Profile for Drassk
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Displayed name | Drassk |
| Member number | 5482 |
| Title | Apprentice |
| Postcount | 3 |
| Homepage | |
| Registered | Monday, February 7 2005 08:00 |
Recent posts
| Author | Recent posts |
|---|---|
| Linux? in General | |
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Apprentice
Member # 5482
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written Wednesday, February 9 2005 12:40
Profile
I'm not going to bother with the whole flame war thing, so you'll need to find some other entertainment. The main reason I made a post was that the information was second-hand and some of it was stuff I disagreed with. This post is just the list of points that I thought were off in the original post. The list of reasons to use Linux was given as if the OS was only used by coders and network admins. For many people, it's just their desktop OS. It saves students a few hundred bucks on a Windows license, and they don't have to worry about a page fault or the latest macro worm setting them back a weeks work on their thesis. "essentially inferior to <other OS>" - This is just straight wrong. As for browsing and IM, Linux would count as superior. It's faster, has more choice of clients, and is less likely to have a browser exploit ruin your day. For games, it's actually much more debatable than you'd suspect. The premise is this: Linux can run a larger number of the best games ever made than Windows can. My proof is that Cedega will run any sufficiently popular game as equivalent to Windows and, actually, 90% of unpopular games. But, it will also run games that were released on Win95/98 which were broken by later versions of Windows such as Interstate 76. So, unless you want to dual boot with Win95, Linux can actually run more -great- games than WinXP (or 2K) can. (I didn't include DOS games here because DOSBox, the current best DOS emulator, is on both WinXP/2K and Linux). He also talked about general inconvenience and user-hostility. It's sort of hard to swallow when my mom (a near comp. illiterate) can pop in the Ubuntu CD and have a net-connected system with a GUI and office suite (everything she needs) in 20 minutes. That sounds pretty convenient and friendly to me. Being able to update every piece of software on your system to the latest version by typing one command (or using a GUI tool) is also pretty convenient. I already addressed the lack of products as far as games are concerned. And, well, amateur ports of games to all OSes suck. It's not a Linux thing that some people write bad software. But, since the example runs in Wine, I don't see what the issue is. (Note: "But, you have to run it in an emulator!!" is not a valid response, if in doubt go look up what WINE stands for). That's all I've got. Posts: 3 | Registered: Monday, February 7 2005 08:00 |
| Linux? in General | |
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Apprentice
Member # 5482
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written Tuesday, February 8 2005 08:56
Profile
The unwashed idiot needs to back up and look at the wider picture. While I almost agreed with the list of points at the start of your message, I took exception to the the majority of it. Correcting bad advice from a source who admits that he hasn't any basis on which to give said advice is sort of a moral obligation. A counterbalance to those who like to speak for its own sake even if they don't quite know what they're talking about. Posts: 3 | Registered: Monday, February 7 2005 08:00 |
| Linux? in General | |
|
Apprentice
Member # 5482
|
written Monday, February 7 2005 01:16
Profile
For what it's worth, Solodric, BAMC's opinion on an OS he's never used and once got advised not to shouldn't hold so much weight. The SWsoft games all run in Wine, or at least all those tested do (which is the Avernum series and one of the exile games...I'm sure some googling would turn up that they all work fine). As for commercial games, Cedega (a WINE derivative) runs the majority of games worth playing. You can find out more about that at transgamer.com The real issue of actually running Linux is a bit more complicated, though. It is true that you might need to learn a thing or two if you're going to be running your own Linux system. I'd say this has more to do with the fact that Windows is just more common than with the usability of Linux at this point. Distributions like Ubuntu and Mandrake are easier to install than Windows (and faster), and sites like Linuxquestions.org and the #linuxhelp channel on EfNet mean that even illiterates can get up to speed. So you won't have any problems running it. There's still the question of whether you should. You're not going to be able to get 'the guy down the street' to fix anything you mess up, you'll need to fix it yourself. As for the perks: if you've never dealt with the apt system before, you're in for a treat. With a decent internet connection, you can be set up for anything you want to do in next to no time. Last week I had a friend ask if I could do some 3D models for him and, after a web search for program names, I was set up and ready to go with a 3D modeling program (Wings3D) and an image editor (The GIMP) for texturing. The short of it, though, is that the only reason to run Linux is really if you're going to do more with your system than play games and sit around on instant messenger. If you want to learn to program, produce content (graphics, 3D stuff), or tinker with your system, then Linux is much more conducive to it than Windows. Posts: 3 | Registered: Monday, February 7 2005 08:00 |