Would you consider linux if not for games?

[Maskirovka]

i always hear people saying "i'd switch to linux if it had more games"

i'm one of these people...i just wanted to see how many people would switch and how many would just stick with windows anyway.

please say why you'd stick with windows...i'd like to hear some good reasons other than games.

please don't say anything if you're just saying the same thing as you voted for...what's the point of that?

EDIT: sorry to post sort of an off topic poll...but i wanted to get the best sample, and most people look here and never look at the other forum areas.

 

[Skaven]

Windows is goofey enough to keep me happy tinkering and tweaking while still being usable all the time. I don't worry about not being able to burn a cd, play a game, or miss a deadline. A few years ago I probably would have said yes. Now I just want something that works... right away.

Macs are nice too, but there's just not enough nuts and bolts in OS X to loosen/tighten.


Geesh, i sound like some friggin' marketing maven.

 

[GhostValkyrie]

I'd switch, but I'd also want support for my VPU.

-Ghost.

 

[Montag]

If more popular software was available for linux i'd have no problem switching. The last time i installed linux it was very painless but most of the stuff i use hasn't been released for it. Driver support out to the box was very easy (Mandrake Linux). Hopefully software support in the future will be much broader but until then i'm going to upgrade to windows xp

 

[dantemannen]

Why switch? Just setup a dualboot with linux and winows.. or if u have lots of spare parts lying around, build a new computer just for experimenting with linux. I don't think I'll ever make a full switch to linux, but I have it installed on a 2nd machine.

 

[Quotidian---]

besides the fact that drivers suck/hard to get - no games(minimal) and other linux problems..... why would anyone want linux at all?

 

[Maskirovka]

because of this kind of crap:

http://www.againsttcpa.com/tcpa-faq-en.html

I'd just like an alternative besides microsoft. Mac isn't really an option...too expensive and no options for hardware.

linux is really the only other option besides windows...microsoft needs some real competition somehow...and games would be the best way to get a mass of people to switch over to something else...cut into microsoft's market share

 

[_-_-SELAS-_-_]

Originally posted by Quotidian---
besides the fact that drivers suck/hard to get - no games(minimal) and other linux problems..... why would anyone want linux at all?

Cuz it doesn't use as much of your computers power on itself, it utilized a lot less RAM and processor power than Windows, cuz its more stable, cuz its more secure, cuz some distributes havea lot of cool functions wich Windows will never have, cuz it rox, its free (and still not illegal) and maaaany more reasons I cant be assed to put down right now.
Id switch in a heartbeat but only when alot f games support it and with no/fever bugs, but yeah for most normal ppl Windows are still best =/

 

[D00M]

I'm sticking with Windows. I'm satisfied with Windows.

Plus I think that there is more software available for the Windows operating system.

 

[Maskirovka]

Originally posted by D00M
I'm sticking with Windows. I'm satisfied with Windows.

Plus I think that there is more software available for the Windows operating system.

duh...of course there's more software...i'm basically asking if you'd switch if there was more software available

 

[Incitatus]

If I could run 3dsmax and pshop (it's mainly max that difficult to get runnning) I'd switch in a hartbeat.

 

[N0N1337H41]

I voted that I would switch in a heartbeat, but what I would actually do is swith to Mac OS X, which is Unix based and will run on PC's.

 

[D00M]

Originally posted by Maskirovka
duh...of course there's more software...i'm basically asking if you'd switch if there was more software available

Well for crying out loud. There's no reason to be rude about it.

You didn't say anything about software in your post.

You said games.

When I say software, I'm talking about such things as, Norton System Works, Firewalls, and things of that nature.

I don't call games software.

I call games, games.


Oh, and by the way, if you want people to respond to your posts from now on, you might want to consider being nice to people. instead of talking down to them like you just did with me.

 

[ray_MAN]

I'd stick with Windows. But, I wouldn't mind building another machine to run Linux as dantemannen suggested.

 

[Koldfire]

I'll stick with windows. I like running Visual studio.NET and the .NET is the best programming platform available. meh hopefully they will give up on linux soon. so useless

 

[Dr. Freeman]

well u based ur poll around games only.. and while i do play games, theres stuff for work/school being done on this comp as well

so if Linux got better support for games and generally everything else (ie. more application support/compatibility) then for me it would be a no brainer, i'd be switching

 

[Maskirovka]

Originally posted by D00M
Well for crying out loud. There's no reason to be rude about it.

You didn't say anything about software in your post.

You said games.

When I say software, I'm talking about such things as, Norton System Works, Firewalls, and things of that nature.

I don't call games software.

I call games, games.


Oh, and by the way, if you want people to respond to your posts from now on, you might want to consider being nice to people. instead of talking down to them like you just did with me.

right...well sorry if you were offended or something...
i was just put off because you were stating something that's a fact as if it was your opinion...there's more software for windows because it's more popular...

the basic idea of my post was to ask what would make people switch to linux...and games seems to be a major factor.

obviously other software is important, but people don't realize that all these utilities are things that fix stupid problems with windows...if you switch to linux you don't have all these stupid problems.

norton for example:

norton anti-virus:
cleans windows viruses...

norton utilities:
detects windows problems

speed disk:
defragging doesn't necessarily improve performance...try running benchmarks before and after defrag...you won't see a difference unless your HD has seen heavy use and no defrag for a really really long time.

clean sweep:
you can take care of your own excess files or get a free program that does the same thing

norton password manager:
debatable usefulness

=======================

firewalls won't protect you from a real hacker.
hackers target windows machines because they're easier to hack in most cases...and more plentiful.

so what were those reasons for staying with windows again? manufactured by companies that write windows software.

 

[Maskirovka]

Originally posted by Dr. Freeman
well u based ur poll around games only.. and while i do play games, theres stuff for work/school being done on this comp as well

so if Linux got better support for games and generally everything else (ie. more application support/compatibility) then for me it would be a no brainer, i'd be switching

see...microsoft's monopoly works because businesses use it. therefore, universities teach and require it. therefore, it's expensive for a business to switch since they'd need to re-train their employees.

microsoft creates good standards, but then makes it nearly impossible to switch away from them because of the cost...they make it easy for game companies to create things (ala directx) but it reduces alternatives...and the opportunity to switch away from it.

===============

just about everywhere else you have alternatives...

processors:
intel + AMD

video cards:
ATI + NVIDIA

sound cards:
turtle beach
creative
more

mice:
microsoft
logitech
countless others

motherboards:
abit
asus
too many to list

but operating systems....you've basically just got microsoft, linux, and mac. of course there are others...but they're not viable solutions for the average person looking for some entertainment and schoolwork.

 

[simmo]

yup id switch...we just have to wait until "wine" (windows in linux) gets better

 

[sayam]

I have wanted to do a dual boot for a long time, i just havent had the time with school and all

 

[Maskirovka]

Originally posted by sayam
I have wanted to do a dual boot for a long time, i just havent had the time with school and all

dual boot seems pointless...except for learning purposes.
it's just not practical to be browsing the internet or whatever and say...hmm i'd like to play a game now...reboot...play...and then reboot again to do normal stuff...

why not next time you upgrade just build a computer from your old parts? then run linux on that if you want...i hate rebooting.

 

[Baal]

Personaly...I like windows. I have no trouble AT ALL anymore with my new computer, and even with my old computer I think all it needed were some more cooling and I'd be good to go..but meh.

I have linux...and I haven't used it before. I wouldn't mind installing next time I format before I install windows, just to try it.

 

[Tlaloc]

most people don't like linux and that is a Good Thing

i'd switch in heartbeat.

 

[mrchimp]

Linux is fantastic, I would switch to it if I had a version that wasn't corupted and 1 or 2 years out of date. The version of linux I have is Linux mandrake and comes with loads of free software includeing some games and lots of picture editting tools and programming tools. But it has issues, although I'm sure thats proberly due to the fact it's out of date and like I said partially corrupted.

Some games support Linux and I think all my hardware supports it as well. Apparantly UT2003 runs better on Linux than on windows but I'll believe it when i see it, the unfortunenate thing is though that UT2 may be the only game I have that runs in Linux *checks some boxes*, yes i think it is (U2 and UT may support it as well not sure). So I would still keep windows but I'm not paying for it, which is kind of ironic because I'm considering getting paying money (if it's under £30) to get linux on printed cd's or dvd if they do it and with the proper box.

 

[qckbeam]

I really want to like Linux, really. I've heard so many good things about it, and I really want an alternative to windows. But everytime I have installed Linux (three times now) I have major problems getting it to detect many NIC, so I can't get on the internet with Linux. Also, I have heard how fast it runs from many people. But when I actually had it installed on a 3.0GHz machine it ran very, very, slow. Just as slow as it had run on my old 700MHz laptop that I had had it on before (I took it of
the laptop because it wouldn't recognize my NIC). I would try to execute an application, and end up sitting there for a good three minutes waiting for it to open. It always runs very slow for me, whereas XP runs very fast. The slow speed, and lack of driver support for various NIC's are really keeping me away from Linux. I was using Redhat 8.0 all this time by the way. I still really want to use Linux, any other distros out there I should try? Redhat has left a bitter taste in my mouth.

 

[mrchimp]

well there's mandrake for a start...

 

[Ahnteis]

Linux is still much to troublesome for me.

It's like using a PC back in the windows 3.1 days -- macs were so much easier I didn't care which was better.

And yes, I have tried linux. If you want to set your box to just surf the web and check your email it's not too hard. For more advanced stuff though, it's nowhere near as simple as windows. Don't try to tell me it is, I've tried it.

 

[ComradeBadger]

What is Linux?

Sorry, but I'm just a programmer who uses MSVC++ 6.0 (will be switching up to .NET Pro soon ) and therefore another OS would be pointless, but I have a test machine (very low end) which I am considering to install Linux on... just for fun (it's a PII )

 

[qckbeam]

I've heard good things about mandrake before. How is it in terms of driver support?

 

[mrchimp]

On there website they have a hardware data-base or something like that, I personally had no trouble with any hardware drivers untill I tried to install new ones which just wouldn't install but like i said my particular copy wasn't too good.

As for people who claim Linux is more simple than windows, there lying through the back of there teeth, just looking at the directory structure will give you a heart attack.

 

[Kadayi]

The more popular software becomes the more its limitations become tested. It's naive to think that the security/virus issues that exist with windows wouldn't exist with Linux, if linux was as popular and widespread an OS.

Historically Macs have been relatively Virus free, not because they are any more secure an operating system compared to windows, but simply because they haven't been seen as a viable target because of their small market share.

 

[mrchimp]

Just saw this:

"Another key to making a distribution novice friendly is insuring that everything works out of the box, and Mandrake Linux 9.2 succeeds there. When the system was booted for the first time, we were surprised and delighted to find ATI's official FireGL driver for the Radeon 9700 video card was already installed. To the best of my knowledge the only other distribution presently including the Radeon drivers from ATI is Lindows.

Other hardware that has been problematic also was installed. Our Hewlett-Packard PSC 2210's photo card reader was automatically mounted and unmounted (with a convenient icon on the desktop) - making it as easy to access the compact flash card that we inserted as it was to access a CD. This puts Mandrake Linux further in the lead as far as Hewlett-Packard multifunction devices are concerned, since we are unaware of any other current distribution that even properly detects the PSC 2210, much less properly configures the photo card reader.

The only issue we had with the hardware was actually a non-issue - the master, speaker and PCM volume controls on the soundcard were muted. Admittedly I should have caught it, but I overlooked the PCM volume control in my haste. It would have been nice if the friendlier aumix had been preinstalled along with kmix (which gets absolutely obnoxiously large when used with a SoundBlaster Live), but if this is the worst we have to complain about, it isn't much."

 

[Thadius Dean]

i dont really know, im a mac kinda guy.

i tried linux once at my schools computer lab, it had some pretty fun games to start with. and with that, im off to play 3d pinball

 

[Caminante]

Originally posted by Maskirovka
i always hear people saying "i'd switch to linux if it had more games"

i'm one of these people...i just wanted to see how many people would switch and how many would just stick with windows anyway.

please say why you'd stick with windows...i'd like to hear some good reasons other than games.

please don't say anything if you're just saying the same thing as you voted for...what's the point of that?

EDIT: sorry to post sort of an off topic poll...but i wanted to get the best sample, and most people look here and never look at the other forum areas.

Linux sux for the average user, besides literally being a pain in the ass from the OS installation to working on it. It basically has to be told what to do most of the time. It's definably not for everyone, unless you'd have plenty of time to spare trying to figure things out.

I have a rather bad opinion about most Linux fanatics, they simply hate MS for the fact of being successful and making things easy for the average user- like most of you are. However, i don't approve 100% of some MS practices, but it sure does beat Linux.

 

[Maskirovka]

Re: Re: Would you consider linux if not for games?

Originally posted by Caminante
Linux sux for the average user, besides literally being a pain in the ass from the OS installation to working on it. It basically has to be told what to do most of the time. It's definably not for everyone, unless you'd have plenty of time to spare trying to figure things out.

I have a rather bad opinion about most Linux fanatics, they simply hate MS for the fact of being successful and making things easy for the average user- like most of you are. However, i don't approve 100% of some MS practices, but it sure does beat Linux.

you call linux installation a pain in the ass, but which version are you talking about?

i'm not a linux fanatic by any means...i just want an alternative to windows that is viable...microsoft's support of things like:

http://www.againsttcpa.com/tcpa-faq-en.html

makes me afraid. it's not the anti-piracy. it's the monopoly-reinforcing material. read #6 on that FAQ.

it reinforces microsoft's hold on the business application market by making it financially impossible to switch away from MS products. microsoft has done a lot of good things, but it's their practices that disallow competition that are suspect...

the monopoly case didn't find microsoft in trust law violation, so it feels like they think they have a green light to do more sketchy crap...so i want there to be a viable alternative....linux is the only possibility right now and it's not much of one for most people

 

[Guest]

I'm used to Windows. I know it inside out, and I'm very comfortable with it. Switching to Linux would be almost like learning everything all over again. I don't really have the time nor the enthusiasm for that. And, I don't see any real benefit in it, either.

 

[The Mullinator]

I am buying a new harddrive soon that I will install the newest Red Hat version on. That way I will have a hard drive for windows and one for Linux. I get all the benefits of Linux but keep all my compatability options open.

 

[nw909]

Linux ate my grandfather, it scares me.

Anyways, windows is enough to keep me happy, I don't run servers and I've never had problems so why change?

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Originally posted by Maskirovka
see...microsoft's monopoly works because businesses use it. therefore, universities teach and require it. therefore, it's expensive for a business to switch since they'd need to re-train their employees.

microsoft creates good standards, but then makes it nearly impossible to switch away from them because of the cost...they make it easy for game companies to create things (ala directx) but it reduces alternatives...and the opportunity to switch away from it.

i see ur point.. but i feel the creator of this poll actually wanted an honest opinion, just based on what the O/S's themselves offer and not on outside issues that might make things less appealing to use..

Originally posted by nw909
Linux ate my grandfather, it scares me.

Anyways, windows is enough to keep me happy, I don't run servers and I've never had problems so why change?

--Assumptions--
- assume any and all software companies created programs/games for Linux and it was no longer a monopoly

- assume there was a "made to install Linux easy" program of some sort (even tho there are some versions of Linux out there that are now very easy to install regardless of comp experience)

so now would u switch? i feel the the author and creator of this poll did not want to discuss too much about "cost of re-training" etc..
he just wanted a general idea of whether we would switch or not... hes welcome to correct me.. and even then, under the assumptions i have laid out, would u switch?

edit: for cost of re-training employees.. i just want to say that under my assumptions, the distinct advantages that Linux offers over Windows might just sway employers to train future employees for Linux.. which means eventually leading to some sort of competition in the business market as well as home/end users.. be it 50/50 or whatever the competition may lead to.

 

[jonbob]

I'm perfectly happy with windows, it runs everything I want out of the box - and runs it very well. I don't really trust Apple (don't ask why). XP boots a hell of a lot faster than either Mandrake 9.2 or RH9 did for me, and touch wood, I haven't had a single stop error on my current 2 year old install.