Multimedia in Linux

[Mark Myers]

--------------=_4D4800FA2B9D03290134
Content-Description: filename="text1.txt"
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

I am curious, why is multimedia in preemptive multitasking OSes so bad?=

I have noticed this both in Linux and Windows NT & 2000.
For example, playing a streaming video using RealPlayer.
On Linux, even using a 256Kbs stream, I get a tiny window with moderatel=
y=20
jerky video in Linux.
In Win2K, small video is smooth. Zooming by 2X in Win2K, video is very=20=

jerky. Full screen mode is horrible.
The same video, on Win98SE, video is smooth at all zoom levels.
Same with playing back an .mpg movie.
On Linux, even with OSS sound drivers, the sound is good, but the video =

(the scene from Titanic that sweeps from an oncoming shot with the girl =

on the bow with her hands out, to the very stern of the ship moving away=
)=20
is jerky.
Same in Win2K. In Win98, video is smooth.
Is it because seeing the multimedia is processor intensive, a cooperativ=
e=20
multitasking environment is better than a preemptive one?
The machine running Win2K & Linux has an AMD K6-2 450MHz, 192MB RAM, ATI=
=20
All-In-Wonder Pro 8MB AGP, and a SoundBlaster AWE64 card.
The Win98 machine is AMD K6-2 300MHz, 128MB RAM, ATI Rage Fury 128 16MB =

AGP (used to have the All-In-Wonder Pro when tests were run), Ensoniq PC=
I=20
audio card.
I have some home movies that I would like to edit using the computer so =

that I can burn them onto CDROM and share them with family, but I am=20=

afraid that I might be stuck using MS Me to do it.
Is there a way that I can boost multimedia performance in Linux?
Thanks!
Mark

--------------=_4D4800FA2B9D03290134
Content-Description: filename="text1.rtf"
Content-Type: application/rtf
Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
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--------------=_4D4800FA2B9D03290134--