Anyone know about Linux? [Archive]

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macjimmy

September 29th, 2003, 03:00 AM

I was looking at linux.org to answer a few of my questions about Linux, but I couldn't find a few things. Mainly, I am wondering about compatibility with my cable modem, and also with my games, mostly just SEIV and Starfury http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Is there a particular distribution I should look for? Or should I not even mess with it? I have a feeling that if I try this, I will probably break my computer http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif , but I really want to get away from Windoze...

Phoenix-D

September 29th, 2003, 03:23 AM

the answers would be, in order:

Probably, probably, maybe.

For the latter two you'd need WINE.

PvK

September 29th, 2003, 04:33 AM

Or Lindows!

Lindows isn't an emulator but an implementation of Windows APIs, including DirectX, using its own open source code. Very spiffy.

PvK

tesco samoa

September 29th, 2003, 05:07 AM

http://www.justlinux.com/ is a great place to start as is

http://www.linuxiso.org/ is a great place to get linux.

Question for you is do you wish to dig in an really learn it or do you just want a different os.

macjimmy

September 29th, 2003, 06:58 AM

Thanks for the info http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ September 29, 2003, 05:58: Message edited by: macjimmy ]

minipol

September 29th, 2003, 05:30 PM

Do not throw out your windows like that. First start of with a dual boot and try Mandrake or Lindows or another newbie friendly distro.
Dual booting lets you decide what os to run when your pc boots.
It's possible to run win games on linux with Wine (as stated here). There have been reports on SEIV working on Linux here on the board. But i would keep a dual boot system.

tesco samoa

September 29th, 2003, 07:24 PM

boot loaders are the way to go.

grub etc...

Ruatha

September 29th, 2003, 07:56 PM

Ok, I can accept that you can run SE IV on WINE, but Starfury, I'd have to se it to belive it!!!

Doesn't most Linux dists give you the option to install the Linux bootloader, LILO I think it's called.

[ September 29, 2003, 18:58: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

macjimmy

September 29th, 2003, 08:22 PM

PvK

September 30th, 2003, 01:42 AM

You could probably run Star Fury on Lindows though - it might even run faster. I haven't tried, though.

PvK

Suicide Junkie

September 30th, 2003, 01:48 AM

AFAIK, WINE dosen't handle directx, so you'd have to run in software mode.
It'll be slower, but should be playable, especially if you remove the translucent storms.

Instar

September 30th, 2003, 06:30 AM

WINE does not have DX stuff, so SF support would be iffy at best.
Dual boot would be the best. Heck, I have made dual boot Win2k/Win2k boxes before... (dont ask)

narf poit chez BOOM

September 30th, 2003, 07:04 AM

what's a dual boot?

Jack Simth

September 30th, 2003, 07:17 AM

Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
what's a dual boot?Basically, you install two (although there isn't technically anything stopping you from putting more than one in) Operating Systems, and have a method of picking the one you want to use now each time you boot, so that you can (for example) run programs that are exclusive to the Windows environment while still using all those nifties you like in Linux (just not at the same time). Alternately, it is possible you have multiple Users of the same machine who like different OS's, and a dual boot can accomadate that. There are likely other possible reasons for it.

Thermodyne

September 30th, 2003, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by Jack Simth:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by narf poit chez BOOM:
what's a dual boot?Basically, you install two (although there isn't technically anything stopping you from putting more than one in) Operating Systems, and have a method of picking the one you want to use now each time you boot, so that you can (for example) run programs that are exclusive to the Windows environment while still using all those nifties you like in Linux (just not at the same time). Alternately, it is possible you have multiple Users of the same machine who like different OS's, and a dual boot can accomadate that. There are likely other possible reasons for it.<hr /></blockquote>You can theoretically put as many operating systems on your computer as you have space on the drives. But usually two or three is the norm. Dual booting became popular when 2K came out. It was supported by 2K and allowed Users to keep their 9x installs for games and such that would not run on 2K. Now it is very popular to run a WinNix system. Windows and Linux on the same system.

The system I am on now is a dual XP pro system and belongs to two AD Domains. Both OS�s/Domains share files from the file partition.

tesco samoa

September 30th, 2003, 02:42 PM

I just got done downloading Mandrake linux, and am currently burning the CD for it. Lucky for me, I have a backup computer that I never use, so I can experiment on it before trying it on my regular computer.
If I keep Windows, how much space should I set aside for my Linux partition? I have 3GB of free space, should I give it all to Linux or leave some for Windows? Should I be asking these questions in a Linux forum?
Thanks everyone Linux is quite bloated. If you select all then your looking at 3 gigs easy.

The secert is to pick one of each type of program your going to use. So 1 ) explorer, 1) editor etc..

2 gigs should be good by itself ( with room to spare ) if you do not go hog wild.

What are you planning to do with linux ? Learn it from a user point of view or as an adminstrator ??

macjimmy

September 30th, 2003, 06:18 PM

I would be using Linux to try something new with my computer. I have been wanting to learn to program, and it seems that a nix enviroment would be the less expensive way to go, and probably the more stable way to go as well. If I'm lucky, I just might get something useful out of this experience. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

PvK

September 30th, 2003, 07:01 PM

Instar

September 30th, 2003, 07:40 PM

Originally posted by macjimmy:
I would be using Linux to try something new with my computer. I have been wanting to learn to program, and it seems that a nix enviroment would be the less expensive way to go, and probably the more stable way to go as well. If I'm lucky, I just might get something useful out of this experience. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Go get C For Dummies by Dan Gookin, volumes one and two. I started my programming career with his books. He is more knowledgable than most of my profs.

macjimmy

September 30th, 2003, 10:37 PM

Lindows does DirectX, and:

"Seagate is now selling a line of hard drives pre-loaded with LindowsOS for the exact same price as a typical blank hard disc. Because the LindowsHD hard disc is available for the exact same price as the blank hard disc, the manufacturer is in effect, getting LindowsOS for free."

I will take a look at this as well.
With all of the user-created stuff out there for Linux, it seems odd to me that DirectX stuff would only be available in Lindows.

Fyron

September 30th, 2003, 10:52 PM

Heck, I have made dual boot Win2k/Win2k boxes before... (dont ask) /me asks

Originally posted by macjimmy:
I would be using Linux to try something new with my computer. I have been wanting to learn to program, and it seems that a nix enviroment would be the less expensive way to go, and probably the more stable way to go as well. If I'm lucky, I just might get something useful out of this experience. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Windows is not lacking any stability where programming is concerned. You get what you pay for. Most of those free linux compilers are not very good, forcing you to go in circles and memorize huge amounts of commmand line code to get basic things done (especially when it comes to debugging http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif yuck). Compiler programs like MS Visual Studio get the exact same job done, but are much easier and faster to use, without the excessive learning curve added on by Linux. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ September 30, 2003, 21:56: Message edited by: Imperator Fyron ]

Thermodyne

September 30th, 2003, 11:10 PM

If you just want to try it out, then go to Red Hat's site and dl the free distro. It�s an easy install on a modern system and needs very little knowledge of Linux. The will give you a few weeks of limited support for free. But be advised, it is not all that it is talked up to be. While not at all bad, it is not as evolved as XP.

[ September 30, 2003, 22:10: Message edited by: Thermodyne ]

Instar

September 30th, 2003, 11:45 PM

Originally posted by macjimmy:
<blockquote>quote:<hr /> Lindows does DirectX, and:

"Seagate is now selling a line of hard drives pre-loaded with LindowsOS for the exact same price as a typical blank hard disc. Because the LindowsHD hard disc is available for the exact same price as the blank hard disc, the manufacturer is in effect, getting LindowsOS for free."

I will take a look at this as well.
With all of the user-created stuff out there for Linux, it seems odd to me that DirectX stuff would only be available in Lindows.<hr /></blockquote>DirectX is a proprietary MS product, based on COM, again, more MS stuff. The exact implementation of DX is pretty much hidden, so it is hard to emulate, especially with all the functions available. Basically, all I know as a programmer is that this function will do whatever, and I do not know how it does its thing (well, I do know how it does it abstractly). Nothing stopping me from rewriting all of DX and COM though. I don't think you could take DX right to a linux system, the hardware and kernels are completely different. Dunno about Lindows.