Thread: Want to try Linux HLP plz

I want to run a Linux machine, yet I have a few problems I think might get in the way.
1. I am a professional gamer the Linux needs to be compatible with multiple programs.
2. Light on resources, I am also in collage and need it to be able to run auto desk Maya unlimited, visual studios, 3dMAX, and other related programming and rendering software
3. Easy to customize. I am not all to in code right now and an easy interface for customizing your desktop layout. (I.e. menu looks color shape, windows, mini bars etc.)
I am not sure if ubuntu would be the one I like the looks of Susie but I can’t afford to purchase one. I also have a net work I want it to attach to with minimal work. My net work consist of
Clear wire Modem connected cat 5 E to Pf sense hardware firewall, which is connected to a Linux 5 group work switch. From there to my two main computers, I have an old dell 1.4 GHz I am making in to a NAS for storage and a few other projects I want to connect hardwired. Any ideas please for I have only messed with Ubuntu a few times, and puppy Linux is a toy I play around with every now and then.

If you can, load up an old PC with linux till you are happy with it. There are many versions (distros as they call them) and each one may have several different loads (ie for 32 bit or 64 bit, amd, intel etc processors). You can use windows software BUT it needs to be wrapped with a piece of software called WINE, which basically diverts all the windows function calls to unix, there is no cost, you can download an ISO image file which when loaded onto a cd will give you a 'live boot'
ie you can boot the PC from the CD to give you a flavour. Each distro has a forum dedicated to it, so for particular problems there's always help.

PClinuxOS (and many others) can install themselves on the same disk as your windows OS and will then set up a boot menu with a choice (you can change default time and OS valuies) - PCLinuxOs (for example will also allow you to access your windows folders from linux (the reverse is not possible, windows will only recognise other versions of windows).

The version I use recognises all the onboard hardware of my laptop and, immediately found and installed the wireless.

It's free, no license so have a bit of patience, you should find one that will work on any machine you have.

Originally Posted by thedrunk

I want to run a Linux machine, yet I have a few problems I think might get in the way.
1. I am a professional gamer the Linux needs to be compatible with multiple programs.

You'll either want to avoid Linux or be willing to play old games and Linux compatible games like Nexuiz, World of Goo, or Alien Arena. Or... you could set up a dual boot machine for those days you get the bug and want to play a Windows game.

2. Light on resources, I am also in collage and need it to be able to run auto desk Maya unlimited, visual studios, 3dMAX, and other related programming and rendering software

There are some very good Linux versions of these as well as some good ability to run some of these in Wine. I'm not really into graphics and the like, but I've run Adobe Photoshop with good success via Wine, along with some other Windows native apps that I use like Citation.

3. Easy to customize. I am not all to in code right now and an easy interface for customizing your desktop layout. (I.e. menu looks color shape, windows, mini bars etc.)
I am not sure if ubuntu would be the one I like the looks of Susie but I can’t afford to purchase one. I also have a net work I want it to attach to with minimal work.

I recommend Ubuntu. I'm using the latest version, 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope and it runs like a champ. Installed very easily and the first time I ever installed Ubuntu I went from a single Windows partition to surfing the internet in FireFox in about 20 minutes. I'm also using Cairo Dock which is fully customizable with many themes and icons.

I mostly use my Linux box as the family computer -my wife and kid even prefer it to Windows these days (less errors and crashes) where I do all my writing and research. I use Google Earth a lot as well as a GIS program called Grass. Open Office is my office software of choice and I actually like it better than the latest version of MS Office.

Best thing: all the software and the OS is free (with exception to the few Windows titles I run in Wine).

By the way, here's a screenie of my Desktop:

I am going to go with Ubuntu, I think unless there is a better version for what I want to do.
I believe the games I want to play are compatible with Linux and wine, I know there is forums for the different types of Linux, I still would rather get professional advice from the people here if that is still ok.
Skin Walker I do love your Desktop display I would really like to learn that stuff.
I have found out that for collage I have to use a windows machine. XP or Vista I asked my school tech help desk and since I’m online they do not allow Linux.
So I have a second computer I am going to dump Linux on to. Ubuntu I will start with and I have heard there is a free version of Susie out there. Not sure.

I am also wondering if Linux will be able to run as an OS on a Nortel network 1100s? If so it might be able to fix my reboot problem I am now facing.