thinking about switcing to linux

[digitalfreedom64]

I'm running Windows Xp at present and am considering switching to linux. I have only one question.
If I switch to linux are my games gonna work or will i have to make it a dual boot system so i can still play my games?

[digitalfreedom64]

No one know anything??????

[rightcoast]

Truth is linux is really lacking in only one area...gaming. It is easy to install them if they have binaries available, but a lot don't. Google will find you tons of free independent games and most are good. sites like happypenguin.org offer Linux client ports for download to port store bought games.

That said I have Neverwinter Nights and Unreal Tournament 2003 on my Linux box (I bought them from tuxgames.com, because I like the idea of it counting as a Linux sale) and have a GeForce FX 5600 Ultra in the box. It plays those games well, but I am only a casual gamer. I don't even have Hal-Life 2 yet.

[digitalfreedom64]

Some one mentioned something you could get to make some software for windows work with linux. I think i'll just do a dual boot system with linux and winxp. I'm not giving up my games. It's not worth it to me to go completely linux if i've gotta give up my games.

[digitalfreedom64]

Anyone else have any suggestions other tha forgetting my games i have. Maybe I should just leave linux alone since it really isn't a gaming platform like windows. I mean I've seen very little out of the major game makers for linux and if i can't play my games it's totally not worth it for me to switch.

[digitalfreedom64]

Well I guess I'll just stay with ole reliable Windows XP.

[kilgoretrout]

For linux gaming the first thing I would suggest is an nvidia graphics card. Nvidia's linux drivers are great but ati's suck, plain and simple. Nvidia is a must for linux gaming. Many Open GL games run natively on linux, ut2004, 2003, Doom 3, RTCW, NWN are the ones that come to mind. If you want to run DirectX games in linux you will have to use a commercial program called Cedega and it's not free:

http://www.transgaming.com/

and not all games work with it. Cedega translates the DirectX system calls to linux system calls with varying degrees of success. Check their compatibility chart before you plunk down your money.
In short, the gaming scene in linux is getting better all the time, especially as many big games are being written with Open GL instead of DirectX. Open GL games are much easier to port to other platforms like linux and game consoles which is the main incentive for it's use, i.e. lower devleopment costs for multiplatform support. DirectX games are pretty much tied to the windows platform.

[digitalfreedom64]

Thanks, that's what i'm looking for. Looks like all my games are compatible. Gonna have to wait til they get there store open again, says it's under renevation.

[damontgo]

Why is it that you want to switch exactly??? Because you might have a look a the new Apple Mac mini . The thing is better than my iMac... and it's SO cheap!!!

[digitalfreedom64]

Well actually my main reason is, i guess expanding my knowledge of computers further. I've read a lot about Linux over the past year. I've never done anything with linux but i'm interested in it and i'm kinda tire of windows. Really just looking for something different. I figure go with linux since I can just put it on one of my curret systems that I have and won't have to buy or build a new system. So I guess really for me it's a learning thing.

[tomster2300]

Originally Posted by damontgo Why is it that you want to switch exactly??? Because you might have a look a the new Apple Mac mini . The thing is better than my iMac... and it's SO cheap!!!

The specs for that Mac are horrible. It wouldnt stand a chance in today's gaming world. Plus I dont believe it's upgradeable.

[apappasmurf]

If you are thinking of installing Linux. You need to consider your modem type. Is it an internal or external? Most internal modems these days are software modems and Linux tends to dislike them

[digitalfreedom64]

I've tried a version of linux, I think I'm just gona stick with windows. Windows is easier to use than linux. Plus after all I've read about it beinf dificult to get hardware to work with linux as you just mentioned it's going to be more trouble than it's worth to me to switch to linux. I'm just gonna keep my windows, don't like linux.

[bailey]

it does have a large learnning curve compared to windows

[digitalfreedom64]

Yeah, once they get ease of use and driver support down, I may consider switching again but until that happens I will never even think of it. I mean I could probly figure everything out if I took more time but it's just too much of a pain and I really don't have time. If it were easier to use it would most likely be worth it for me to switch but as it stands now, it's not worth the hassle.

[fiery]

I suggest if you want to play games buy an xbox or similar.If you want to do graphic arts or movie making or music get a mac.If you dont mind spending extra time to learn linux you will be rewarded with free software and no more spyware like with windows.I switched from windows to linux last year and i will never go back to windows.I never had a mac but will probably get the mac mini which is good to get if you already have a monitor keyboard and mouse.

[TheJackal]

Depending on your games, you may be able to play them through Wine/WineX.

[LocoCoyote]

Hello..yes, I will reign myself in and not start ranting about why everyone should switch to linux......the reasons are good though........

At any rate, I wanted to suggest crossover office (which is a commercial implementation of Wine I think). I use it to run many Windoze apps to included (I admit not cutting edge!) Civ 3 and MS Office XP.

Fact is, Windows is better for those who wish to run software (games mostly) out of the box. Linux will take you back to what is going on behind that flashy GUI and allow you to learn how your computer works. Knowledge is power and all that.

One last note...I don't think the idea that Linux has a steep learning curve holds true anymore. If you jump into a KDE or Gnome environment, a Windoze user will feel right at home.

When I first started with linux, I had fits and cursed it as well. I stopped and started many times. Now..I'll never go back to Windoze!

The time you spend learning is a good investment.

[Wolf_10]

Originally Posted by crashoverride Well actually my main reason is, i guess expanding my knowledge of computers further. I've read a lot about Linux over the past year. I've never done anything with linux but i'm interested in it and i'm kinda tire of windows. Really just looking for something different. I figure go with linux since I can just put it on one of my curret systems that I have and won't have to buy or build a new system. So I guess really for me it's a learning thing.

I just bought SUSE Linux Pro Novell for the same reason...to learn about it and see what its all about. I am very impressed so far. Making a dual boot with the version I bought is easy as hitting 3 buttons. I bought the Pro version for $90 because it came with many extra apps, more than 1000 according to the box it came in.

I also must keep WinXp for games, no big deal with the dual boot.

[fiery]

cool,i have suse too!it has everything i need instant messenger(gaim,kopete),web browsers(konqueror,firefox,opera) and its completely impervious to hackers,adware,malware,viruses.

[Karnevil9]

One other thing about Linux. While there might be a learning curve in some areas, (wireless, some USB, some modems etc.) Linux is available for free. You can try a few out and you might find one that recognizes most or all of your hardware. Even SuSE now is available for download. You also have systems like Knoppix and Morphix which don't require you to put it on the hard drive at all. Just run them from the CD. Morphix by the way is modular and lets you add what you need. I know one of it's module is geared to gaming. I never used it so I don't know if it is a CD with Games on it, or if it is a CD that allows to run Games geared to Windows on it.

[elocal]

Linux, and many other open source OS for that matter are different that windows. Thus, it takes some time to get used to these differences.

I recommend you to try Knoppix or one of the many other Live-CD based Linux distros, play around and run commands. Install that distribution, or install something like Ubuntu. Try to setup all your hardware and required apps, google is always your friend, there is also lot of Help in forums and IRC. The manual pages and Documentation are a must.

Get used to the basic things, and go on installing other distributions which you like the features from, read the docs. After you get used to the way things work everything will be much easier, you will feel right at home.

If you play games you can always dual boot for the games which dont run too well under Linux. I do this for Half Life 2 which the current level of performance and graphical features under Cedega I dont like. But I play Doom3, UT2004, and Enemy Terriotry all the time under Linux, incluiding various modifications for these games.

Linux has been my day to day platform for over 2 years, I went trough a period by which I did not have any NTFS or FAT32 partitions, no dualbooting. Recently, I have been kind of forced to dualboot Windows, it doesn't get booted except for playing Half Life 2 and trying other applications which only run on Windows.

I have to say that it has been a wonderful experience to be using Linux, it has encouraged me to get into programming and many other concepts and skills about computers which I did not had been exposed to before. I now look foward to trying and experimenting with many other opensource/"free" operating systems, and keep expanding my knoweldge on computers in general, programming, and networking. Linux has been the door opener for me and these great things.

Regards,
Oscar