Why is installing a simple program so difficult in Linux?

I've used Ubuntu Linux and I would like to start a topic on as to why you have to compile code to install a simple program like QuickTime in Linux. That is the one thing that drives me away from wanting to use Linux.

 

the simple answer is "you DON'T have to"...

Ubuntu has TONS of software available in the software center; there are hundreds, if not thousands of others in PPA repositories; and likely just as many in Deb files (ubuntu equivalent of windows *.exe files) throughout the net.

If you're compiling tarballs, it's because:

a. you're using a very specific program that hasn't been "tested" yet, or
b. you're a masochist who enjoys new challenges, or
c. you didn't know any better

With this post, "c" no longer applies to you...which leaves "a" or "b" ;-)

 

do you mean the quicktime player ?

i never use the quicktime player, no need as xine does it all,
you may need to add restricted sources to your software manager though,
i have to add plf as h264 and aac are restricted codecs,

or your browser ?

just use the mplayer plugin

you can test your pc player with the quicktime files here

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1425