linux os

[xddxogm3]

I want to know what I should choose for my next os.
I do not want windows, but I am afraid that my multiple diferent pcs will not be fully supported. Can anyone suggest the most powerful unix/linux os, and also provide me a way to confirm if I'm compatible. Is there a website for confirming this? I want to be able to use my current pc config, program, game, connect to the net, and basically everything I do now on my windows pc.

[ZakkWylde969]

I really REALLY love the Mandrake 9.1 It's install is really easy and in a nice easy to look at gui. Correct me if I'm wrong please, but as far as games it wont really happen. The 'nix operating systems go about things differently than the Windows. The shallowest being the extensions. The extensions aren't the same which causes problems. So pretty much Linux can't reconise games based for the Windows operating system because of many things like that. There are some exeptions on large scale games. I heard from somewhere that Starcraft (or one of those Blizzard games) was compatible with Linux.

[FillYourBrain]

I believe the problem with games stems from X being a client-server environment. Since it has to send calls through some network protocol and doesn't make direct calls it is ASS-slow.

[Jaguar]

>>I want to know what I should choose for my next os.
To learn linux one must forget the bad habit of ``point and click''. Many things on linux go with console, some GUI apps can't set much deep. You must know where the files reside and Linux has no registry. If you get familiarity with Linux, you will never go back to Windows. :)

[Brian]

Originally posted by FillYourBrain
I believe the problem with games stems from X being a client-server environment. Since it has to send calls through some network protocol and doesn't make direct calls it is ASS-slow.

Games are as fast as windows if you have things set up properly. Return to Castle Wolfenstein runs fine, and tux racer :) too. This is with a mere GeForce 2 and a Athlon 1000MHz

[xddxogm3]

does the different types of linux come on a self contained program. one that i could burn to cd for later use.
i want to be able to run it on my pc with out installing to see which one i like prior to installing.

[loopy]

Originally posted by xviddivxoggmp3
does the different types of linux come on a self contained program. one that i could burn to cd for later use.
i want to be able to run it on my pc with out installing to see which one i like prior to installing.

Do a search for Slackware Live.

Loopy

[lithium]

Originally posted by Jaguar
>>I want to know what I should choose for my next os.
To learn linux one must forget the bad habit of ``point and click''. Many things on linux go with console, some GUI apps can't set much deep. You must know where the files reside and Linux has no registry. If you get familiarity with Linux, you will never go back to Windows. :)


well said.

Originally posted by ZakkWylde969
The extensions aren't the same which causes problems

the extensions have nothing to do with the fact that linux/window cannot run windows/linux executables. the executable format is different. the linux kernel uses the ELF executable structure and windows uses PE executable format. in order to run PE executables on linux you need to run them with an emulator and vice-versa.

that blizzard game (i have no idea which one, dont play games) most likely has both types of executables (PE and ELF)

there's probably more to this that i haven't mentioned.