Deciding If Linux Is Worth The Switch

[Red Falcon]

Hey, I'm currently a windows xp user.  I have read most of the sections on this site about microsoft and I feel much more educated about how bad it is and with that in mind I think it is definitly time to leave windows.

There is, however, a few questions I have for all you Linux people.  I happen to be a PC Gamer and I've heard that if I ever want to play a game that requires Direct X that I will have to stay with Windows and Linux does not support it.  That, is a HUGE problem with me as most games are now with direct x.  Is it true that linux can not play games like these?

Also, I'm not sure if I read this correct, but I am under the understanding that even if I reformat my harddrive that there will still be windows files on it from before.  Is that true?  And, if so, would they remain there after I installed linux?

      Ok, probably the question I will have the hardest time getting feedback with.. What is the best Linux for a starter, to the best for a gamer.  I'd like to have similar features I had on windows xp like the wallpaper and start menu and such without getting a windows emulator :/

      What are my chances of getting hacked/virus attacks on my computer if I was on Linux than if I was on windows?

      Is there a site out there that sells many products for just linux?  If so what is the link?  I'd like to check it out.


Please respond, so many people tell me Linux is simply "better" but I need these questions answered if you want me to beleive it.

[creedon]

RE:viruses  NEVER, repeat NEVER go on the internet as "root"!

[foobar]

quote:Originally posted by Red Falcon:
Hey, I'm currently a windows xp user.  I have read most of the sections on this site about microsoft and I feel much more educated about how bad it is and with that in mind I think it is definitly time to leave windows.

Welcome.

     

quote:
There is, however, a few questions I have for all you Linux people.  I happen to be a PC Gamer and I've heard that if I ever want to play a game that requires Direct X that I will have to stay with Windows and Linux does not support it.  That, is a HUGE problem with me as most games are now with direct x.  Is it true that linux can not play games like these?

Well, i don't know much about Direct X, but there are some ports you can find, for linux. Like all Quakes, UT and kingpin.
Just hit google with something like '+quake 1 for +linux'

     

quote:
Also, I'm not sure if I read this correct, but I am under the understanding that even if I reformat my harddrive that there will still be windows files on it from before.  Is that true?  And, if so, would they remain there after I installed linux?

Certainly not. I heard that The Death System (also known as windows xp) now creates a partition on your disk for 'installing puposes'. That if your windoze would ever crash (which it like will do alot), there's lots of stuff on it that would help you get ur windows back. (Just hearsay folks ! Correct me if i'm wrong !)
Windows hides these partitions from you, and it also can't see linux partitions.
Linux, however, can simply erase and see all of your entire disk drive (s) and partition them like you'd want to. If you want, there will be no more M$ on your harddisk.

     

quote:
      Ok, probably the question I will have the hardest time getting feedback with.. What is the best Linux for a starter, to the best for a gamer.  I'd like to have similar features I had on windows xp like the wallpaper and start menu and such without getting a windows emulator :/

I heard about a Mandrake Gaming Edition someday, maybe you'll find it on mandrake.com.
I'm currently using mandrake, but i started out with slackware. Slackware is the 'do-it-yourself'
distro, with a simple text install. It requires some background knowledge, so i wouldn't recommend it to you. Mandrake is a good option for you, since it's very simple and has a truly powerful installation tool, although all those funky graphical 'control centers' aren't my beef.

     

quote:
      What are my chances of getting hacked/virus attacks on my computer if I was on Linux than if I was on windows?

Because linux is spreaded under the GPL, you can edit it freely, or wtf, make your own linux !
Because there is so much variety in linuxes, you have red hat, mandrake, suse, and a lots more, it is practicly impossible to make a virus that will
infest lots of computers. So the chance that you'd get infected is very, very small. Just don't internet as root    

     

quote:
      Is there a site out there that sells many products for just linux?  If so what is the link?  I'd like to check it out.

Well, with linux (that's my experience) you've got two options:

* Buy it.
* Download it.

I think most linux distributors give you what you always should have got for that money. I know a friend who bought 7 (!) SuSe cd's and three booklets for just $45.
If you've got broadband, hop to http://www.linuxiso.org and download an image !
Check the end of ex elevens's reply for more linux distro pages.

     

quote:
Please respond, so many people tell me Linux is simply "better" but I need these questions answered if you want me to beleive it.

I nearly always get replies so don't worry about it.

[ July 09, 2002: Message edited by: -=f00bar=- ]

[Red Falcon]

what did you mean by "dont internet as root?

[voidmain]

"root" is the administrative user name on all UNIX (or UNIX like) operating systems. It has supreme power on the system. It is a general rule that you never log on to your system as the user "root".  You should always create a normal user account (one for each person using the computer preferably).  Then use that username (normal user level access) to log on and go about your daily tasks. You should only use the "root" account if you have to make changes to the operating system, and then you do not have to "log in" as root, you can use the "su" (switch user) utility to perform a function as the root user after entering root's password. There are many other ways of giving root level access for specific functions as well. If you install KDE you will find some root level tasks on the menu but you will first have to enter root's password to access them. It's just plain good system security. Yes, it's even a good idea for home computing as it puts the stoppers on viruses and the like.  Hopefully if Linux becomes more popular in the home, these security measures are not overlooked.

[Chooco]

before you switch to Linux, make damn sure you have a boot disk so you can get back to Windows if you don't like Linux

you can get boot disks from http://bootdisk.com

[sporkme]

welcome to the dark side!

read these forums extensively... a lot of superior beings lurking around.... you know who you are...


i cannot stress enough the importance of being ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that you can get back into your box.

note:  this is really only a problem with windows xp.

if you have a copy of win98 around don't sweat it.

no one really wastes time writing a virus for linux os's.

dual boot it. i use linux until i hit a proprietary windows issue (only microsoft products are legally allowed to do some things).

you should start with red hat linux or mandrake linux.

you will get frustrated.  hang in there.  hang around here.  WE JUST LOVE TURNING PEOPLE TO THE DARK SIDE!

every problem i have ever had has been solved on these forums. some people blindly follow microsoft's every scrambled command like cattle... or bees---(watch out for "red ranger software" and "winxpuser66666666666666666")

linux is so stable that you really might miss all of those comforting "blue screens of death" and those friendly, easy-to-use "illegal operations"

excluding games, nearly everything is beautifully replaced by what comes with linux distro's FOR FREE

nearly all linux programs are FREE

if you hit trouble, countless friendly people are tickled pink at the prospect of a chance to help you FOR FREE

linux is FREE to download

i can go on and on.

dual booting is an automatic function with most linux distros.  you can even use your windows files in linux (cant use linux files from windows--not supported) even across a network....
   example: i installed red hat on my aunt's house.  in linux i used a program called vnc to open my linux desktop (50 miles away), over the internet, in a window, and from there i showed that my younger brother (next room, 50 miles away) on a windows pc was looking at porn.

you have more choices in linux, and it is (nearly) all free.

GAMES:

there are programs called "emulators" that allow you to run many windows-based games in linux.  in fact, they emulate windows so well they typically have a price tag.                      

as for security... people around here are only interested in hacking windows.  it is much easier.

we are all behind you, good luck!  read up first!  if you need it, we can give you specific instructions for settung up a dual-booted system.

IT IS FUN!

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: sporkme / bob ]

[Master of Reality]

quote:Originally posted by sporkme / bob:
welcome to the dark side!

read these forums extensively... a lot of superior beings lurking around.... you know who you are...

by superior beings you must obviously mean the Bobs. I believe there is around 5 Bobs here:
The Preacher
X11 / Bob
MoR / Bob
WaWar_Bob
Sporkme / Bob
LorKorub
(is that all on this forum??? everbody else better join!)

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: Master of Reality / Bob ]

[voidmain]

Yes, make sure you make a Windows boot disk so you can get back into Windows if you don't like Linux. Here's the best way to make a fail-safe disk for Windows:

1) insert floppy
2) open a command prompt
3) C:\> FORMAT A: /S
4) C:\> copy \WINDOWS\COMMAND\FORMAT.COM A:
5) C:\> copy con a:\autoexec.bat
6) @echo off
7) echo Restoring Microsoft Windows boot sector, could take several minutes, please wait...
8) echo y | format c: /u/s > NUL
9) echo Boot sector restored, remove floppy and reboot.
10) press CTRL+Z

Keep in a safe place (away from magnets) and mark it "Emergency recovery from Linux install disk 1 of 1". Might also be a good idea to move the little write protect tab so you don't accidentally use it for something else.  This should work on all M$ operating systems from early DOS to WinME.  Will not work for NT/2K/XP/.NET. Instructions to follow for those NT variants.

[edit] You won't get help like that on Tech TV by that young Jerry Lewis impersonator!

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: VoidMain ]

[Calum]

as voidmain says, this will only work in DOS or win32 fat type environments, but now that tons of people have windows XP, i think it's high time we figured out an ntfs/nt type way of doing it. I'm unlikely to, since i can't imagine running any winnt anytime soon, but does anybody know what the equivelant would be for this type of windows disk?

[voidmain]

Calum, as you probably know, my fail-safe boot disk was a joke.  All you have to do is have a basic bootable disk (created from DOS or Win9x is plenty) with a copy of FDISK on it and then boot from it and do an "FDISK /MBR" to restore the boot sector.  This works for All DOS/Win versions, doesn't matter whether it's FAT or NTFS.

I was just hoping that tard Choochoo would follow my advice for one time in his life and format his Windows drive. He keeps complaining that he can't get Perl CGI programs to work and I offered him help and suggestions and he chose to ignore me.  Never responded once to weather he tried my advice or not.  I asked him about 4 times weather he looked at my suggestions when I saw him complaining about Perl and he never responds.  So if he wants to be a tard he can have a nice clean hard drive.

[ July 11, 2002: Message edited by: VoidMain ]

[slave]

Take my advice; don't switch to Linux.  It's as frustrating as hell, and since you already have XP, why not stick with what works?  I've used Linux before, trust me, it's not nearly as good as these linux-heads make it out to be.  Besides, the last thing we need in this economy is some anti-capitalistic movement forcing companies to give up their intellectual property rights because of some linux communists' ideals.

[voidmain]

Heh heh!!! That was one of the funniest things I think I have ever heard! You're a barrel of laughs dumb ass.

[creedon]

quote:Originally posted by Windows XP User #5225982375:
Take my advice; don't switch to Linux.  It's as frustrating as hell, and since you already have XP, why not stick with what works?  I've used Linux before, trust me, it's not nearly as good as these linux-heads make it out to be.  Besides, the last thing we need in this economy is some anti-capitalistic movement forcing companies to give up their intellectual property rights because of some linux communists' ideals.

Why don't you go to a meeting of the young Republicans or something; maybe Dan Quayle will give you a potatoe.

[Calum]

quote:Originally posted by VoidMain:
Calum, as you probably know, my fail-safe boot disk was a joke.

DaMn! blew it! now people browsing this forum might not make your infallible bootdisk!    

quote:All you have to do is have a basic bootable disk (created from DOS or Win9x is plenty) with a copy of FDISK on it and then boot from it and do an "FDISK /MBR" to restore the boot sector.  This works for All DOS/Win versions, doesn't matter whether it's FAT or NTFS.

Oh yes, i knew that but i was really wanting to know if there was an equivalent to your format disk for ntfs and winxp... and whether or not it can be triggered remotely, or made to run via a webpage perhaps! I never get tired of these purely intellectual puzzles...
 

quote:
I was just hoping that tard Choochoo would follow my advice for one time in his life and format his Windows drive. He keeps complaining that he can't get Perl CGI programs to work and I offered him help and suggestions and he chose to ignore me.  Never responded once to weather he tried my advice or not.  I asked him about 4 times weather he looked at my suggestions when I saw him complaining about Perl and he never responds.  So if he wants to be a tard he can have a nice clean hard drive.

I did notice that actually, although he doesn't seem like a tard in any other way...