You probably compiled MPlayer form the source. It is included with the MPlayer source release (as well as a few other dependencies)

...aaron

You probably downloaded mplayer from something like linuxpackages.net, and from there you can also get lame packages.

I agree with the original poster. After trying out about 10 different distros, I had finally settled on fc5. Unfortunately, it seems that things are a little convoluted there. When I finally got slackware installed, I was able to install the 15 or so packages that I really, really, wanted to work immediately. This seems like a much faster, better-tuned, and easier-to-use distro. I too will be sticking with it.

I didn't compile it from source. Is it better to download the source and compile them? I avoid doing this as it takes a lot of time..../configure; ./make; ./make install;

Thanks

Thanks. I will install it tonight after I reach home. At office, I can't even test it as we have only windows boxes around.

you can download the precompiled tgz too. have a look at linuxpakages or -my preferred- slacky.it -it is an italian site but the repository is browserable with easy by everyone-

M

yeah so far this site has been an excellent source for slack packages.
and develia.org is also very very good.

as for me, i started with mandrake, then red hat, then suse, then Slackware..after that only Slackware . i just love its simplicity and the way it works with everything (for instance connecting a TV, i failed in SUSE and Ubuntu but in slackware i just followed the instructions and now i watch my DVDROM movies on TV). recently i installed ubuntu 6.06, and liking it also but since i have no internet connection at home updating ubuntu is a tough job.

i am a regular user of KDE, however my other home members are easy with Gnome....i have tried dropline/freerock gnome for slack but they seem to mess up the KDE menu, so i had to look for another distro that have gnome and ubuntu have nicely filled-in the gap.

yet i must admit that, there is no substitue for Slackware.

The KDE menu problem is actually a problem with KDE's lack of support of the Freedesktop.org menu specification. See this FAQ for how to fix it when using Dropline, Freerock, or Gware GNOME desktops.

http://gsb.freerock.org/faqs/

that's very funny, rkelsen
( and true...)

egag

Thanks, I downloaded the .tgz package from http://www.slacky.it/ and installed it. Now my Mplayer is working. I have downloaded the source too, will try it too on a diffrent machine.

hehe, this thread kinda evolved to a mplayer support thread, so getting back to original comment "Slackware is really Fast..." i have to add: If you think this is fast, wait till you complie a custom kernel and get rid of extra weight, Shilo's tutorial is nice for this among other things: http://shilo.is-a-geek.com/slack/tweak.html
Have fun

I've been a Linux user for about 4 years now and a Slack user for about 2. I still have NOT compiled my own kernel. I did however, do some reading about customizing a kernel. If my memory serves me correctly, I read that the speed difference is not as noticable when running a GUI. Is this true? I use Linux at home on my aging laptop. So, a GUI (KDE) is going to be using MOST of the time. Before I roll up my sleeves to compile my own custom kernel, I want to make sure that it would truly benefit me to do so. Any thoughts?

Back on Topic:

I share your opinion that Slack is FAST compared to most distros. I tried installing Fedora 5 recently. Not only was I not impressed, I couldn't customize and configure it as well as I could Slack (I never could get my wifi card to work). Soooooo, I put Slack back on the machine and I have been happy ever since.

Hi tubatodd, to be totally honest with you, it's not a really huge difference, but it feels nice to have it i guess it's kinda subjetive thing, and it's really fun! This will sound totally silly but i'd explain it as when i went from 64 ram to 128 on windows me (spit) some years ago, or the speed difference you get with a regular distro vs slacky

My computer is for personal use, so, I would define FAST as quickly opening programs, quickly browsing files and directories....for eg. I used skype(same version) on Ubuntu and it took more than 10 secs to show the GUI whereas in Slackware, it takes only 5 secs...just half.

Well, any BOOST in speed on a slower machine is much appreciated. Sooooo, I think I will try it. Where is a good resource (Read: I need an Idiot's Guide) for compiling your own kernel?