Why use Linux?

Cheetah Designs said:
Can someone explain what the problem is with ATI graphics card and linux - I thought they are supported now? There are drivers on the ATI (amd) website?
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worked fine with my x1950pro. only problem was the normal live install cd didn't boot with my card - so i had to download the alternate cd (text mode install).

once installed, there was an option on the system menu called "restricted drivers manager". use this to install the ati drivers. it does it all automatically. :)
 
Cheetah Designs said:
Can someone explain what the problem is with ATI graphics card and linux - I thought they are supported now? There are drivers on the ATI (amd) website?
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They've been "supported" for a while now but the problem has always been that the drivers just suck. For a long time they didn't support dual monitors or TV out or crossfire mode or a variety of other things. Things are now much improved but there's still room for them to get better. With AMD at the reins they've promised fully open drivers which should be most excellent but nothing's come of this yet.
 
Archangelus said:
Ok, this is silly. I'm posting this from the bootable environment in the CD! I have SO got to get into this!
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Same here. Using an old laptop and it's happily booted from the CD and I'm sat here now. Seems nice and snappy considering it's running off the disc. Might have to install it properly seeing as it's not an important machine.


EDIT:

Tried to install it properly, and it won't boot. Gets as far as trying to load the GUI (X something or other) and has a fit.

I'll give more info tomorrow, going out in a bit.
 
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Does linux fully support dual-core, as in use both cores?

Which version should I use - 32bit or 64bit - any advantage of either (as in a noticeable performance increase?) - also do you get any problems with 64bit?

Does anyone know a decent text editor for linux that will give html+css+php highlighting?

Is there any programs that are similar to AutoGK for linux?

Can I play codec'ed files in linux? (ie DIVX)

Is it possible to play windows based games in linux?

Probably more questions to come later.

Thanks for any responses.
 
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@ Cheetah Designs

Don't see why not... dual cores have been around for a while!!

I have no experience of 64 bit versions...

Both Gnome and KDE come with text editors with these features.

Don't know what it is... but probably!!!

Yes, but you'll need to install the codecs yourself (licensing issues with mp3 / windows codecs). Easily done - but the instructions vary depending on what distro you choose.

yes - I do regularly. It's possible in Wine, but generally better in Cedega - can take a little tweaking, though.

no probs :)
 
Cheetah Designs said:
Does linux fully support dual-core, as in use both cores?
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Erm, don't know... but I'd guess it does - at least I've not heard anything of people having problems using dual-cores.

Cheetah Designs said:
Which version should I use - 32bit or 64bit - any advantage of either (as in a noticeable performance increase?) - also do you get any problems with 64bit?
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64-bit Linux is less problematic than 64-bit Windows. There is a performance increase if you've got oodles of memory... using a 64-bit architecture is especially advantageous if you're running 4GB RAM. As for problems, I guess there's more pre-compiled binaries for 32-bit, so you may find you need to compile some stuff yourself if it doesn't already exist in a pre-compiled 64-bit version.

Cheetah Designs said:
Does anyone know a decent text editor for linux that will give html+css+php highlighting?
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Not sure but have a look at Eclipse.

Cheetah Designs said:
Is there any programs that are similar to AutoGK for linux?
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/me == noob - what's AutoGK?

Cheetah Designs said:
Can I play codec'ed files in linux? (ie DIVX)
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Oh yes, absolutely :) Only ones you'll have difficulty with are DRM'ed files.

Cheetah Designs said:
Is it possible to play windows based games in linux?
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Some but not all - have a look at Cedega which is kinda like a Windows emulator (technically it's not an emulator at all, but that's not really important). Their website lists which games work and how well they work... plus Cedega members (it's a paid for service) get to choose which games they'd like the developers to concentrate on in the future. However, lots of people dual-boot so they can still play Windows games.
 
Ok 32 bit is probably best for me.

AutoGK is a program that converts files to XVID/DIVX without having to fiddle around. You simple choose the input file and the output file and some settings and press start and it does it all for you
 
Cheetah Designs said:
Which version should I use - 32bit or 64bit - any advantage of either (as in a noticeable performance increase?) - also do you get any problems with 64bit?
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As mentioned 64-bit is usable except for the lack to support for things like the Mozilla Flash plugin and WINE. On a desktop with less than 4 GiB RAM I recommend 32-bit.
Cheetah Designs said:
Does anyone know a decent text editor for linux that will give html+css+php highlighting?
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all of them :p I use vim at the CLI and gedit in the GUI. Both are dandy.
Cheetah Designs said:
Can I play codec'ed files in linux? (ie DIVX)
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VLC, just like on Windows, will play most any file you throw at it. You can add all those wonderful proprietary codecs by adding
deb http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/ feisty free non-free
deb-src http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/ feisty free non-free
to the end of your /etc/apt/sources.list
then running:
Code: 
wget http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/medibuntu-key.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libdvdcss2 w32codecs
Cheetah Designs said:
Is it possible to play windows based games in linux?
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Sometimes it is but it's a major hassle and performance is usually severely degraded. If the game you want to play does not have a Linux version you should play it under Windows.
 
My 64bit c2d has been running gentoo for almost a year. All the other questions, yes.

There is a wrapper package available to make flash work.
 
I've just stared using Ubuntu 7.04 and have a couple of issues.

I've installed the ATI drivers using the system/admin/Restricted driver manager method, it all installs ok but Divx's and Xvids are coloured wrong, everything is a shade of blue - any ideas for this? (using an x1950pro btw)

Also all of my other partitions are read only, anyway to sort that out so I can delete/move from Ubuntu?

Thanks.
 
for the glxinfo here's the result:

name of display: :0.0
display: :0 screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.2
server glx extensions:
GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating,
GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_OML_swap_method,
GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_hyperpipe,
GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer
client glx vendor string: ATI
client glx version string: 1.3
client glx extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context,
GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_ARB_multisample,
GLX_ATI_pixel_format_float, GLX_ATI_render_texture
GLX version: 1.2
GLX extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context,
GLX_ARB_multisample
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Radeon X1950 Series
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6334 (8.34.8)
OpenGL extensions:
GL_ARB_multitexture, GL_EXT_texture_env_add, GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array,
GL_S3_s3tc, GL_ARB_depth_texture, GL_ARB_fragment_program,
GL_ARB_fragment_program_shadow, GL_ARB_fragment_shader,
GL_ARB_multisample, GL_ARB_occlusion_query, GL_ARB_point_parameters,
GL_ARB_point_sprite, GL_ARB_shader_objects, GL_ARB_shading_language_100,
GL_ARB_shadow, GL_ARB_shadow_ambient, GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp,
GL_ARB_texture_compression, GL_ARB_texture_cube_map,
GL_ARB_texture_env_add, GL_ARB_texture_env_combine,
GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar, GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3,
GL_ARB_texture_float, GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat,
GL_ARB_texture_rectangle, GL_ARB_transpose_matrix, GL_ARB_vertex_blend,
GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object, GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object,
GL_ARB_vertex_program, GL_ARB_vertex_shader, GL_ARB_window_pos,
GL_ARB_draw_buffers, GL_ATI_draw_buffers, GL_ATI_element_array,
GL_ATI_envmap_bumpmap, GL_ATI_fragment_shader, GL_ATI_map_object_buffer,
GL_ATI_separate_stencil, GL_ATI_shader_texture_lod,
GL_ATI_texture_compression_3dc, GL_ATI_texture_env_combine3,
GL_ATI_texture_float, GL_ATI_texture_mirror_once,
GL_ATI_vertex_array_object, GL_ATI_vertex_attrib_array_object,
GL_ATI_vertex_streams, GL_ATIX_texture_env_combine3,
GL_ATIX_texture_env_route, GL_ATIX_vertex_shader_output_point_size,
GL_EXT_abgr, GL_EXT_bgra, GL_EXT_blend_color, GL_EXT_blend_func_separate,
GL_EXT_blend_minmax, GL_EXT_blend_subtract, GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint,
GL_EXT_draw_range_elements, GL_EXT_fog_coord, GL_EXT_framebuffer_object,
GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays, GL_EXT_packed_pixels, GL_EXT_point_parameters,
GL_EXT_rescale_normal, GL_EXT_secondary_color,
GL_EXT_separate_specular_color, GL_EXT_shadow_funcs, GL_EXT_stencil_wrap,
GL_EXT_texgen_reflection, GL_EXT_texture3D,
GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc, GL_EXT_texture_cube_map,
GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp, GL_EXT_texture_env_combine,
GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3, GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic,
GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias, GL_EXT_texture_mirror_clamp,
GL_EXT_texture_object, GL_EXT_texture_rectangle, GL_EXT_vertex_array,
GL_EXT_vertex_shader, GL_HP_occlusion_test, GL_NV_blend_square,
GL_NV_occlusion_query, GL_NV_texgen_reflection, GL_SGI_color_matrix,
GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap, GL_SGIS_texture_border_clamp,
GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp, GL_SGIS_texture_lod, GL_SUN_multi_draw_arrays

visual x bf lv rg d st colorbuffer ax dp st accumbuffer ms cav
id dep cl sp sz l ci b ro r g b a bf th cl r g b a ns b eat

Plus about 40 lines of hex and numbers..

Without the drivers installed the Divx's and Xvids play ok but with them the colours are all wrong.


The other File system drives are all NTFS so that's the problem, I've had a look around but as I'm new to it it's a bit of a learning curve before I can have a go at sorting it. It's not a big issue to be honest but I'd like to get it reading/writing NTFS partitions just for completeness.

Thanks.
 
Cheers for the replies people.

I will probably have to run a dual boot to get what I want - but then again there is probably a lot of windows stuff i need to do so i will probably end up using windows full-time defeating the point. I like the idea of using linux, it seems a lot 'better' to me, but I think for development windows is better due to the programs that are available (Photoshop etc..)

I have read (i think it's in this thread) that you don't get much of a performance increase over Windows XP in ubuntu, so is the only reason people use ubuntu because its user-friendly?
 
~I got the video problem sorted. I downloaded a .deb called envy that updates the graphics drivers automatically. After it had done its thing it was all sorted.

Now just to get the disk/ntfs thing sorted, just been distracted by compiz fusion :D
 
Havnt read the whole thread, so if any of this has been covered...

Bes said:
Why use linux?

It's MUCH faster & lighter
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On old machines yes. On anything in the last few years, about the same.

More stable
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Unless someones done a very bad job of installing windows/apps/programs i'd have to disagree.
Ive had my current XP install working for almost 2 years now without a re-install. And it still, (touch wood :p), practically bullet proof for stability and speed. I only ever get the occasional app crashing, and even then, only that app crashes. (Tbh, its mainly either Firefox or Azureus :p)

Prettier
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Thats more of a personal opinion, but the OS is there to use, not to gawp at the fancy effects imo.:p.

More customisable
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Arguable.
You can make windows do 99% of the things that Linux can do, if you know how.

Free
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Cant argue with that. :p

Far far more secure
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Half true.
I doubt Linux (or OSX) would be as secure as everyone says if it was the target of 99% of the virus writers/hackers worldwide.
And with the new way of working with Vista64, which is very Linux like to note, security has been beefed up a lot.
 
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