An alternative operating system

[Banditman]

I am wondering which operating system would be a good alternative to Windows for gaming and general use without having to buy new hardware and will work with my current windows games/software?

[screwballl]

the easy answer is NONE

Now there is a way to use linux (I myself prefer Ubuntu but its just that, a preference) and a program called Cedega that I hear works very well. I have tried running HL2/CS:S through WinE on my XP3000+ machine and the framerates were acceptable but online multiplayer I just lagged (usually 300-900 ping, typically in windows is seen around 30-60 ping).

Unfortunately Windows is the only spot for stable gaming... with my next box, I will be keeping a small partition (30-40GB) for XP and my games and the rest will be using Ubuntu (thats the plan anyways)

[Quakindude]

If you don't use Windows, you will find yourself making buying decisions based upon compromises. For me personally, there simply aren't enough games that run well on any distro of Linux for me to make the switch. I'll stick by my trusty WindowsXP Pro install until either:

1. I'm given Vista for free.
2. All the game publishers port all my games to Linux. (I'll go out on a limb here and say that ain't gonna happen.)
3. I'm finally forced to buy Vista because my current rigs 7950GT video card is so old, it doesn't do squat for me anymore gaming wise.


The only other alternative really is to set up your favorite distro on your PC and play games on a console. Then, play the few games that do work in linux on your computer.

[Banditman]

Ok, that sounds like a good plan. I found this post on SUSE. Linux SUSE 10.1 .

I'm thinking of giving it a try but I know JACK about linux. I once tried to make a linux firewall from an old pc I had but that project flopped when it came to running the commands. I can tell you just about every DOS command though which was my first operating system..lmfao.

I would love to try SUSE but I might need a hand holding at first.

Originally Posted by Quakindude

The only other alternative really is to set up your favorite distro on your PC and play games on a console. Then, play the few games that do work in linux on your computer.

I'm not giving up BF 2142 or BF 2. Sorry, not gonna do it, can't make me, NOPE, UH UH.

I have heard about Red Hat Linux. What it that?


Edit: Well, I don't think that I'll be doing the SUSE thing. I just read that the free version is unsuppoerted in every way such as no updates and no access to drivers. I found the Red Hat Fedora Project as well as the Gnome desktop environment for download for free. Is Fedora supported by updates and drivers?

[Lead Head]

Originally Posted by Banditman

I have heard about Red Hat Linux. What it that?


Edit: Well, I don't think that I'll be doing the SUSE thing. I just read that the free version is unsuppoerted in every way such as no updates and no access to drivers. I found the Red Hat Fedora Project as well as the Gnome desktop environment for download for free. Is Fedora supported by updates and drivers?

Fedora Core is a pretty good well rounded distro, but I recommend Ubuntu if you are new to linux. :)

[Banditman]

Originally Posted by Lead Head

Fedora Core is a pretty good well rounded distro, but I recommend Ubuntu if you are new to linux. :)

OK, I'll try that one then. I hope it is not as big of a download as Fedora at 7 cd ISO's each at 670mb. On dial-up....UGG! Any place to request free cd's to be shipped to me?

Holy cow!!! The Ubuntu free cd request will take 6 to 10 weeks to deliver!! And it is not even the latest version. It is the Drake 6.06 LTS version. Does anyone have a copy of latest virsion with all bells and whistles they can send to me? Also, I would like to use the Gnome desktop. Will it work with Ubuntu? I found the download site for Gnome but there are about 40 files to download and I have no clue what to do with or how to use the .tar.gz, tar.bz2 and tar.xyz files..lol. Can you please ship the Gnome desktop with it? I would like to try out the 64 bit version if it is any good.

If someone would be willing to help me out here, PM me for my address. Thanks.

[yurimxpxman]

I don't recommend Suse. Fedora's nice, but the LVM makes it hard to deal with sometimes. Ubuntu 6.10 is the best distribution I've ever used.

As far as operating systems in general, you should give ReactOS a try. It's an open-source Windows-compatible/clone OS. I haven't gotten a chance to test it yet myself, but I hear it's got potential. Whether it's vulnerable to viruses, I don't know. I'm going to try it soon.

[stinger608]

Originally Posted by yurimxpxman

I don't recommend Suse. Fedora's nice, but the LVM makes it hard to deal with sometimes. Ubuntu 6.10 is the best distribution I've ever used.

As far as operating systems in general, you should give ReactOS a try. It's an open-source Windows-compatible/clone OS. I haven't gotten a chance to test it yet myself, but I hear it's got potential. Whether it's vulnerable to viruses, I don't know. I'm going to try it soon.

Yea, I have been looking at ReactOS as well, but you have to set it up as a virtual hard drive, or fresh install to get the latest release which is v.30.
The live cd is still v2.9 which had lots of bugs.

[Lead Head]

I installed ReactOS 0.30 on a VM a while back, Worst experience I ever had with an OS...I got winrar to semi-work...and that was a bout it.


The Ubuntu install is a Signle 670MB ISO, so it shouldn't be to bad to download

[yurimxpxman]

Originally Posted by Lead Head

I installed ReactOS 0.30 on a VM a while back, Worst experience I ever had with an OS...I got winrar to semi-work...and that was a bout it.

Well, you need to keep in mind it's still in the alpha stage. It'll get better.