Fucking christ, thanks for dragging me into this.
I don't know how long it takes to produce a dvd from avi rips in Windows or OSX. And I really don't fucking care, because I wanted to learn how to do this in Linux. I like the concept of Linux, mostly for political (anti-technocratic) reasons, and I spend a lot of time messing with it. And, perhaps perversely, I enjoy futzing around with flags and settings. Additionally, I think (although I cannot prove) that CLI programs like transcode, mencoder, and dvdauthor do the job Right. That's right with a capital R there, kids. As in "the most correct way possible, cutting no digital corners".
All things considered, I have learned more about video technology doing this than I ever would have using iMovie or MyDVD or something like that. Every disc I make gets better and better, slicker and slicker.
For the overall discussion, I have to say that as a cartographer, I use Linux everyday, and wouldn't trade it for the world. I do have to use Windows though, for Illustrator. That's because there aren't any top-shelf vector programs for Linux yet. But I cringe at the interface - there's just something I can't stand about the way Windows looks and acts.
Yes, I am anti-Windows. But I am also pro-choice, assuming that information is equal. Skyman claims to have used Cinelerra, and found it somewhat inferior to Avid. Fine. When someone makes a choice using all the information that is available to them, then that choice is valid. It's unfortunate that Avid hasn't embraced other platforms and that the industry doesn't embrace other software, but that's another story altogether.
I'm done.
