So how's Linux?
March 04, 2005 04:46 PM
I'm thinking of trying it out. I'm using Windows XP now. I don't have any real problems with it, except it is a little memory intensive. At 256mb of ram I probably need a bit more anyhow. So I just want to give Linux a test drive out of curiosity basically. I just want a few opinions on the pros and cons of Windows vs Linux from those of you who use it. How stable is it and how memory intensive vs Windows?
Also, what's the best version of Linux to start with? I had no idea there were so many and I have no idea where to start. What's the big difference between them? If I decide to go for it I'll be using it for all the usual: word processing, browing the web, graphics, programming, and a bit of gaming.
-- Ivyn --
1,298
March 04, 2005 05:09 PM
So you want to use Linux?
There's hundreds of different variations of Linux. Which one you get is up to you. I recommend a LiveCD such as KNOPPIX. If you decide you don't like it you can toss out the CD and leave it at that, and if you decide you like it you can move on to something a little more permanent.
There's hundreds of different variations of Linux. Which one you get is up to you. I recommend a LiveCD such as KNOPPIX. If you decide you don't like it you can toss out the CD and leave it at that, and if you decide you like it you can move on to something a little more permanent.
Chess is played by three people. Two people play the game; the third provides moral support for the pawns. The object of the game is to kill your opponent by flinging captured pieces at his head. Since the only piece that can be killed is a pawn, the two armies agree to meet in a pawn-infested area (or even a pawn shop) and kill as many pawns as possible in the crossfire. If the game goes on for an hour, one player may legally attempt to gouge out the other player's eyes with his King.
354
March 04, 2005 05:27 PM
Quote: Original post by IvynIt's so bad that GameDev had to devote an entire forum just for problems you'll have with it.
So how's Linux?
Ok, maybe not. Forum FAQ
514
March 04, 2005 05:32 PM
EDIT: Disclaimer: I am only a beginner myself, so take the following with a grain of GNU-brand salt.
In a word: awsome. If you're a serious tech guy (or girl) and have the patience to learn, you can do soooo much with Linux. And not only is it all entirely free, but it is supported by people like you and I. Since everything is open source, you can rebuild parts of programs with the features/functionality you want. Then, you can send in your changes and, if they're good, they'll most likely find their way into the next version of the software. Keep an XP box up for a few months for those situations where you absolutely must get something done and you know you can do it in windows, but in no time at all you'll be wondering why anyone would ever use anything else ever again.
To start you should probably do as smart_idiot said and try KNOPPIX or one of the other CD bootable distros, just to play around in. If you like it, move on to Red Hat, Mandrake, or Slackware. I haven't used the first two (but they're awfully mainstream and I hear pretty easy to learn on), but I started off with slackwhere. It's a distro that comes with tons of apps for you to paly around with, so you don't need to worry about finding new software (at least for a little while).
When you become a little more familiar, I'd suggest moving to Debian. Debian comes with a only few apps, but comes with an incredibly useful tool called apt-get. With apt-get, you do a simple search (apt-get search <keywords for the package you're trying to find>) and then type apt-get install <package name> and let apt-get do the rest. It will find the requested software, download it, and install it automatically. It is truly awsome. Some stuff, of course, you won't be able to apt-get (nVidia drivers, for example), but you can just grab those the old fashion way.
Welcome to the dark side!
Quote: Original post by Ivyn
I'm thinking of trying it out. I'm using Windows XP now. I don't have any real problems with it, except it is a little memory intensive. At 256mb of ram I probably need a bit more anyhow. So I just want to give Linux a test drive out of curiosity basically. I just want a few opinions on the pros and cons of Windows vs Linux from those of you who use it. How stable is it and how memory intensive vs Windows?
In a word: awsome. If you're a serious tech guy (or girl) and have the patience to learn, you can do soooo much with Linux. And not only is it all entirely free, but it is supported by people like you and I. Since everything is open source, you can rebuild parts of programs with the features/functionality you want. Then, you can send in your changes and, if they're good, they'll most likely find their way into the next version of the software. Keep an XP box up for a few months for those situations where you absolutely must get something done and you know you can do it in windows, but in no time at all you'll be wondering why anyone would ever use anything else ever again.
Quote:
Also, what's the best version of Linux to start with? I had no idea there were so many and I have no idea where to start. What's the big difference between them? If I decide to go for it I'll be using it for all the usual: word processing, browing the web, graphics, programming, and a bit of gaming.
To start you should probably do as smart_idiot said and try KNOPPIX or one of the other CD bootable distros, just to play around in. If you like it, move on to Red Hat, Mandrake, or Slackware. I haven't used the first two (but they're awfully mainstream and I hear pretty easy to learn on), but I started off with slackwhere. It's a distro that comes with tons of apps for you to paly around with, so you don't need to worry about finding new software (at least for a little while).
When you become a little more familiar, I'd suggest moving to Debian. Debian comes with a only few apps, but comes with an incredibly useful tool called apt-get. With apt-get, you do a simple search (apt-get search <keywords for the package you're trying to find>) and then type apt-get install <package name> and let apt-get do the rest. It will find the requested software, download it, and install it automatically. It is truly awsome. Some stuff, of course, you won't be able to apt-get (nVidia drivers, for example), but you can just grab those the old fashion way.
Welcome to the dark side!
Without order nothing can exist - without chaos nothing can evolve.
877
March 04, 2005 05:35 PM
I just installed Ubuntu. Absolutely love it :)
BRING BACK THE BLACK (or at least something darker)
240
March 04, 2005 06:04 PM
I know i will be crucified by the Linux hardcore for this but.....
After a long standing passing interest, I installed mandrake..... hardly used it and uninstalled it!
What can I say? It was great, to look at and use, but I came to realise how scarily Windows orientated my pc world was. On mandrake, I could write email, surf the web and maybe make a doc or two...<yawn> but importantly, I couldn't do any music sequencing (at least not to a pro level), flash programming or directX. Maybe there are ways to do these things... (ironically, logic audio, which i used on windows, is now no longer supported on the PC!!!).
Good fun, but not a seroius endeavour, unless you are hardcore techie!
...not yet anyway!
Si
After a long standing passing interest, I installed mandrake..... hardly used it and uninstalled it!
What can I say? It was great, to look at and use, but I came to realise how scarily Windows orientated my pc world was. On mandrake, I could write email, surf the web and maybe make a doc or two...<yawn> but importantly, I couldn't do any music sequencing (at least not to a pro level), flash programming or directX. Maybe there are ways to do these things... (ironically, logic audio, which i used on windows, is now no longer supported on the PC!!!).
Good fun, but not a seroius endeavour, unless you are hardcore techie!
...not yet anyway!
Si
March 04, 2005 06:26 PM
It's functional but medicore and altogether wholly unremarkable, frankly. It might loosen up on your RAM a bit though, since you can use a lightweight windowing system.
SlimDX | Ventspace Blog | Twitter | Diverse teams make better games. I am currently hiring capable C++ engine developers in Baltimore, MD.
176
March 04, 2005 06:37 PM
Quote: After a long standing passing interest, I installed mandrake..... hardly used it and uninstalled it!I did that EXACT same thing!
454
March 04, 2005 06:41 PM
Heya,
[edit] from another once-used-linux-then-uninstalled-it person [/edit]
As a few people have stated, it's good fun to play around in. You can also do lots for free. The problem with linux software in general is, because it's free, it's generally not thought of and designed as a whole - more hundreds of people trying to pull the application their own one way, so the software just feels less tightly integrated and coherent.
You won't be able to do DirectX programming on linux either, but that's really no big since you can use OpenGL / OpenAL / SDL / whatnot programming gamewise. Of course, the memory footprint should be smaller...
CJM
[edit] from another once-used-linux-then-uninstalled-it person [/edit]
As a few people have stated, it's good fun to play around in. You can also do lots for free. The problem with linux software in general is, because it's free, it's generally not thought of and designed as a whole - more hundreds of people trying to pull the application their own one way, so the software just feels less tightly integrated and coherent.
You won't be able to do DirectX programming on linux either, but that's really no big since you can use OpenGL / OpenAL / SDL / whatnot programming gamewise. Of course, the memory footprint should be smaller...
CJM
168
March 04, 2005 06:50 PM
maybe you should give www.distrowatch.com a visit. You can learn more about various distros there.
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