I've used the BBC web site on Linux, using Opera for Linux. It works fine. The streams for radio and video work with VCL Player, too. So I don't know why the caption writer on that video is so scathing. Perhaps it was written by a Microsoft employee who was trying to dissuade people from switching to Linux. Or maybe they are just ignorant. If a person has gone to all the trouble of installing Linux, setting up their internet card and getting used to the different programs, surely they would have the sense to download the apropriate browser to view a favourite web site in. Opera for Linux is slick, pretty, fast and has most of the plug-ins needed for viewing videos and listening to audio streams.

Even on my Windows rig, the BBC streams default to RealPlayer (which is also available for Linux), NOT Windows Media Player, in fact, they won't play in Windows Media Player so the accusation that the BBC is in Mocrosoft's pocket doesn't bear examination. Some people just like criticising big corporations for the sake of it. On this occasion, I think it is unjustified.

That video was made a week or so after the launch of the BBC iPlayer, there were bound to be glitches at the beginning.

There may be limitations on what people outside the UK can view, but that's neither Microsoft's nor the BBC's fault. It's a copyright issue. It's the programme makers that put the restrictions on it, not the broadcasters.

For just £139.50 per houshold (£47.00 if you only have a black and white TV, nothing for just the radio if you don't have a TV), we get 8 National radio networks, 1 International radio network, 8 TV stations, a myriad of local radio and TV stations, a world-class web site with downloading and streaming facilities so that you don't have to miss programmes. We also have world-class news, documentaries, drama, children's programmes, soaps, educational and entertainment programming on both radio and TV. The BBC gives us better choice and more original programming for £11.63 per month than most cable networks (if you exclude the BBC programmes that they relay) do for double that amount. BBC stationsare always free-to-air in the UK. What do these people want? Jeez!

John