Unfortunately, this is true. If I didn't dislike mickeysoft so much for the way they built their business with almost a complete lack of ethics, I would use winbloat xp, because it does what I need to do the most, scanning and faxing, plus some business related multimedia (conference calls) much better than Linux. Almost every time I fire up VirtualBox to do in XP what has to be done, I ask myself why don't I just run XP and get it over with.
I'm no saint, but we all have a line we draw somewhere on any given principle and having, over the years, watched mickeysoft do things as a corporation, that would have gotten an individual thrown in jail, I just can't bring myself use their products if I don't have to....

As to video, have you tried Kino?

Well... Thanks to the present thread you have still opportunity to switch from Linux to Windows.

Only time I ever use Winbloat is at college.

I have to run Windows in order to run the wizards so that when friends' computers are broken I will know what they need to do to fix them. You can't tell people to stay out of the registry...it's just too much temptation.

Songbird, maybe?

Several years ago I used the same strategy too. I was using a dual boot setup. I'd boot into Windows, get configured, record the necessary information, and then reboot into Slackware.

Interesting you raise that very topic. I have a Visoneer 3300 parallel port flatbed scanner. Runs great for the nominal amount of scanning I perform. Being parallel port there is no sense in trying to get the device functional in a Linux based system. I keep the scanner connected to my original NT4 box, just like when I purchased the scanner many years ago. The NT4 box is networked to my Slackware box, where I save my scanned images. Recently I started researching flat bed scanners and there are very few standalones sold these days. Most are multi-purpose machines. I already have a great laser printer. All I need is a new USB flatbed scanner, which nowadays are few. Those that exist are not on any compatibility lists I can find or receive problem reports on discussion forums. I could buy a used older USB model. But for now, the scanner is one reason I continue to keep a dedicated Windows box around.

Till OO gets better at dealing with powerpoint files, I'll leave M$ one a machine. That's all I use it for.
Otherwise, it's OpenBSD, OS/2, linux, and my much loved CBM machines (C64 to A4000).

I forgot to mention the Mac. I've always heard the Mac is the preferred machine by video, audio, and graphic arts professionals and I've been very impressed with what I've seen of OS-X. After all, it is a "cousin" of Linux.

Another reason to run XP in a VirtualBox on your Slackware Linux desktop.

For whatever reasons HP refuses to provide drivers for their standalone scanners, yet they do supply drivers for their multi-purpose machines. Probably has something to do with marketing, i.e., they want to force people away from standalone scanners and into their multi-purpose products.

I use windows for gaming and once a year tax season... I suppose the tax software could be run in virtualbox though, and any games I do play I just recently learned works well in wine. Now, I guess my only excuse left is taking the time to convert

I use my wife's Windows laptop only to play Stronghold Crusader (once in a while).

Hi,

I use M$ whenever the need arises, just a tool to me. Usually when a client needs assistance. I keep several flavors on machines just for that reason. The plus is that I too use my scanners on M$, each system is networked so the need to setup for Linux is just not there. Recently I purchased a small flatbed at a local garage sale for $5, cable, all the software and driver. Just in need of a good cleaning and service. I see a lot of the parallel but when I do see a USB unit then I grab it. Grand kids & kids get these when found. In these financial times I seem to find all kinds of treasures.

Thank you for the reply, your advice has been noted and I will look into it. I forgot to mention slackbook and I been reading that as well. I bought the book from the slackware store since I prefer having physical copies if it exists. It seems outdated though but IIRC, there should be version 3 out soon. However, I'm not sure if this is what you meant but there's a slackbuild for MPlayer that already comes with VDPAU inside the slackware DVD by patrick? I couldn't locate anything on the slackware dvd, slackbuilds.org, alien bob's site, or rworkman's site that has anything to do with VDPAU.

It's great to hear that, I never seen the performance or quality of MPlayer+VDPAU but I been hearing great things about it.

I don't know the first thing about virtual systems. Figured that if it takes room to run, why not just install it. But, I don't know if that is really how it is