…about Ubuntu 8.04.
Ripping media. Need to archive a DVD? Right-click, Rip. Need to archive a CD/convert wav to mp3 for portability, etc.? Right-click>open (I select one of two apps, usually Rhythmbox)>Add to Library. I’ve set my preference to mp3 with a decent bit level–128, only because with the tiny earbuds of an mp3 player, it’s difficult to tell the difference, especially given where I use my player: mowing the lawn, driving, etc.–so it automagically just does its thing,
Windows? Notsomuch. With all the DRM crap Microsoft insists on shackling folks with, and the fact that most folks just use “what came on the computer” I don’t know how many folks I’ve had come to me with complaints about Windows Media Player ripping their CDs into DRM-“protected” formats they can’t use anywhere else (at least not easily). WMAs? Hate ’em. WVMs? Ditto. Oh, there are ways to make WMP play more nicely, and there are even some nice lil freebie apps to convert those nasty WMA files to mp3s, but in a native Ubuntu session, I don’t have to mess with any of that.
One thing that’s easier, more friendly, just plain nicer about Ubuntu.