Sell me linux

Lukewhitworth · 29 Apr 2012 at 13:24

In my line of work I can get windows 7 directly from microsoft cheaper than retail, but I have a tight budget and will not be buying it for another month or so, so I am thinking of using a linux OS.

PC specs will be, 8GB ram, i5 3570k, 500GB HDD.

As far as I know linux isn't great for games? I have a steam account and would like to play those games still and play a few old pc games,can they work on linux or do I have to wait until I get win7?

So spec me a linux OS please

Ash-Lee · 29 Apr 2012 at 13:33

If you use your PC mainly for games then Linux isn't really ideal, for everything else it will be great.

I still have a Windows partition solely for gaming.

MagicBoy · 29 Apr 2012 at 13:38

Linux isn't Windows, and cannot run Windows games.

Addicted · 29 Apr 2012 at 13:39

MagicBoy said:
Linux isn't Windows, and cannot run Windows games.

Epic fail.

Most stuff runs in Wine.

Certainly not well, but most should run.

Lukewhitworth · 29 Apr 2012 at 13:44

What is 'wine'? Which linux OS should i get? I am new to the world of Linux

MagicBoy · 29 Apr 2012 at 13:45

Congratulations. You win 1 internet points for that. So you're recommended a sub-standard solution. Well done.

For the amount of faff it's not worth it for a month's usage. Stick the Windows 7 on a credit card.

Wine makes the the Windows API available to *nix environments. It's open source so there's no official support from Microsoft or the majority of developers and the level of success depends on the application. IMO it's fine for supported business apps, **** for anything that requires performance.

Buy Win 7, hell even recycle an old copy of XP. Seriously.

Addicted - you can shove your Epic Fail up your ***, unless you're going round to install, configure and support it for the OP.

|Thomas| · 29 Apr 2012 at 13:46

Lukewhitworth said:
What is 'wine'? Which linux OS should i get? I am new to the world of Linux

Wine basically allows you to run windows programs. The caveat being that it is far from perfect, and in my opinion you can't consider it a reliable way to game on linux.

If you want to game, at this moment in time you have to accept that you need at least a windows partition unfortunately.

Lukewhitworth · 29 Apr 2012 at 13:55

I hope I haven't started an argument! I will just buy win7, I thought it wouldn't be such a problem just using linux for a short while. Thank you all for your replies though.

SMN · 29 Apr 2012 at 14:23

This flaming thread again! My pet peeve honestly!!!!

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=21701126&postcount=6

cb_linus · 29 Apr 2012 at 15:06

SMN said:
This flaming thread again! My pet peeve honestly!!!!

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=21701126&postcount=6

We really need to write a proper sticky, and petition a passing mod to sticky it.

j6m · 29 Apr 2012 at 15:07

Lukewhitworth said:
As far as I know linux isn't great for games?

It's great for games - it's just that hardly anybody makes games for it at the moment.

cb_linus · 29 Apr 2012 at 15:13

j6m said:
It's great for games - it's just that hardly anybody makes games for it at the moment.

and also see Desura - there's loads of games. Honestly, if you're interested in Linux why not install it anyway and have a play or download a live cd/dvd and try it that way?

PermaBanned · 29 Apr 2012 at 15:24

cb_linus said:
Honestly, if you're interested in Linux why not install it anyway and have a play or download a live cd/dvd and try it that way?

This. What have you got to lose?

MagicBoy said:
It's open source so there's no official support from Microsoft or the majority of developers.

Not sure about the link here. I'm pretty sure Microsoft contributes to a number of open source projects. Including the Linux kernel. Regardless, i'm a casual sort of gamer and i have no problems with running solely Linux. Depends on your tastes and what you expect, but as before you'll never know until you try.

MagicBoy · 29 Apr 2012 at 15:37

PermaBanned said:
Not sure about the link here. I'm pretty sure Microsoft contributes to a number of open source projects. Including the Linux kernel. Regardless, i'm a casual sort of gamer and i have no problems with running solely Linux. Depends on your tastes and what you expect, but as before you'll never know until you try.

The Windows APIs are closed. MS are not going to donate their intellectual property to an Open Source project that could result in selling less Windows licences.

Subliminal Aura · 29 Apr 2012 at 15:39

I'm not a gamer but hasn't Steam arrived for linux this week with the arrival of ubuntu 12.04 ?

j6m · 29 Apr 2012 at 16:08

Subliminal Aura said:
I'm not a gamer but hasn't Steam arrived for linux this week with the arrival of ubuntu 12.04 ?

Not quite yet

PermaBanned · 29 Apr 2012 at 16:19

MagicBoy said:
The Windows APIs are closed. MS are not going to donate their intellectual property to an Open Source project that could result in selling less Windows licences.

http://www.slashgear.com/microsoft-lands-on-top-20-linux-kernel-contributor-list-04221440/

I wasn't speaking in relation to Wine, just that your post implied that it's because it's open source that Microsoft don't support it.

mortals · 29 Apr 2012 at 17:01

MagicBoy said:
Linux isn't Windows

Quoted for truth

MagicBoy said:
and cannot run Windows games.

^^natively

Lukewhitworth said:
Sell me linux

how much do you want to pay me?

Lukewhitworth said:
As far as I know linux isn't great for games?

depends on what games you play, it sounds like you play a lot of games so using windows would probably be easier than linux

If you want/expect linux to be a direct replacement for windows (both in functionality and game compatibility) then you shouldn't even be thinking of linux.
If however you are intrigued to learn about a new OS then download a livecd and try it out.

You can run Steam using wine & a lot of games run using wine but I think the point MagicBoy is trying to make is it's not the same in performance & is sometimes a lot of hassle (depending on the game)

Lukewhitworth said:
I have a tight budget and will not be buying it for another month or so

Is it possible to install windows as a 30day trial/evaluation? - think you can even get 90/120day eval on windows7

MagicBoy · 29 Apr 2012 at 17:08

Jeez. Try to be slightly helpful and I get jumped on by nitpickers. It's very obvious the OPs Linux knowledge is very limited so I was keeping it simple.

I don't think I'll be coming back in this sub-forum.

PermaBanned · 29 Apr 2012 at 17:40