What is Digg?Sponsored by Dragon Age: Origins
Can't get enough Dragon Age: Origins? Check out new footage. view!
DragonAge.BioWare.com - EA presents BioWare's new dark fantasy epic Dragon Age: Origins. '9/10' from Game Informer.
108 Comments
- mindwarp, on 10/12/2007, -2/+66@jarofclay
I run linux (despite having a copy of vista that microsoft gave me for free) because I don't want to deal with activation. I own 4 computers, and to use vista on all of them would cost me a ton of money. If I change hardware etc, I either have to reactivate or rebuy based on scenario.
Thats why I run Linux atleast. That money could be spent on beer. - djauto23, on 10/12/2007, -2/+61@jarofclay
I'll digg you up cause of the way you ask the question.
Well, it's free/Free (most of it anyway), is pretty stable nowadays, and it's an excellent platform to run firefox, openoffice, gaim and many others on. You can discuss for ages if it's better or not than Windows/OS X, but I won't hold my breath until you've found out. You won't have photoshop (except with this method, i guess), and things like video editing are still in their infancy, but you'll have a nice, modern setup wich is quick and responsive and (maybe most of all) doesn't get infected with spy/malware in the degree Windows does.
I'd not insist for you to go that route, but indeed I recommend to keep an eye on things like Compiz/Beryl, Xen, Jack audio server and other exciting technologies on the platform. - jarofclay, on 10/12/2007, -37/+95Ok, I'm bracing for the digg down, but I really have to ask. Why would I want to run Linux? Don't get me wrong I've tried several distros over the years and everytime there is a new kernel I'll try it again. The downside is like this article ... I was always trying to do things I can do easily in Windows on Linux. So I inevitably go back to Windows. So I ask honestly, what does Linux do for me (besides buying me cool points in the geek community)?
- nailer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+46I work at IBM and am waiting for one web app to comply with our mandatory browser standard (being a standard, everything else does).
I wrote this to use IE7 as a temporary workaround. But I'll be happier when I don't need to use it. - uownedge, on 10/12/2007, -0/+44I just wanted to say that I'm really impressed, not only with the way jarofclay asked his question in a reasonable and intelligent manner, but also with all of the reasonable and intelligent responses that were given. I was seriously starting the believe that the digg community just didn't have what it took to have a civilized discussion.
In response to the question...
I personally use Linux because I enjoy using it. It's fun, and there's always something interesting to learn about (I admit it, I'm a geek/nerd/dork). While it's not usually a primary OS for me, I use it for a lot of things that I just can't bring myself to use Windows for. Likewise, there are things that I use Windows and Mac OS for that I'd never bother with on Linux.
If you rely very heavily on your Windows apps, Linux probably isn't the right choice for you as a primary OS, but in the interest of learning, it is certainly worthwhile to load it up on a spare box or virtual machine and check it out. - twtmc, on 10/12/2007, -2/+41@jarofclay
I have gotten this question many times, and I really don't think you should be dugg down for it, just because it is asked a lot and is a valid question. I enjoy quite a few things about ubuntu that I cannot get in windows. The 2 main things are multiple desktops and the customizable options you have. With linux, if I want to change something, the most I ever have to do is change a couple lines of code, and more often than not there is a guide on how to do it on the internet somewhere. I can set my tv up as a second monitor on a different resolution and on whatever side of my main screen I want, I can change the window borders, icon sets, change where the panel/s are, change how many panels I want, the login screen etc. etc.. To do all that in windows, I need to download and/or bootleg a bunch of programs, then take a risk of screwing up my system. Linux is also very good for doing any sort of programming or webdesign work. I am used to the programs on it, and they have very nice syntax highlighting.
Of coarse, last but not least, there are the obvious notes on why people use linux: It's free, it's without viruses, and beryl is freaking sweet. - SniperSlap, on 10/12/2007, -3/+31@jarofclay
Ubuntu has made leaps and bounds for Linux, I would rate it about 8/10 in terms of a "How Windows-easy is it?" scale. And that number keeps going up with every day. They are really working hard for everyone out there who wants a free alternative.
As for the apps you won't be able to use, remember, corporations will only respond to a change in demand, and it will be up to you to manifest that demand. Half-measures like this can help the process, finding free & open alternatives is better. But that isn't always an option - and it's true.
I do all kinds of wacky stuff with machines, and a change in kernel version is the least of what you need to pay attention to. Why would you run Linux? For one reason - that seems to get overlooked so often: It is more efficient.
Microsoft is obsessed with monopolizing every CPU cycle of your system to no benefit. It is only through ineffiencies that they will get anything on your computer. Linux on the other hand has so many people working on it, some will dedicate themselves solely to ensuring that the job gets done properly and quickly. - twtmc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19WoW works with wine. I just got burning crusade running on my friends ubuntu computer the other day. Alternatively, Transgaming Cedega and Codeweavers Crossover also work quite well, and will actually walk you through the steps for installing warcraft, as well as many other games.
- shakin, on 10/12/2007, -1/+20"Why would I want to run Linux? Don't get me wrong I've tried several distros over the years and everytime there is a new kernel I'll try it again. The downside is like this article ... I was always trying to do things I can do easily in Windows on Linux. So I inevitably go back to Windows. So I ask honestly, what does Linux do for me (besides buying me cool points in the geek community)?"
Linux is different, so it suits different purposes. The reason why you can do things easily in Windows, but not in Linux, is because you are very familiar with Windows. I can do most things easier in Linux and I have a hell of a tough time getting anything done in OS X because I hardly ever use it. Linux is not very much like Windows, but I think it's good in its own way for the type of computer work I do.
For one thing, Linux's command line tools are very good for working with the large (150 MB and up) delimited text files I work with often for work. I would need to install something like cygwin (Unix tools on Windows) to get the same functionality on Windows.
I have also found that many Linux GUI apps are perfect for what I do. Krusader is great for transferring files between computers, Quanta is my favourite php editor, I am better with GIMP than Photoshop for web graphics, and Linux gives me a better set of browsers to test web sites in (Firefox, Opera, Konqueror (like Safari), and IE 6 and 7 through emulation). I don't think I can test a Safari-like browser using Windows, or at least I couldn't a couple of years ago when I last used Windows.
Each of Linux, Windows and OS X have their reasons for existing. As a computer user it's important that you select the operating system that works best for you. - unloud, on 10/12/2007, -3/+19weijie90 likes speeking in the third person. He should see a psychiatrist for that.
- shakin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13What is this like in comparison to using seamlessrdp (runs individual programs using remote desktop, instead of showing the whole desktop)? I use seamlessrdp to access a Windows server and run IE 7 from there. It works so well I rarely use my VMWare Windows install any more.
- twtmc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Something else I would like to add in is that, once you start using ubuntu (or another linux distro) full time, you will probably start to notice things on it you really like that aren't on windows. There are some really neat small features like when you roll your cursor over a music file, it starts playing within the file browser until you move your cursor off of the icon.
- SniperSlap, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10You wouldn't want to use this to run WoW.
My fiancee installed WoW herself and plays it regularly in Linux.
Ultimately, Wine will always win in performance because it is as close as you can get to running the code natively. Truthfully, it is the best and most robust approach. - williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Bob Dole thinks weijie is OK. That's what Bob Dole thinks.
Bob Dole sends his regards,
-Bob Dole - williamdyer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9@jarofclay
The main reason I would recommend Linux to casual computer users is that it is vastly less likely to get p0wnd by a virus or even a trojan. That may seem like a small thing to anyone competent enough to keep their Windows system patched and run a decent firewall, but even competent people get fooled by trojans every now and then. Once your system gets hosed this way, it costs a day or two of your life to get it back. That jacks the TCO of Windows into the stratosphere.
The second reason is that there is a huge amount of interesting software available for free download for Linux, and distros like Ubuntu make all this stuff easier to install and uninstall than managing Windows apps. If you know someone who wants to start podcasting, or messing around with digital music or video, Linux is the way to go, unless they are willing to splash the cash for a Mac.
I would not recommend Linux for someone who is looking to run a vertical app for a small business. That will change once more of these apps migrate to the salesforce.com model of Web-based delivery. But I would recommend they use Linux for servers and firewalls. - misteral, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9@nailer
Very cool, I'll need to try this tonight. One question for you - when running through 2X, if I print something, I'm assuming it goes through the Window's printer setups?
The reason I ask is I tried using Crossover to run Office, but the printing through cups is cruddy at best. Bringing up VMWare every time the missus needs to print something is frustrating, this looks like it might work much much better - felderado, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Oh man this is GREAT news. I've been anxiously awaiting for KQemu to come out of its proprietary state!
- prototypeangel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Is this a virtual operating system or is it an emulator or is it some crazy mix of the two
- TheRealToma, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10I find it easier to use than Windows. Having Ubuntu + E17 as a desktop is just so simple. Like... too simple! Im forgetting all my old-skool linux knowledge! With a little launcher over there... a desktop switcher thats linked to my extra mouse button... a little tiny module thats telling me the time and weather...
Well. I cant think of a more comfortable desktop.
People that say desktop linux wont ever happen are just using the wrong desktops :) Imho anyway.
Also: If I don't like something about the way the program works, I hop on IRC and have a chat to the people that made it, then a week or 4 latter, my idea is implemented! Lets see Outlook Express do that! - Vineman, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Sweet, I'll have to try this. Anyone know if I can just use my slave HDD with Windows instead of a partition?
- GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7From a quick glance it looks like a VM which is being used as an app server. If it is then it's very cool.
You're still running Windows though so it's a temporary fix but it's much better than a reboot and would give better Linux integration than a normal VM.
//edit - also it will run any version of Office that Windows in a VM will run naturally.// - jrieth50, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@jarofclay - Having heard this question about a million times - I think the trouble you're running into stems from the following. As you said - articles like this help people to run Windows applications on their Linux desktop. If your purpose for running Linux is to run Windows applications, I would like to suggest another operating system for you - try Windows. However, if you are looking for an alternative to Windows - Linux just might be for you. Like iTunes? Try an alternative - I recommend Songbird from the guys who made Winamp and built on Firefox. Miss Photoshop? Use the GIMP, or better yet, GIMPShop mimics the look and feel of Photoshop for new 'switchers.' Need an excellent office package? Well OpenOffice is a powerful free alternative to Microsoft's package and becoming more widely accepted every day.
Again, if you want to run Windows applications. Then Linux is not for you - use Windows. If you want to run an alternative, then understand the things that you do will be performed mainly through ALTERNATIVE software built for a different platform, posts like this just show you how to run the occasional "gotta have it, accept no substitute" app, which actually points to the power of the Linux community in being able to find ways to help users do that. My brother for instance is forced to use Wine to run his weather station (fat chance convincing a small weather device company to dev for linux) - but that does not keep him from enjoying the power, flexibility, and wide range of software choices available for the Linux operating system - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6While this is true and Wine is a better long term solution, currently it is lacking too much to be the end all be all of Windows on Linux. Many applications will not run properly and this is a big problem if the Only-Reason-I-Need-Windows-Application isn't fully supported. I seriously hope that one day Wine makes Windows emulation/virtualization a thing of the past; allowing us to run almost any Windows application at near native speeds. However, unfortunatly, because of Microsoft's ways that day may be a long way away. Until then this is a very good workaround until Redmond burns to the ground at the hands of Linux and Mac zealots ;-]
- nofxjunkee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Reasons why I like to use Linux:
* I have choice of a few good shells to choose from, out of the box. They are all free, and zsh alone is worth millions.
* I love package managers. They have the downside that it helps if you know what you're looking for, so maybe they're not 100% noob-friendly. Oh well, you're a noob for a short while and a knowledgeable user for years and years after that.
* I choose to use a window manager or desktop environment as light as fluxbox, or as feature-rich as KDE, Gnome, or something like Xfce which is in the middle. I can choose to not use a window manager. I can kill the window manager if it goes haywire and not reboot my box, just restart the window server.
* I don't have to activate Linux.
* It's a great environment to develop software in. A good shell is important to me, and those are found on *nix systems.
* The distros I use are free (Ubuntu CDs ship right to your door, no activation) and I have a good choice of distros to suit my various needs. Once you use Linux on one box it makes more sense to keep using Linux on other boxes, even if you switch distros here and there to suit the varying needs of your boxes.
* The ability to ssh into my box at home and attach to my GNU screen session is awesome, and incredibly useful. I have an ssh client for Windows Mobile, which makes that ten times more useful even though Windows Mobile makes me want to cry.
I have to get back to work, but there are a few of my reasons to use Linux. Some of these apply to BSDs, Solaris, OS X, etc as well. They may suit your needs better than Linux so try as many of them as you can.
Once you start talking servers then Windows isn't even in the race in my opinion. - democracysucks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Sorry if this is a stupid question, but can I run games using Qemu? I keep XP installed for one reason only--CoD2.
- Alex74447, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9If this works with WoW, my days of XP are over.
- SniperSlap, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6All I'm seeing here is running the 2X software on a Windows virtual machine of a particular breed. I think the 2X is more interesting than the virtualization.
I still prefer supporting and following the progress of Wine as it strives for a longer term solution. One where should something ever happen to Win32 and/or Windows, the applications made in the past will still run. Wine will always end up being faster than running an entire operating system in a little sandbox, and will give more control and flexibility back to the user. Most people will look at this and say "can I run games?", what will 3D be like doing this? My guess is 100% unusable.
They have been making great improvements over the past year over in Wineland as well, which gives me more hope now than I had before. Support them, use their software, make bug reports. It seems like everything gets fixed over there these days, so long as it gets submitted. - CircleFusion, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5"Miss Photoshop? Use the GIMP, or better yet, GIMPShop mimics the look and feel of Photoshop for new 'switchers.' "
People always recommend GIMP for doing graphics work on Linux.
I personally would prefer using Photoshop CS with Wine (I don't think CS2 is fully functional with Wine yet though) before using GIMP.
Keep an eye on Pixel Image Editor http://www.pixelimageeditor.com
It is a very interesting, cross-platform graphics editor that aims to mimic virtually everything that Photoshop does. Unlike Gimp, or even GimpShop, the interface of Pixel is very similar to Photoshop. That is what the developer is aiming for in the beginning. Vector tools, layer sets, slices, layer effects, importing photoshop filters and brushes...all sorts of things that you want out of Photoshop. The ultimate goal of Pixel is to first make it like Photoshop, and then start to innovate to do things that we all wish Photoshop would do
Pixel is still in beta, and It is NOT open source or free, but it is very inexpensive ($34 if you buy a license now...and around $70 when it's out of beta) and cross-platform...Windows, OSX, Linux, BSD, etc.
Sorry if this sounded like an ad for Pixel. I am not associated with the software. I just want to mention Pixel when I see people recommend GIMP as an alternative to Photoshop on the Linux platform. - manitoba98xp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5This should work for any (non-3D-intensive) Windows application. I see no reason it wouldn't work with CS3.
- cawpin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5This is very badass. I've been running a Windows XP VM with VMWare for about the last month. If I can get my apps to play nice with having to run a full VM it will be what I've been wanting.
- duggmania, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Is the performance of this much different to VMWare? Does it offer any advantages over VMWare?
Looks pretty cool either way :) - guice, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@mraustin1337: "If not pay a few bucks a year and get Cedega."
Err, that's "a few bucks" a month. Pulled off the "Renew now" subscription page for my account:
- Renewing Subscription (Per month, minimum 3 month purchase; 5 USD per month)
And lets not forget the reason I dropped Cedega; it boke almost every time there's a big update to a game. One of the reasons I listed above. Having to wait 3-4 days for Cedega to update isn't worth a subscription fee. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5KQEMU allows for instructions to be passed directally to the CPU; this prevents emulating x86 on an x86 machine. Instead of taking the instruction, passing it to the QEMU emulation engine which passes it to the cpu, it allows for the guest OS to make calls directally to the CPU if they are on the same architecture (i think it only supports x86-on-x86 at this point, but it is GPL now so that probably will change as people port it to other architectures such as PPC-on-PPC and the such...) While this does not bring it completly to native speeds (because some instructions still need to be emulated) it certainly helps it to the point where it is usable.
- freddo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5http://rougebob.com/Running-a-Windows-Partition-in-VMware.htm
:-) - tmmi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This is pretty cool, but to everyone saying they can finally get rid of XP with this: You will still have to install Windows, even if it's just a virtual machine, to make this thing work.
- mraustin1337, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This is great for developing Windows Applications in Linux. You can simply Publish Visual Studio and then run it in linux, seemingly nativly.
Completely beautiful. - felderado, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7koderone:
KQemu, buddy, is that little extra somethin that makes the performance NOT bad. Now that it's open source, this changes everything. There are situations where you simply cannot use it because it isn't open sourced. It would taint the kernel. - mrbenns, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4another possible cold-foot-moment taken away for my first foray into ubuntu, I feel a triple boot setup coming :)
- nailer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3crossmr wrote:
"2X is not that simple, and they're leaving something out. Like the previous story we had about this (using vmware instead of qemu, maybe I'll do one up using virtual box) windows xp pro, while having the same terminal services features as server 2003, isn't a terminal server. If you head over to the 2X forums, you have to install an unofficial patch that will turn xp pro into a terminal server."
I wrote 90% of the article, and use this on my desktop every day. I assure you I ran no extra patches or anything asides from the software shown in the howto (maybe 2X already installs the patch you speak of?) - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3if i can get this to work with photoshop and vb6 i will finally be completly free from having WinXP installed on my computer.
- crossmr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+32X is not that simple, and they're leaving something out. Like the previous story we had about this (using vmware instead of qemu, maybe I'll do one up using virtual box) windows xp pro, while having the same terminal services features as server 2003, isn't a terminal server. If you head over to the 2X forums, you have to install an unofficial patch that will turn xp pro into a terminal server. Server 2003 won't even publish apps properly until you actually give it the role of a terminal server.
- Ndoki, on 10/12/2007, -10/+13@jarofclay
"Why would I want to run Linux?"
RTFM!
LOL I am just joking, however, for me the reason that I use Linux is the philosophy behind it. Being open source and many eyes watching allow for vulnerabilities to be caught and eliminated faster. Also there is the community factor that not only allows for the Linux kernel to be ported to many different platforms, but it also encourages normal every day people to take an active role in it's development.
I often wonder what the world would be like if we had this type of symbiotic relationship between those who hold power positions and those that they ruled over? Perhaps the world would be better off? - nofxjunkee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@shakin: We have what it takes to have a civilized discussion, but since that rarely happens we usually just leave the kids to whine about how they can't play games on Linux. Where those kids are today I have no idea, but it is nice to see a discussion like this on Digg again. Seems like it's been ages.
- frogstik, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Doesn't Parallels do pretty much the same thing as VMWare? Maybe I'm wrong...
- sn00kie, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Running through the install, here is a good guide on how to get kqemu-source installed. Everything else is in the repositories. Please reply if there is an easier way.
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=179472 - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I hope that qemu gets support for hardware acceleration. It would be handy if Linux had a way to detach the videocard from the kernel, and let it plug into qemu then I would never have to reboot to play games, things like wine are ok for some games but only some, if windows games were fully supported under Linux then there would probally be quite a lot of gamers converted to using Linux as their desktop.
The only advantage of Wine over qemu or another visualization technique is that Wine doesn't actually require a copy of windows, but if gamers start using Linux then there would probably be more game companies willing to support the platform natively. Would also be interesting to see a hybrid of wine and visualization, maybe it could be gotten to the point where DirectX could be downloaded and installed under Wine and run on the actual cards hardware rather than having to translate everything to OpenGL.
I guess Wine might just get to the point where everything is supported fine but there will always been new DirectX releases to catch up too, and thats assuming MS don't try to add stuff to hinder development to things like Wine if it becomes a problem. - guice, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Same reason you'll run Linux in Windows or Windows in MacOSX. You pick a primary OS and use the other OS as a supplement to run programs not cross platform compatible. Some people rather run Linux full time and Windows for select applications -- dual booting is too much of a pita to having to reboot and select the right OS every time you start up.
- nailer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3From Shakin: "What is this like in comparison to using seamlessrdp (runs individual programs using remote desktop, instead of showing the whole desktop)? I use seamlessrdp to access a Windows server and run IE 7 from there. It works so well I rarely use my VMWare Windows install any more."
Dude, you rock! Thanks for the kickass post - I had no idea rdesktop could do this stuff.
The tutorial's been modifed to use seamless RDP instead.
* All software is Open Source, and the Ubuntu software is available from the regular repositories.
* It's easier to set up - the instructions are now about half what they were before.
* Run as many programs as you want, rather than the 2X 5 program limit.
* Real Windows theming - see the screenshot. 2X always used to use the 'Classic' (Windows 2000) theme, regardless of group policy settings forcing it do do otherwise. With seamlessrdp, it uses Windows themes. Better yet, I think there's Windows theme versions of Tango and Human. - sinn0304, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4*abusing reply*
is it just me, or do you people no longer read your own damn descriptions? everyone i read, i have to reread 6 times to understand...
lets see here..
"...Ubuntu without having and have them appear..." - guice, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3PC Games is the really the only reason I keep with Windows full time, too. If I can find a way to run these games within Linux without having to worry about the application breaking when the game updates or any convoluted setups, I'll switch over to Linux on my primary computer (right now, it's on my second computer only).
-
Show 51 - 100 of 108 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is