Ubuntu VS Windows XP (part 2)
LinuxI figured I would post a follow up on this topic since it seems to be the most common way for visitors to find my site (google searchers). At the time of my first posting on this topic , I was a big fan of Ubuntu, but maybe not quite as experienced with Linux in general as I am now. (NOTE: I am by no means an expert, but I use Ubuntu every day both for work and leisure).
Things that I just absolutely love about Ubuntu:
- Apt-get'ing software is fun, free and easy. I love knowing that almost an application I could want/need is just a nice little download away. Apt does a superb job of managing your dependencies (don't worry if you don't know what this means, just be glad you don't need to know!).
- I really like changing desktops environments. I may be on a Gnome kick for awhile, then feel the need for something a little different and log in to KDE, then maybe get a bug to go REALLY different and use Fluxbox. The separation of the OS (kernel) from the UI is a beautiful thing IMO.
- Themeability is fantastic in Gnome/KDE. There are countless ways to make your desktop YOUR desktop. www.gnome-look.org and www.kde-look.org are great places to start your customization.
- Freedom from registration keys is hard to really put into words. I can't stand the Windows registration process, or really having to pay for an OS at all. Ubuntu is amazing and it doesn't cost you a dime.
- Update Manager, if you choose to let it run, will notify you anytime there are updates for your system. Nothing crazy here except that it won't force you into updates/restarts like Windows does...man I hate that about Windows.
- The performance is notable, especially if you run on older equipment. I have blogged about the PIII 450Mhz laptop that I installed Ubuntu on, and it runs like a top.
- Gaming isn't bad at all, if you are concerned with that. I am just now realizing how many options there are for gamers who want to run Linux. I have just discovered openArena, Americas Army, Planeshift, and Nexuiz among others. There is an entire sub-forum dedicated to gaming here http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=93 .
So, in summation this isn't really an Ubuntu VS Windows XP post as much as it is a Ubuntu!!! post. I can't imagine ever switching back to a Microsoft product after the time I have spent immersed in Linux. I probably will switch back and forth between distros/desktops/etc, but that is the number one thing I love about Linux...
THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE
Jim Priest said:
Nexuiz! Nexuiz! Nexuiz! If you are an oldskool Doom fan and not that fancy Doom III! but Doom on a floppy disk - Nexuiz is a blast! I haven't had so much fun (and wasted so much time) in a long while!!
The only thing I'd add to your list is the Ubuntu community! I rarely have problems but when I do I know I can hit the forums and get some help!
The only thing I'd add to your list is the Ubuntu community! I rarely have problems but when I do I know I can hit the forums and get some help!
pan69 said:
Also keep in mind that the automatic updates not only update the OS, like Windows does, but also any application installed through Apt.
Michael Sharman said:
The support matrix just came out for CF8, unfortunately Ubuntu Server was not on the list.
I wonder if and when Adobe will support Debian?
That could be a great solution when you want your own VPS or dedicated server :)
I wonder if and when Adobe will support Debian?
That could be a great solution when you want your own VPS or dedicated server :)
Danny Burgoyne said:
I installed Puppy Linux on my 450MHz K6 a while ago, and it runs great. Unfortunately, it has a really old CD-ROM drive and can't be booted from CD :( If I could, I would have installed Ubuntu.
Oh yeah, and OpenArena and Sauerbraten are way better than Nexuiz.
Oh yeah, and OpenArena and Sauerbraten are way better than Nexuiz.
Jim Priest said:
I actually downloaded those when I grabbed Nexuiz but never got around to actually getting them running - just tried Nexuiz first :) I'll get them fired up and give them a shot as well...
Aaron Lynch said:
for you linux gamers, have you checked out linux-gamers yet?
http://live.linux-gamers.net
About live.linuX-gamers.net is a Linux live-dvd distribution: "boot 'n play"
History The project live.linuX-gamers.net was founded with the idea to present Linux games at the Linuxtag exhibition in a novel way. A collection of games should be shown to directly run from DVD without the user in need to know about Linux or care about his system. After some intense brainstorming sessions the team decided to create and publish this DVD as a live distribution project. Thus an additional and very difficult problem had to be solved: The dvd should run on every x86 PC out there.
At the very beginning the team was split up into two groups. The first group was meant to create a live-dvd based on any existing live distribution and to include games appropriate for younger players. The second group should create a live distribution from scratch, designed for high performance 3d games.
Unfortunately the first team dedicated to the family suited games failed in finding a good live distribution which could be taken to create a base system fitting our ideas. But luckily the second team was successful. They created a livedvd based on archELinux, an embedded distribution arisen of ArchLinux. The archELinux project is still undocumentated yet, but the documentation is currently done in course of a diploma thesis by one of the team members. More details about the technical part of this project will then be available on the archELinux page, please be patient.
Future On the Linuxtag exhibition it turned out, that this liveDVD is a big success and we got a lot of very possitive responses. So we are currently planning the next steps of this project. But first of all we need to do a lot of documentation, bugfixing and stuff like that. After this tasks we will release version 1.0.
For the time after 1.0 we've got a much bigger vision, where this project is going to lead to,.. so stay tuned!
One of the main goals can already be announced: "Try to take over the world" (tm) pinky and the brain ;)
http://live.linux-gamers.net
About live.linuX-gamers.net is a Linux live-dvd distribution: "boot 'n play"
History The project live.linuX-gamers.net was founded with the idea to present Linux games at the Linuxtag exhibition in a novel way. A collection of games should be shown to directly run from DVD without the user in need to know about Linux or care about his system. After some intense brainstorming sessions the team decided to create and publish this DVD as a live distribution project. Thus an additional and very difficult problem had to be solved: The dvd should run on every x86 PC out there.
At the very beginning the team was split up into two groups. The first group was meant to create a live-dvd based on any existing live distribution and to include games appropriate for younger players. The second group should create a live distribution from scratch, designed for high performance 3d games.
Unfortunately the first team dedicated to the family suited games failed in finding a good live distribution which could be taken to create a base system fitting our ideas. But luckily the second team was successful. They created a livedvd based on archELinux, an embedded distribution arisen of ArchLinux. The archELinux project is still undocumentated yet, but the documentation is currently done in course of a diploma thesis by one of the team members. More details about the technical part of this project will then be available on the archELinux page, please be patient.
Future On the Linuxtag exhibition it turned out, that this liveDVD is a big success and we got a lot of very possitive responses. So we are currently planning the next steps of this project. But first of all we need to do a lot of documentation, bugfixing and stuff like that. After this tasks we will release version 1.0.
For the time after 1.0 we've got a much bigger vision, where this project is going to lead to,.. so stay tuned!
One of the main goals can already be announced: "Try to take over the world" (tm) pinky and the brain ;)
Danny Burgoyne said:
Wow! Some really nice games on that site! I already have half of them though ;) I've been working on a Glest mod for a while, but I have'nt gotten too far, 'cause I'm still learning to use Blender.
Aaron Lynch said:
I know Jim! Have you had a chance to play OpenArena yet? Another cool game that runs on Linux is America's Army http://americasarmy.filefront.com/
Jim Priest said:
I did get OpenArena running last night. It's almost an exactly copy of Quake 3! (hence the name I guess :))
I played a LOT of Quake3 and to some extent am kind of burned out on it I think but I still want to try it online and see how it goes.
I also tried Sauerbraten - that is an awesome game engine but there were only a few servers running with anyone on them so I didn't play it much...
Over the weekend I also dug up my Quake 4 and installed that and it runs great! You have to commend id software for their Linux support...
I played a LOT of Quake3 and to some extent am kind of burned out on it I think but I still want to try it online and see how it goes.
I also tried Sauerbraten - that is an awesome game engine but there were only a few servers running with anyone on them so I didn't play it much...
Over the weekend I also dug up my Quake 4 and installed that and it runs great! You have to commend id software for their Linux support...
Danny Burgoyne said:
Id Software released the source code to most of their game engines under the GPL, so many open-source games are based on these engines. OpenArena is so similar to Quake III Arena that it can actually run Quake III mods! I got the True Combat mod running right after I got OpenArena. I've been playing America's Army on Windblows for over a year, so I like totally pwn at it :D
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