Linux

[old.[GA] Shovel]

OK - this operating system is becommin more hyped and "exciting" than Win2k - so I'm wondering if anyone knows what the situation is - how it works, ease of use, peformance, FUTURE games support (I know that there are nvery few atm) and also (very important) COST.

I have read a feature on Corel Linux (aparently very good) and RedHat 6.1 (also rated) and I'm intrested to know just what the difference is (eg will one run somethings but not the other). I've seen some nice appearence screenies, and even soem which show it running Winblows in a window (intresting concept, and opens up games again I assume) but this again may just be a certain version.

So, the run down:

Uses
Performace (crashability, speed, comapared to windows etc)
Usablility (Ease of use, how fiddly, comapared to winblows)
Games
Cost

Help greatly appreciated.

 

[kryt]

Cost ? Eh? Its legally free to download in ISO format, and copy onto a CD in its entirity. Or if you so wish, its usually around 30 quid to obtain on CD in most distributions. If your going to start out in Linux and wish for more compatibility, cant go far wrong with Madrake 7. Corel Linux is also a good alternative, Red Hat, being the more established obviously has the most support. Game support is better then you might originally think - You can actually get windows (!) running in a Linux shell, and thusly run a few games, (Slowly, on older PCs) on that, and our friends Quake, Quake 2 and Quake 3 all have Linux versions available. It is however extrememly stable, but you do loose a bit of the ease of use (maybe just because we are all used to the Windoze systems we plod away on night and day). With a good book, a large bandwidth connection to the Net, you could have a stable, fast and effective OS for the price of the book only.

anm^Kryten

 

[old.[GA] Shovel]

I'm becoming tempted by the Corel version - aparently it includes all the bog standard stuuf to see me thorugh - my main intrest in this is for next year/school work.
Too many times have I lost bits of coursework because of crashes and Linux sounds like a cheap and effective way round it (and with some nice apreance too

Also, if games support is better than we are led to believe - I think I may have to give this a try.

One last question.
- based around installation and the dreaded word - partitions.
I only really worked out what a partition was/does recently - never have I needed one/wanted one. Howeverm I assume that the partition is required for the purposes of disk clusters/OS setup of the HD - therefore - I get the impression that if I had a partition for one, it would be for that one piece of software only (eg Linux only and Windows only). Can a different partition still be accessed from alternate OS's? And is it as daunting as I might think??? (this is the one "technical" bit that I;m worried about).

Help please!

 

[Guest]

You can mount windows filesystems from Linux, but not the other way around.

Mount in this case means 'adding' the filesystem to your own, so it's, effectively, just another directory.

I've recently moved Linux off my system,and into it's own box, but, before that, it co-existed just fine with Windows98 and NT.

 

[old.Necro]

There are some Linux systems that run off FAT16/FAT32 partitions (by making a virtual Linux partition inside a file). They won't be as good as native Linux installs, but they are quite nice for trying out Linux..

Linux can read any FAT16/FAT32 (Dos/Win95/98) partitions as well, but Win98 can't read Linux ones.

Friendliness: Linux is a UNIX clone, which can make Linux very unwelcoming at first. Some distributions make efforts to make it more Dos/Windows-like though, but it has the potential to be very demoralising. Available documentation fluctuates wildly (RedHet seems to be the easiest to get information for)..

Stability: Linux being crashproof is a myth, but on the whole, Linux has a better reputation than Windows. With Linux, i've been pretty certain what caused the crashes where with Win95/98, they're basically random..


Cost: Although you can buy Linux (and probably get better documentation/support as a result), you can legally get it for free (either off the web or via a CD burner).

 

[old.[GA] Shovel]

Will having 3 hard drives help?

(I think it is three anyway - or it may be 2 split into three partitions).

 

[Guest]

The Corel distribution is probably the one to go for Shovel.

If you're not used to Linux, the partitioning *is* pretty intimidating, mainly because it uses a different concept than the 'Drive C,D,E' system we're used to. It sees everything as a device.

Whichever distribution you get, it's very important that you actually read the manuals supplied BEFORE you start installing!


Gawd...6:30am...far too early to be starting work

 

[old.Necro]

Should do. You can (or at least i think you can) simply convert one of the partitions to Linux native format. Just make sure you convert the right one as it will erase any data on the partition..

 

[old.rockhard]

lo,

I also have been lookin at runnin a linux system and was wondering if anyone has tried Abit's new version called "gentus" (i think :/)
Sounds ideal as it comes with Hypoint support built in and maybe Geforce support too, seein as abits doin geforce cards now.

Anyone know of any mirrors for Gentus that aint in taiwan? A bit congested at the mo

Rockhard

 

[old.Necro]

I don't think i've even heard of it before. Anyway, it looks like XFree86 (which seems to be included in all decent non-minimalist distributions) has now got GeForce support, but i'm not sure what the state of Linux 3D drivers is (my Linux use as all non-gaming ATM)..

 

[old.Pikachu2k]

I've had alot of problems with corel linux. Redhat is definitly the one to go for

 

[old.[GA] Shovel]

What kinda problems????

 

[old.rockhard]

lo again

Just downloadin that Gentus linux tonight.
When ive had a chance to play with it i'll let ya all know how it performs.

? NE1 know where i can get linux version of Quake2 & 3 from?
Also is there a Mirc and ICQ version that'll run on linux? Netscape? Email client?
Any tips on dual booting with NT4, Win2000 & Linux together on same HD?


Rockhard

 

[old.[GA] Shovel]

Some Linux's aparently have an IRc client built in, ICQ - doubt it - though maybe

.

 

[old.Necro]

Quake2: http://www.linuxquake.com/howto/Quake-HOWTO.html

Quake3: not sure about this..

mIRC: doubt it, but i think all distributions have some sort of IRC client..

Netscape: yes

Email client: yes

ICQ: there's LICQ (and ICQ clone) with KDE, but i think it is incompatible with windows ICQ.

Booting: LILO should sort this out (though it not the only way)..

 

[old.=DI=Penry]

If you're after an idea of whats available, take a look at Freshmeat.net , they index new stuff and updates on a daily basis (mostly point updates of system and server stuff) but if you're looking for ICQ / IRC clones etc its got em ! (lots of server stuff though - might be a bit confusing for a home user - select your downloads well or they'll be wasted!!!)

there's even a gamespy style launcher called XQF (but i've not tried it)

 

[old.rockhard]

Thanx

I'll give that a try.
Just finished d'loading gentus so gonna look for a new HD and then i'll get cracking.

Regards,

Rockhard