Why Linux?

[SoCalian]

So why would I want to switch to Linux? What can it do that windows can't, and can I play games on it?

[Perfection]

You probobly woudn't. Learning Linux can be a pain and it's not as good with games. Linux is great for Web Stuff and scientific programs, but for gamers it's just not as good.

[frekk]

Originally Posted by Perfection

You probobly woudn't. Learning Linux can be a pain and it's not as good with games. Linux is great for Web Stuff and scientific programs, but for gamers it's just not as good.

Well, technically it's much better as a gaming platform, Windows just makes crappy use of system resources. Apart from the need to partition, Linux is easier to set up too - no messing around with drivers like in Windows usually.

Practically speaking it isn't as good at the moment, since very few games are written for Linux meaning patches and emulators are necessary and sometimes won't work or won't work as efficiently as they could if it was written for Linux.

[Speedo]

I don't know of any particular features Linux has that Windows lacks.

It's free (at least, there are many free distros available).
People will generally tell you that it's more stable.
People will generally tell you that it's more secure.

It's not so good for gaming, because there are only a handful (literally 5 or so that I know of) games that actually have Linux version available. You can probably get most others to work with some patience, and I'm sure Padma and others will jump in telling you how you can do that.

If you're interested in Linux you may as well download a version and give it a whirl. It isn't a big deal to install, especially if you have a second HDD available.

Well, technically it's much better as a gaming platform, Windows just makes crappy use of system resources.

How so? In 98/ME or earlier, you're absolutely right, but the VMM in 2k and XP is really very good.

Linux is easier to set up too - no messing around with drivers like in Windows usually.

Not if you have any newer hardware. There are at least drivers for the nForce4 chipset, and graphics driver for the GF7800 series, but they haven't been updated since September. 'Course, if you have a Creative X-Fi then just pack your bags and don't bother with Linux, 'cause there be no drivers out there.

[cidknee]

well #1 cause it isnt windows..and no its not great for games. But thats why u do a dual boot, linux for everything wintendo for games.

Biggest reason i use linux...NO VIRUSES AND NO SPYWARE! YAY

and u can get a live cd version of linux, which means u can run it from a cd rom...its called KNOPPIX and it works great. Theres another thread about this started by me with some awesome referrences.

[logical_psycho]

Linux isn't a good OS for consumers when compared to windows... sure, windows is a mess, but at least everything works. For government and business systems it is a lot more secure and stable.

[SoCalian]

ok, thanks.

[Aphex_Twin]

If you just want games and not to get a little down-and-dirty, then you should not be affraid to fork out the $$$ for a rather decent game console (that which a general Windows-equipped box is).

[SoCalian]

I want to build my own machine, I've got what I want wishlisted on newegg, I just need the money, I'm also wondering if I should wait for Vista to come out too. If I even get money before then.

[Aphex_Twin]

Vista won't come until a few months and then there will be at least 2 years until it is entrenched as the dominant OS. Besides, if you have older software/games that you still expect to use, don't expect it to work on Vista (it most likely will, but I have been burned before).

[Speedo]

Vista is not due until late '06, but I personally don't expect to see it until early/mid '07. I have yet to see a very compelling reason to upgrade to it, and, even if there was I would probably wait at least 6 months to a year after release to let the initial teething problems be solved. XP is just fine for now and the forseeable future.

[vbraun]

I think Padma has a good answer to this. Just wait a while.

[Maniacal]

Linux does sound interesting, except I don't know anything about coding etc.
I would like to know why Microsoft couldn't just work on a version until it was stable.

[Speedo]

Linux does sound interesting, except I don't know anything about coding etc.

You certainly don't have to to use Linux....

I would like to know why Microsoft couldn't just work on a version until it was stable.

Windows 2k and XP are very stable in themselves.

My 2k Pro SP4 desktop at work which was heavily used every day (Outlook open all day, web browser(s) our call logging software, consantly opening Word, Excel, etc) stayed up for 75 days with no problems, until I rebooted it for a security update in mid Dec.

At home, my XP Pro SP2 server basically stays up until I need to reboot it for an update or settings change, no problems. My main PC usually ends up rebooted every few days due to installing programs, changing settings, etc, but it occaisionally goes a month or more, with no problems. I can't say that I've had any stability problems whatsoever.

[cidknee]

i agree...xp pro is stable, but there are the UBER microsoft haters. I like Linux, cause theres no spyware, no viruses and i find it easier. Its kinda a mac windows crossbreed to me. and u dont need to know any coding for linux.

[classical_hero]

@cidknee. I like your signature.

[Padma]

Where to start? ...

Windows and Linux are both equally capable systems. Windows has better hardware support, but the gap there is narrowing rapidly. The fault there lies with the hardware manufactureres, not with the OS. Nvidea provides good support for Linux with drivers for its video cards. ATI is improving its support. If you buy the latest and greatest hardware as soon as it hits the shelves, it *might* not be supported in Linux. Wait six months, and it probably will be.

In software, except for a few "high-end" programs in a few areas, Linux can compete easily with Windows. (And sometimes the "high-end" programs are written for Linux, not Windows. )

For instance, my system uses an Athlon XP 2100+ cpu, with an ATI Radeon 9000 Pro 128 video card, a Creative Live sound card, and a common array of hard drives, CD/DVD drives/burners, etc. I sync my Palm Tungsten T3 PDA with it, and usually use a 512M USB key to transfer files between machines at home. To surf the net, I normally run the Opera broswer, just like I did in WIndows. My second choice there is Firefox. I use KMail to handle my email, and it is as easy touse as MS Outlook, without providing vectors for viruses and trojans. The absolute best CD/DVD brning software I have ever found is in Linux. When I used Windows, I loved Nero. Now, I use K3B. For playing music, I use Amarok; for video, I use Kaffeine. WHen I need to write letters, work on spreadsheets, etc., I have OpenOffice available. It uses an open standard as its default file format, but it can read/write MSOffice files as well, too.

Do I have to be a geek to use Linux? No. Some distros, such as Slackware and Gentoo, encourage it, but there are many "newbie-friendly" distros available, such as Mandriva, Suse, Ubuntu, and many others. The command line *is* more powerful, but many gui applications are really just wrappers around command line tools. For instance, to install new software, I can either open a command linewindow, switch to super-user mode, and type "urpmi <name of program>", or just open the Command Center gui, click on the software tab, select the packages I want from a list, and click an "Install" button. Both do *exactly* the same thing, just one is the direct command line, and one has a point-and-click interface. (And I *never* have to reboot to install software, except for when I upgrade my kernel. )

A word about malware: Viruses do exist for Linux, some even in "the wild". But they cannot succeed against current systems. They are good only against older, unpatched systems. (I suppose one could make a somewhat similar statement for WIndows... ) Plus, email and web-browsing are no longer valid vectors for malware in Linux. You can't infect the system if youdon't have any priviledges to the system. In other words, nothing gets installed on your system without you knowing about it. The same with spyware. Sure, it's possible to add some data-mining cookies to your browser, but that's about it. Nothing that's going to run in the background, and "phone home", unless you explicitly install it.

Games. Linux is great for games. However, if you want to play the latest and greatest games available for Windows, you are often out of luck. STill, some games publishers are learning, and are releasing versions for Linux along with their WIndows releases. Unreal Tournament comes to mind as a recent one. Still, when you consider that games companies are in business to make a profit, and roughly 90% of all PCs run Windows, where would you expect them to focus their energies? For those games, there is Cedega, from transgaming.com. It's not really an emulator, but that describes how it works, well enough. It is how I play CIv3 on Linux. They should have Civ4 working on it within six months (I hope).

FInally, let me say that, although I do promote Linux, I do admit it is not for everybody. For instance, if you use your computer primarily for gaming, you want to keep Windows, at least as an alternative OS. If you want a machine that will just work out of the box, go to Dell, or HP, or whoever and order your system there. They'll make sure it works before you get it. If you have to use tools that are only available in WIndows, use Windows. If you don't care/want to understand how your computer works, and WIndows is working for you, use WIndows. If you don't mind investing a little ental "elbow grease", give Linux a try.


vbraun: good enough?

[vbraun]

Originally Posted by Padma

vbraun: good enough?

Thats it?!?? I was expecting a few posts.

[dragokatzov]

Gaming on linux? HELL YES! you can so game on linux! True, theres only a hand full of games that have a linux port, but has anyone ever heard of Wine, or Cedega? These two programs allow you to run windows appliations nativily on linux, not through emulation, but nativily. Cedega is more meant for gaming, you can run the vast majority on games on linux with Cedega. Wine is the project of which Cedega is based off of. And the Linux distribution Linspire, formerly known as Lindows, heavely incorperates Wine, into the operating system. Linspires goal was to create a linux distribution that the average user can use. I have never used it myself, but i've heard some great thinga bout it

Another bonus of linux, is there is no viruses, no spyware, no need to defrag, and you can customize it until your heards content. its open source too.

don't let the nay-sayers keep you down. why not try a live-cd verson on linux like Knoppix?

[Maniacal]

One thing I like about Linux, cool little names for programs.
Mac has some good names too, but not as cool or many.
Windows is well Windows.

I will definately give Linux a try sometime, thanks (Padma especialy)