Ditto!!
But I fear that most software companies are too "beholden" to MS to make any serious offers of their products for other OS's.
I hooked into this message hopping to hear good news but that may well be just a "daydream".

Every once in a while I look at the free bits of software for Linux. There's lots of interest and there are lots of efforts. Quite a few libraries exist to run the avialable hardware and to read and write some media formats.

However, there are some restrictions. Many codecs are proprietary and can't be legally mimicked for Linux. This means that the people holding the copyrights and licenses have to write or compile them for Linux.

Quicktime seemed like a good case in point. Many programs could only read and write uncompressed quicktime. Maybe that has changed since I last paid close attention.

Looking at the freely available apps, the only one with any capability is Cinelerra-and to be honest, the level of rhetoric and crazy-talk on it's website is pretty offputting.

Eventually there WILL be good editing systems under Linux but I suspect that they'll be turn-key efforts.

Consider that OSX is very similar to Linux. If I were to make a guess I'd say that an edit system for Linux will come from the Mac arena and not from the Windows camp. In that case, you might be looking at someone who is willing to go head to head with FCP or at least FCP express. And they'll have to charge for the product in order to finance development.

What such a system for Linux will need is to work very well right out of the box. Many people who try it will be comparing it to something they're familair with-like Vegas or FCP. If a Linux based NLE can't work as well as these it won't fly.

Vegas is actually a good candidate for Linux-in spirit anyway. It doesn't rely on special hardware, it has a good interface, and it's pretty easy to use. Unfortunately, I think it really relies on Window's infrastructure.

Rob

Sad to hear its unlikely sonic foundry will be available for any other platform in the future. I, like many of you, are abandoning “The XPeriment”. Using the XPepriment to kill off bootleggers has suddenly stopped the migration of professional content makers from mac to windows. When It becomes too difficult for content creators to move their own files around, Bill Gates and Steve Balmer’s sanity should be checked. I think its time that both microsoft and the riaa quit blaming lackluster sales on bootleggers and accept their own responsibility in their own demise. neither is very bright anymore at marketing and have not offered us any thing new in more than a decade. Both Microsoft and the Record industry were built on people copying and sharing as a free method to spread the excitement and interest of their new products. When they killed off napster they killed off their next big free method of marketing. It sounds as dumb as if they had tried killing radio in the 60’s. I have quit using my licensed office xp programs cause the constant calling to "Get permission" from Microsoft to use software I purchased and the pleading my case to re-activate is getting unnerving. Do mac owners get abused by apple like this? maybe they do. are they as bad as Microsoft. One things for sure, those who make money at this will migrate (like the server market did) to a platform without restrictions. has Microsoft noticed the Self inflicted damage they have done to their server software market? I remember how long it took Microsoft to recognize this Internet concept. Lol I will very much miss the fine sonic foundry products.