Well I could play it using the same VLC you want it in.

http://www.imgx.org/pfiles/13129/vlcc1.png

I have installed the gnome-mplayer plugin for Firefox and when I clicked any of the audio links, it just opened a new tab and started playing. To play it off and into any player, in this case VLC, all I did was right click > copy location and opened it in VLC.

It's not hard to be honest, and I'm surprised you haven't still figured that out after 3 years on Gnome(Linux)

I too clicked the link on soma.fm.
Firefox asked me what to do with it (save to disk or play it)
I chose play.
It worked.

I clicked the link, chose download and then clicked on the icon in my home folder.

Which resulted in the file being opened in aqualung.

The year of the Linux Desktop (you too Ubuntu) is still a long way off !!!

Linux desktop for me is now !!!

Just to clear things up a bit:

As for the specific example noted, when browsing to said link I'm given two choices after selecting "open with" (at least with Firefox and Intrepid pretty much out of the box); 1) a list of applications (1 item long, i.e. totem-movie, no vlc), or 2) "other". The "other" option merely brings you a file browsing dialog where you can choose an executable of your liking. The problem is I don't (at least in theory) know which executable to choose, or where to find it. The benefit of some other desktop environments, or perhaps I should really say O/S's here, is that virtually all applications are known to the system and available for the suggesting in such cases.

Oh, and I do know how figure this out after three years:
but how would my wife, for example? How would my clients? And as noted earlier, sometimes the clever workaround can invite more trouble than solution.

Does this mean I win, you lose--linux sucks? No, it doesn't. It means I've experienced something that I'd like to raise as a possible point of frustration, and as an example of an overall trend in a new user's experience that PERHAPS can be solved with little or no detriment to the goals and performance of the Linux O/S.

As to some of the non-constructive comments:

Why bother? Why adopt the "love it or leave it" attitude--the how dare you mentality? If I'd called this thread "Why Linux Stinks" or "Why You Shouldn't Bother", then I'd agree that this would indeed be too provocative to be called anything like an attempt at open discussion.

Linux, Gnome, & KDE--like all things--depend on feedback and discussion to improve. So I'm trying to spark discussion. The "poisoning the well" comments, and "perfect OS" sarcasm are unwarranted, and clearly corrosive to open discussion.

We'll have to agree to disagree here.
First, much of the sarcasm was harmless.

Second, the tone of your first post virtually guaranteed the kind of responses that were posted.

Then agreed we are. Accept my apologies for missing my mark.

If you really want to spark disscusion, a better thread title would have been why linux doesn't suit me right now instead of a flame bait title like this one. Do you really think people in the free software community would think this title and your first post wouldn't get people a bit angry?, You don't go up to the people trying to help you and say flammatory remarks. I have said this numerous times in the past.

lumix, if totem is the only choice, then your system has not been set up in a way that best suits your needs.
http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfec...ts-hardy-heron
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Hardy

The "Linux Desktop" is not a Windows desktop clone.

Well, as others have stated, Christmas Lounge is working fine for me... I've got it playing in gxine..

Linux for me, is perfect. My needs are pretty simple, I just make sure I pay attention, and research, when I want to buy hardware, so I don't get a surprise.

IGF

I have been using Linux in various forms for several years at work and at home, i beta test game software for devs, and do data base management at work.

the only thing i can confirm that windows does better than Linux is catch Viruses ect. this results in costing thousands of dollars to keep windows and needed third party software running.

Everything i can do in windows, i can do in linux, cheaper and faster.

My god we've become sensitive over the years.

What part of "this is not an attack" didn't some of you get? Too busy being offended. The title was intended to be provocative, that's how conversation gets started. I believe I've apologized for "missing my mark" in any case. No worries; the discussion will be brought elsewhere.

So, if I whacked you over the head with a stick, but prefaced it with "This is not an attack" it would be OK? Give me a break!

The yardstick for measuring an offense is in the hand of the one offended, not in the hand of the aggressor.

No matter how you spin this, your post was directed at the wrong audience and meant to be offensive. Give it up, already.

You really believe he was seeking conversation? I've got a fantastic bridge you might be interested in purchasing.

He was trolling. He knew how this thread would go.

IGF