What to do???

[Powerful Parker]

I am not sure which OS I should use. Linux is new to me but I am learning more about it in a Tech school. I have been using Windows for years, but now I just got Ubantu to try out. Is there any advantages/disadvantages to using a certain one, and/or is there one that is better for games. Please feel free to PM me or post on this thread.

**THANKS ANDREW1990** It is a P2 with a 120gb hard drive, and stock everything else! (I know this is very old and sucky but I plan to experment with it!)

 

[Andrew1990]

Hey Andrew, linux isnt really meant for gaming as it must use an emulator line Wine in order to play games that require DX. Ubuntu is a great starter to linux as it is simple to navigate. I have limited knowledge in linux but Ubuntu is my favorite.

Also, I dont know your computer specs. If it is the old one you got from school, it is probably a Pentium 3 with limited ram so linux may be better for a surfing machine than XP.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: Andrew1990
Hey Andrew, linux isnt really meant for gaming as it must use an emulator line Wine in order to play games that require DX. Ubuntu is a great starter to linux as it is simple to navigate. I have limited knowledge in linux but Ubuntu is my favorite.

Also, I dont know your computer specs. If it is the old one you got from school, it is probably a Pentium 3 with limited ram so linux may be better for a surfing machine than XP.

Wine isn't really meant for emulation since it isn't an emulator.

 

[Andrew1990]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey

Originally posted by: Andrew1990
Hey Andrew, linux isnt really meant for gaming as it must use an emulator line Wine in order to play games that require DX. Ubuntu is a great starter to linux as it is simple to navigate. I have limited knowledge in linux but Ubuntu is my favorite.

Also, I dont know your computer specs. If it is the old one you got from school, it is probably a Pentium 3 with limited ram so linux may be better for a surfing machine than XP.

Wine isn't really meant for emulation since it isn't an emulator.

Oh, well like I said I have limited knowledge, lol. It may not be an emulator but it seems like it works the same way.

 

[mc866]

I would say for a p2 to try DSL(Damn Small Linux) or Puppy Linux. Not sure Ubuntu would run well on a P2.

 

[Nothinman]

The P2 most likely won't be the problem, memory will. If you can get a decent amount of memory in the machine it'll be a bit slow with things like flash but otherwise should be fine.

Oh, well like I said I have limited knowledge, lol. It may not be an emulator but it seems like it works the same way.

It's more like virtualization software than emulation software. It loads and executes the binaries natively passing straight down what it can and translating others. For example, something that uses the Win32 CreateFile() function to open a file would be translated to the glibc open() function.

I would say for a p2 to try DSL(Damn Small Linux) or Puppy Linux. Not sure Ubuntu would run well on a P2.

Ubuntu would run just fine as long as you don't use a full Gnome desktop.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: mc866
I would say for a p2 to try DSL(Damn Small Linux) or Puppy Linux. Not sure Ubuntu would run well on a P2.

Right on!

Linux, properly configured, will run on anything - PCs, cell phones, wristwatches, whatever.

Linux isn't the problem - it's the cure!

For old/weak hardware, DSL or Puppy is the way to go! They're specifically designed for doorstops.

I'm partial to Puppy Linux. Stupid name - great distro...

Puppy Linux 4,2 would be my recommendation!

 

[Andrew1990]

Well hopefully the Athlon XP 2000+ stuff I just gave him will run better than that old P2. Thanks for the insight on Wine nothinman.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: mc866
I would say for a p2 to try DSL(Damn Small Linux) or Puppy Linux. Not sure Ubuntu would run well on a P2.

Right on!

Linux, properly configured, will run on anything - PCs, cell phones, wristwatches, whatever.

Linux isn't the problem - it's the cure!

For old/weak hardware, DSL or Puppy is the way to go! They're specifically designed for doorstops.

I'm partial to Puppy Linux. Stupid name - great distro...

Puppy Linux 4,2 would be my recommendation!

I have a computer I can't get Linux installed on. The whole thing's been a real piss off so far.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I have a computer I can't get Linux installed on. The whole thing's been a real piss off so far.

Puppy won't run on it?!?!?

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: VinDSL

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I have a computer I can't get Linux installed on. The whole thing's been a real piss off so far.

Puppy won't run on it?!?!?

Nothing I've tried will. It's a very strange problem. I think it's hardware related in some way, but I'm not sure exactly how. I don't want to get into too much detail at this point, as I still have some testing to do. the thread I started in 'nix goes over some of it. It works on my daughter's almost identical hardware, but not on mine :^/