'll have everything pre-loaded that you'll propobly need as far as video/photo editing.

Just downloaded it and burning it. I am really happy with this movement. It was something missing from linux. I had a really big latency problem with nuendo 3.

[techieMoe]

I did a little research on video editing software last night and I have two more suggestions:

Cinelarra
LiVES

[oz]

Should I get Linux

Short Answer: Yes, you should definitely try Linux. Whether or not you keep it is something that only you should decide.

[worm5252]

Well mate I will go ahead and tell you, I produce music. I do not do video editing but resource wise audio and video applications tend to react very very similiar. And with Audio I am refering to industry standard software. Definately check the HCL (Hardware compatibility List) about your VAIO. I have used cinelarra and it runs nice. good learning curve, but if your used to adobe premier shouldn't be a problem. Now as far as Nuendo, that's a name I know becuase I use Steinberg products such as Cubase SX (next level down from nuendo) and wavelab, both of which I have gotten to work flawlessly in Linux by the use of wine. Wine HQ

I would recommend doing a dual boot with your exsisting mach just incase you decide Linux is not for you. Then you can easily go back to what you were doing.

[netstrider]

I work for one of the bigger camera retailers in my province, the Sony handycams are not compatible with Mac (That is, with sony's software, I don't know if there are third party softwares for making these work). So I assume that if you have any luck with getting your sony equipment to work..it will be only to copy over your video/audio files with third-party software/drivers from FOSS.

Good luck