DVD for Mini 1000 Mi with Ubuntu came with Vista/XP Nero software

[aspergerian]

My HP DVD has arrived before my Mini 1000 Mi, so I connected the DVD to my Asus 901 with Hardy Heron and no Windows. The read-CD aspect of the DVD works. However, the software accompanying the DVD specifies Vista and other recent Microsoft OSs. Looking back to ordering the Mini 1000 Mi, I specified 2 gig of ram and, a few screens later, was offered and chose the DVD writer.  Having already specified the Ubuntu version of the Mini 1000, I assumed that the DVD would be fully functional with Ubuntu and with the Ubuntu Mini 1000 Mi. Meanwhile, I'm puzzled about why HP would ship a Vista-software DVD for a Ubuntu Mini 1000 Mi.  ???  A web search shows that Nero AG (the software maker for the DVD) also makes Linux versions. Was the wrong (ie Vista) DVD shipped to me?  Has HP anticipated that some people would (a) buy a Ubuntu Mini 1000 Mi, and (b) buy the sale-bundled DVD presuming it would be shipped with Linux software?  Comments and suggestions appreciated.

[Huffer]

Check to see if your installation of Ubuntu has a program called K3b...likely under the multimedia section of the programs. K3b is the open source cd and dvd burning program and is a complete replacement for Nero as far as burning. As far as watching dvd videos, you can use any of the Linux multimedia players like Kaffeine, Mplayer or Xine to play DVDs. You may need to download and install some Codecs but with ubuntu it is a piece of cake using the software updater and the apt-get function to download anything you need from the Ubuntu update servers. For video authoring and capture you can use OpenSource programs like Kino and DeVeDe.

The DVD drive will just work and mount in Ubuntu when you plug it in so you will have DVD data reading capability and you just need to add the software so you can do the fun stuff. Why they sent you a Vista software disk I have no clue. You might call HP Support and ask them if they have a Linux disk with some of this software on it (pretty sure they will not have a Linux nero disk but you can ask). 

Message Edited by Huffer on 03-05-2009 12:52 PM

[aspergerian · Accepted solution]

Huffner,

Thnx for the reply. I've continued to websearch DVD-related issues as they concern HP Mini 1000 Mi and Linux (Ubuntu).   I've learned that my Asus 901 running Hardy Heron and no Windows has Brasero, a muli-faceted CD/DVD program standard in Hardy Heron. I found K3b via Synaptic but have not added K3b to my Asus 901. When my HP Mini 1000 Mi (Ubuntu) arrives, I'll see whether it has Brasero or K3b. 

My hunch has come to be that HP sends a generic HP DVD that virtually always includes the Nero Essentials 7 CD for Vista/XP etc. Since I have two XP machines that I hardly use now that I have a Linux machine (and soon another), I'll use the Nero CD for using the external DVD gadget with the XP machines if ever necessary. 

[weaponx69]

Maybe you can write or call Nero too and give them the product key and maybe they will send you the linux version.  You can download the trial version for linux for 30 days too if you really want to use Nero.

[aspergerian]

Turns out that having wiped the HP-Linux and having then installed Hardy Heron, the external DVD read/write worked as plug and play, so I didn't need an install disk with Nero-Linux software.  My goal in wiping HP-Linux and installing Hardy Heron (8.04) was having the classic desktop - which serves my computer uses far better than did the HP-Linux variant's desktop.

[weaponx69]

Yeah, I hear that.  the HP mini interface can be a little cumbersome and hard to get used to.  I was able to get to unhide the command line and find synaptic so that allowed me to do everything I can do with my desktop so I'm still happy with the HP mie interface for right now.  I just wish they would come out with a feature that will allow a poweruser to customize the desktop.  Maybe I could write if for them and sell it to them?  Who knows.