Hi, I apologize if this has been asked several times....

I am interesting in switching to Linux, but know nothing about it. I hear that it is pretty stable, etc. What I am concerned about are not the programs that I already own (have tried openoffice.org 1.1 for Windows and am sure that I would be happy with it instead of Office XP that I am currently using), but the games that I currently own - I own several newer games for Windows. I know that my hardware is supported, but what about games? Will I be stuck buying new ones? If so, I can't see where it would be worth it at this point.

Any input/opinions are appreciated. I basically just use my PC for browsing/email and games. I currently use Mozilla so, no problem there. I would just like to know what advantages there are to using Linux, and what versions are recommended.

Thanks!!!

I'm not using Linux instead of, I'm using it in addition to.

Primarily a Mac user but Linux is free and I like the paradigm. I may use Linux for serving. I may just not want to buy Photoshop and Gimp is free. Who want's to be locked into Windows? XP registration is crummy and it will only get worse, more intrusive and you'll be more dependant on them. Plus the viruses and constant need to patch stuff is a big hassle. You never know what the patches will do to your system.

Games in linux won't hang up in the middle of WINNING as well as what they do in windo$e

I have a small advise over here guys,

Everybody HAVE TO use linux from now ( Maximum, the end of today ) To save theirselves from the incomming misery of *THE NO USING WINDO$E ANYMORE DAYS*

I can say MAXIMUM, Windo$e have only 4-5 years to change their hole Operating System of "S**T"

If they do,,, I think we still need to think about going back to use it .

As far as gaming goes you have two options when dealing with Linux.

Option 1 is that you side-step the problem by dual-booting. This means having having both Windows and Linux installed. You boot into Linux for non-gaming tasks, and into Windows for playtime. This is the simplest way.

Option 2 is to use Wine (or WineX) to run the Windows games within Linux. This is the path to take if you want to make a clean break from Windows, or if you want to try and run those win95 games that windows XP refuses to run. Depending on the game, this can work either really well, ok, poorly, or not at all. Usually a degree of tinkering is requiered in any case. The good news is that once you have it working it usually stays that way.

Almost any Linux disro should be able to give you what you want. For someone just starting out it is often recommended that you try Mandrake or RedHat Linux, though I might also suggest Mepis Linux. They are all fairly easy to install and include fairly up to date software and hardware support. They are all commercial distros, but are availible as free downloads on the internet.

http://www.distrowatch.com/

There are many advantages to using Linux over Windows, some of which you are already taking advatage of by using open source programs like Mozilla and OpenOffice. Simply put the main advantages to using Linux are freedom, cost, security, and stability.

There are lots of problems that come with Microsoft products. If you are interested, this site does a good job listing the major issues.

you can run both unreal tournaments and return to castle wolfenstein on linux without wine

ut2003 has a linux installer on the third cd!!!

winex is reported to allow the playing of games such as gta3 and gta3:vice city
the database of reportedly working games on winex is LARGE

but for little "silly" games to while a way a download, mdk9.1 comes with nearly 70

just a little better than ms "richest company in the world, heres a crap card game and you'd better believe that we know when you switch it on and play"

there

now i feel better again

Thanks for the info guys, and as silly as it may sound - I had no idea that it was a free download. I was planning on buying it at Best Buy. Duh.

I think I am going to give it a shot. If it doesn't work out for me, I can go back to XP or use dual OS's.

Best wishes.

Since this is a time consuming download (even with cable), do y'all have any input on which to use - Mandrake, Red Hat, etc??

Thanks.,

Well, thats all opinion, but I suggest Mandrake, its better for beginners, and redhat doesnt include NTFS and MP3 support out of box.

Also, Mandrake has a non destructive NTFS resizer (be sure to defrag and scandisk first), so you dont have to delete Windows to install Linux.

If you dont want to download it, you can buy a version for around $5 from cheapbytes.com or almostfreelinux.com


Keep in mind that linux is FREE as in FREEDOM and FREE BEER.

You recieve all the source code to modify and redistribute.



Good luck. Linux takes a lot of time to become proficient in, but its worth it.

mandrake is lovely

mandrake 9 & 9.1 are awesome

kde 3.1 is awesome

mandrake is the best

personally speaking i like mandrake

i've tried slackware and redhat and undead linux and phat linux
and mandrake relieves itself from a great height upon them all

imho

Mandrake is the best for the beginner but RedHat is what i used right now and i find very nice, very stable.

I think there will be a million answer regarding what distribution is the best coz everyone has their own opinion.

and if you have time to spare, and patience to boot,
consider slackware or even gentoo; you will learn more
by installing that than with most other major disrtri-
butions in a month.

as for why you should use linux: you shouldn't. it's no
must. it's just an option. like windows is an option.
though windows tends to force itself on people a bit.
but never mind that. use linux if you love to tinker and
be in control of your system. you bought your pc, so
you should be controlling it. your os should not be
controlling what you can or can not do with your pc.

(windows even admits it with its 'where do you want
to go today?'.. to that i always say 'i'll let you know
when i want to go somewhere, and drive there my-
self thank you'..)

Mandrake has many softwares installed by default,, It's your choice .

Generally,, You are using the penguin os .

I tried Mandrake on an empty 40GB HD. It locked up twice on install, then the third time it installed but my keyboard was not recognized (couldn't complete the installation). I will be sticking with XP - maybe I will try again one of these years.....

You have to get hurry,,,,, There is no much time .

Bandit --
Did you burn the discs yourself or buy from a retailer?

It sounds like abad burn. Or odd hardware of some kind --

Please, tell us your hardware and we might be able to figure out what's going on with the installer for mandrake locking up, not recognizing your keyboard even is odd!

-Shade