Questions about Linux

[darkcyber]

I would consider switching to Linux if there was a version I could run my Windows based programs and games in. I know absolutely zero...nothing about Linux.

So, my questions are...is there a version of Linux that will run Windows apps and games?

And secondly, which version is it...if there is one?

Thanks!

 

[MrChad]

I'll let the *nix experts chime in, but there is some software available for Linux called WINE that implements Windows system calls and allows you to run many (but not all) Windows titles within Linux.

There are ways of running some Windows-only games within Linux, but for PC gaming, Windows is really the best option.

 

[drag]

Cedega is a program you can buy that is specificly designed to support Windows video games in Linux.

Some games work well, others don't. They have a game database that has user rankings on how well stuff works. (unless it's 4 or 5 stars then usually it's not that good)

 

[postmortemIA]

not worth switching, but you always can do a dual-boot.

 

[Nothinman]

if there was a version I could run my Windows based programs and games in.

If you go in with the hopes of running all of your Windows apps and games you're just setting yourself up for huge disappointment and a lot of work for no gains. If you really want to use Linux then find native Linux apps to replace your Windows apps. Games are a little trickier since you can't really just replace them, but if gaming is a secondary or tertiary concern of yours then WINE/Cedega might work out.

And secondly, which version is it...if there is one?

You can install WINE/Cedega in any of them, but as I said it's essentially a second class citizen and likely won't do everything you want.

not worth switching, but you always can do a dual-boot.

Sure it's worth it, if you're not wasting all of your time on the computer gaming.

 

[postmortemIA]

Haha perhaps I should become 1st Linux .NET developer? Visual Studio, Office, ganes, plenty of reasons to have at least partition with Windows.

 

[kamper]

Originally posted by: postmortemIA
Haha perhaps I should become 1st Linux .NET developer?

Too late, there's already lots of those.

 

[postmortemIA]

Yeah, there is mono. But we all know copy is never as good as original.

 

[Nothinman]

Haha perhaps I should become 1st Linux .NET developer? Visual Studio, Office, ganes, plenty of reasons to have at least partition with Windows.

The first? I'd venture a guess that Novell would demand a recount on that one. And personally I have no need for VS, Office or 'ganes' so I guess I don't need Windows.

Yeah, there is mono. But we all know copy is never as good as original.

Really? All of my copies are digital so they come out exactly the same, must be something in Windows degrading your files. =)

 

[drag]

The funny thing is that there is more C# code on my desktop then there is going to be on Vista's... Kinda funny how that works out.

 

[postmortemIA]

I like Linux, but I can't use it for everything, not that I would mind if it was better for every scenario, but it is not for me. Yes, most of today's MS apps don't require .NET framework. And some Novell's SUSE apps use mono.

 

[drag]

Well all it is is that Mono isn't a copy of .NET. It's a independant implimentation of C# and of course it shares a lot of features, but it has all it's own system bindings and all that. There is some attempt at copying winforms and such to get binary compatability, but people don't use that for normal stuff.

As far as Linux replacing Windows goes there is less and less reasons to stick with windows-because-you-have-to every year. Novell and Microsoft are working on file format compatability with Org (in exchange for supporting Windows on Xen/Linux and patents). Ecplispe is well on it's way to displacing VS as 'the' enterprise IDE. So on and so forth.

Most of the new features in Vista already exist in Linux, more or less. Desktop search, integrated with email, browser history, im conversations, etc. Email client on your desktop that can tie into all sorts of different groupware stuff, including exchange. With calendering even, which is a new feature for Vista's default email client. You can mount 'virtual folders' based on beagle search results. 3D compositing desktops. Even those little gadget things you can put in the side bar have existed for a long time in Linux as 'applets'. Vector-based graphics. Userland drivers for video cards (and USB devices). Hell, even trusted platform module support...

So, of course, Vista's stuff is going to be more 'complete', well tested, and smooth at that sort of stuff then Linux is right now. But considuring this is a bunch of semi-anonymous people working independantly all over the world on the internet vs one the largest and most wealthy corporations in the world's flagship product.

Vista is the absolutely best they can do. The pinnacle of decades worth of software development and the result worth of billions of dollars spent... and it's not much better at all.

Of course MS Office is still a lot nicer the Org.


Now if you don't want to use Linux or don't like it or can't use it and like it or whatever.. that's fine. It's your choice. I don't have any problem with it what-so-ever. Understand completely and 150%

 

[darkcyber]

Originally posted by: drag
Cedega is a program you can buy that is specificly designed to support Windows video games in Linux.

Some games work well, others don't. They have a game database that has user rankings on how well stuff works. (unless it's 4 or 5 stars then usually it's not that good)

Ok, so where can one find this database you speak of?

What about Fedora or Linspire...are those good versions? Also, some had told me that CodeWeaver Cross Over Linux would run just about any Windows app or games. What about linux gurus?

I'm just really debating on whether to move up to Vista or just switch to Linux. I'm just tired of the Micro-Crap OS's. To many bugs...to many holes...etc. Fresh installs are always fast, but then as you install anything they come to a sluggish grind.

But I do play several games and run several Windows apps...just trying to figure which to do here.

Also, is there a 64 bit version of linux and will (or does linux) have anything like Direct X 10?

 

[Nothinman]

Also, some had told me that CodeWeaver Cross Over Linux would run just about any Windows app or games. What about linux gurus?

CrossOver is just another port of WINE, it's commercially supported for Office, IE and a few other things but I doubt you'll have any better luck with games than you would with base WINE.

But I do play several games and run several Windows apps...just trying to figure which to do here.

Step 1: figure out what Linux apps replace those Windows apps.

Also, is there a 64 bit version of linux and will (or does linux) have anything like Direct X 10?

Linux has been 64-bit for a very long time and yes there is an AMD64 port. The only DirectX support is via things like WINE since it's a Windows-only library. Most Linux games use SDL which in turn uses OpenGL for graphics, OpenAL for sound, etc. SDL is sort of like DirectX except that it runs on other OSes (including Windows) and I don't think it's quite on par feature-wise yet.

 

[darkcyber]

Nothinman,

Thanks for the information. So, then basically if you switch from Windows to Linux, then you're going to have to find a linux apps that replaces your Windows apps. So, running Windows apps isn't always an option in linux?

 

[Nothinman]

Thanks for the information. So, then basically if you switch from Windows to Linux, then you're going to have to find a linux apps that replaces your Windows apps. So, running Windows apps isn't always an option in linux?

It's never a great idea, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. You'll have a much easier time if you just use Linux apps. Go look at the AppDB on http://www.winehq.com/ if you want, but I really recommend looking for alternative programs first, a lot of the Linux apps are just as good or better if you take the time to adjust to them.

 

[drag]

You can find the games database at:
http://transgaming.org/gamesdb/

Generally speaking 4 or 5 stars means 'playable'. 3 is usually not worth your time unless you realy realy need the game to work. Anything less then that is worthless.

For instance battlefront:
http://transgaming.org/gamesdb/games/alphabrowse.mhtml?letter=B

Most of the BF games are playable. BF2 looks to have some difficulty with some versions of Cedega, but with Cedega's GUI frontend you can easily manage multiple versions of the actual 'cedega' stuff to pick out which works best for which game.

However the add-on packs usually don't work well at all.

 

[darkcyber]

Well, I guess I will have to stick to windows. I have to many apps and games I need to use.

Just have to put up with the security holes, lockups and all the other slow down crap...etc.

 

[Nothinman]

Just have to put up with the security holes, lockups and all the other slow down crap...etc.

In most cases common sense will take care of the last two and security holes exist everywhere, the real test is how quickly they're fixed and you install the patches.

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: darkcyber
I would consider switching to Linux if there was a version I could run my Windows based programs and games in. I know absolutely zero...nothing about Linux.

So, my questions are...is there a version of Linux that will run Windows apps and games?

And secondly, which version is it...if there is one?

Thanks!

This information is listed in the Linux sticky post.

Here is a comparison of Windows programs with their equal counterparts for Linux to help you with your transition.

Alternatives to Windows software
Equivalent Windows applications
Linux software equivalent to Windows software

darkcyber please pay attention to the forum.

ALOHA