On Wed, Mar 07, 2007 at 12:12:44PM +0600, Emon wrote:
> Hello everyone
>
> After using Slackware for some years I am planning to switch to a distro
> with better package management; and since Debian's reputation is second
> to none in this field... I chose Kubuntu.
>
Smart choice.
> My first question is how to enable mp3/MPEG-4 playback in Kubuntu??
>
As you are switching to a new distro there will be many new things to learn. Much of it is well documented on the Ubuntu wiki.
http://wiki.ubuntu.com - or if you prefer
http://wiki.kubuntu.org/ (both
present the same data, just in a different colour scheme.
I would highly recommend reading the desktop guide. You can download it in PDF or html format.
https://help.ubuntu.com/6.10/kubuntu/desktopguide/C/index.html
https://help.ubuntu.com/6.10/pdf/kubuntu/C/desktopguide.pdf
To answer your specific question however:-
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/MP3
> Pleas don't suggest the "apt get foo" method.... cos
>
:S This will be a problem for you. It is not impossible to install files manually but if you miss one dependancy out you will have to go back to your friend to get it.
> 1) I am very new to Debian and don't have a clue as to how it works (I
> admit some reading is due here)
>
The following page will help increase your understanding of how to install software on Ubuntu/Kubuntu.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware
The following link details how to install software manually using "dpkg" or "gdebi".
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware#head-c0628aa246e0b55ea2009705d1b5a84ede8736b5
> 2) I don't have broadband connection :-(
>
If your friend does have broadband then one option you could choose is this, which will create an entire mirror of the software repository on a disk:-
Take a large USB device to your friends house along with a Live Ubuntu CD.
Get the live cd booted and online.
Connect up and format the usb device.
Install "apt-mirror" (see details below) and configure it to save the repository to the usb device.
Run apt-mirror - go away and have some tea - this will take some time.
When finished, unplug the usb disk and take it home.
Configure your own machine to use the usb disk as its repository.
You can then install anything that is in the Kubuntu/Ubuntu repository as if you had a broadband connection.
I wrote up how to do this on my blog, link here:-
http://popey.com/Creating_an_Ubuntu_repository_mirror_with_apt-mirror
Be aware that a full mirror of a single Ubuntu repository runs to around 30GB, so you need a decent sized usb disk and a very, very good friend who has lots of tea.
Hope that helps.
You may also want to take a look at joining your local Ubuntu LoCo team. If I remember rightly you are in Bangladesh? If so the following mailing list may be useful to you:-
https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bd
Their website is at:-
http://www.ubuntu-bd.org/
You may find you are able to meet up with like minded Kubuntu users in your neighbourhood. Good luck.
Cheers,
Al.
