Windows or Ubuntu

[Xamiche]

As a gamer, I'm pretty much forced to use Windows. I tried Ubuntu and love it, but until it can run any PC game I buy, right out of the box I'm going to stick with Windows. Linux drivers tend to always lag behind making it hard to play latest games on a Linux OS. If I weren't a gamer, I'd never use Windows and only use some flavour of Linux. Probably Ubuntu. Not just because it's free, though that's a powerful motivator, but because of the altruism behind open source. And the fact I really dislike Microsoft software.

[Xamiche]

HopperJF wrote:For games I steer clear of expensive PCs and having to keep them bang up to date to run the latest games and use an XBOX 360 instead.

Personally I can't stand modern consoles for gaming. I can afford a PC so that's what I use. Playing games on a console gamepad is horrible. Slow, imprecise and just downright annoying. I couldn't imagine using anything but a mouse and keyboard for gaming. The only console I'd have is a Wii. Hmm, maybe an original Xbox with Linux install to use as a media centre.

I just wish PC gamers had a serious alternative to Windows. Maybe Ubuntu will get to that point.

[Xamiche]

downix wrote:
but even Windows can't do that.  Games are falling to "XP-only" and "Vista-only" while Linux can scale it's Windows support to the level needed.  I run most PC games on Linux fine, only finding those that use the obscure "not-safe" DirectX calls giving me any real problem.

My PC plays any game I buy, right out of the box. Apart from the occasional retro-ware that requires a little tweaking to run, I don't have half the issues running a game on Windows that I do on Linux. Until that changes, Windows is the OS I will use. Reluctantly.

[Xamiche]

HopperJF wrote:
The games are coded for Windows though, so obviously it will run better on Windows. You can't blame Linux for that

Of course. I don't blame Linux at all. I'd love nothing more than to switch to Linux permanently. I think it's a superior OS. Hopefully if a Linux build like Ubuntu becomes widely used  game producers might start focusing more on it. One can hope.

[Xamiche]

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
I like my dual boot Ubuntu-XP atm. Though my XP installation is broken a few weeks ago. Didn't bother to repair it as for yet.

The dual boot is a great idea. I had Ubuntu on my system a few years back, but I needed space so I had to drop it. I think I may get myself a new HD and re-install it. My sister's boyfriend had WoW running on his Ubuntu set up. It didn't run as well as it did on his WinXP set up, but it was there at least.

[Xamiche]

swift240 wrote:
Downloading Dreamlinux now to see what it is like........

Nero will do the rest for me......


Mike.

Tell us what your impression of it is. I'm thinking about setting up a Linux Box and would love to hear what you think of Dreamlinux.

[Xamiche]

gdanko wrote:
Ubuntu or Fedora Core. Windows is NOT necessary!

Can Ubuntu or Fedora Core run DirectX 10 games?

[Xamiche]

gdanko wrote:
As far as I can recall, the poster was asking for our opinions.

So the answer is no?

Games are inconsequential to me.

Not to me. And I dare say not to a large percentage of PC users. Which means Windows is not 'NOT necessary'. Unfortunately.  :-(

[Xamiche]

thanos wrote:
I have switched to Ubuntu 7.10, a few months ago.

I wanted to learn a little about linux, so I installed on a second PC.  I have not even turned on my windows machine since.

I should really get around to installing on my best hardware, AM2, 2.6 Ghz, 2Gb DDR 800, ATI 3850...

My Ubuntu box, 2.0 Ghz, 2Gb DDR 400, NVIDIA 7600GS...

I don't really play any video games anymore, so I don't feel I am missing anything.

Yeah, a Linux OS is the best way to go for a non-gamer I think - on PC at least. Honestly, I don't know why anyone would use Windows if they didn't use Window only software. I sure as hell wouldn't.

[Xamiche]

persia wrote:
Yes, he meant a large percentage of his mates used PCs for games. Personally of all the people I know, maybe one or two are serious gamers, the rest surf the net, read email and do word processing.

So, my percentage based on my peers is wrong, but your percentage based on your peers is right. Interesting. We are in fact both talking out of our arses because neither of us have any real statistics, but so long as the percentage of gamers is not zero, Windows is not an unnecessary OS. Sadly. It is not as bad as it once was, and the number of Windows games that run on Linux has grown considerably, but that does not make Gdanko's hyperbole any the more true.

A little Dreamlinux box will do all that and not be susceptible to all the Virii that are out there.

I agree. I wonder why most people do not choose to use Linux? I think the next time I have a customer ask me to build them a new PC I will suggest they use Linux. I'd be curious how many of them will choose to use it. Give me a sales pitch I can use for Linux. :-D

swift240 wrote:
@Xamiche

I have downloaded the ISO of dreamlinux.
Tried the CD and wow the dock bar is a smart piece of work.
I am going to install it proper later tonight.

So far I have put a MPG4 video in it playes perfectly, MP3 perfectly this is from the CD as it stands.

I am impressed with dreamlinux so far.


It is a lot smarter than Ubuntu 7.10.
But then again I like smart apperance on any OS.

Mike.

Excellent. Thanks for the info. I might download it and try it out for myself. :-)

[Xamiche]

persia wrote:
PC Game sales have been declining while the big three games boxes (Wii, PS3, XBox) have been increasing.  It appears that games players want dedicated hardware for their games.  But there still are a lot of sales, it would be interesting to know real statistics.  My nephew plays Grand Theft Auto on his PC...


Anzac Day - Let us never forget

Indeed. It doesn't take much to see the decline in PC game sales. My once excellent favourite gaming store, which had  mostly PC games and a little corner for console games, is now the opposite. Mostly console games and a little corner for PC games. It's a bit like watching the VHS vs Beta struggle in the 80s. The only console I really like is the Wii (Nintendo Fanboy), mostly because it's the only exercise I get. I honestly don't see the need to buy an Xbox or PS. I have a PC.

I'm downloading DreamLinux atm. I'd be curious to see how extensive the list is of Windows games that will run under Linux. I don't think it would be good enough for a serious gamer, but it may be good enough for most of the people I build computers for. Even the Mums and Dads I build computers for ask about games. They have kids who want to play WoW or some other game. If Linux can cope with that it might be a way to shave 200 bucks of the price of a new PC for them.

[Xamiche]

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:

How do you mean, smart? Smart in appearance, smart in choice of applications standardly installed, how it is installed, or smart  'just to look at'? I don't understand.[/quote]
You know how someone says, 'That suit looks smart'? That's what he means by smart. Aesthetically speaking.