Stupid Questions

[Wolfie]

I'm a complete novice when it comes to any OS that isn't Micro$oft. So please excuse me if these questions are idiotic...

I'm considering exploring the universe that is Linux based, but have a few questions about its compatibility with existing software...

I understand there are 'alternatives' to business software (Office, Browsers etc) that work as intended and make the cross-over relatively painless, but what about other software?

Are there up to date drivers available for these platforms? (GFX, Sound, Monitor etc)

Do 'normal' games work on these OS's with little or no difficulty? (Specifically Everquest2)

What kind of pitfalls/issues do i need to be aware of?

I would consider installing a duel boot with a Linux based OS alongside my WinXp install, is this easy to set up? Any information, links or suggestions would be appreciated.

[Tywais]

Hi Wolfie.

To get familiar with the 'new' enviornment you can download a "Live CD" such as Ubuntu and boot directly off of it without effecting your current OS. Then later you can create a bootable (dual) partition when you are more comfortable. Astral just did a thread outlining the dual boot procedures.

OpenOffice is the Linux version of MS Office and is very closely compatible. However if you wish to run native mode (windows) software then you can use a package called Wine (free) or Crossover ($39.95). You can look at the Crossover website to see compatibilties with Windows products. Codeweaver Many games will play under the Wine/Crossover enviornment.

Ubuntu does a good job of finding your hardware and shouldn't have problems unless it is some esoteric device.

I'm currently setting up a system for one of our researchers. It will use an external USB drive and installing SUSE 10.1 - same can be done with Ubuntu, if your mainboard supports USB boot device. Will then install Wine and see how it behaves and Crossover (trial version) to see how it handles windows applications.

Astral's thread: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=85283

[autonomous_unit]

Rather than dual boot, a great way to get exposed these days would be to get one of the free virtualization packages like vmware virtual server and run one OS as a guest of the other. I suggest running windows as a guest but I am biased. I think it needs to be quarantined.

The driver issue is more complex. For hardware that is supported, it is often supported as well or better in Linux than in Windows, meaning it works out of the box and usually without trouble. What is not common is the idea that you get random hardware and get a driver from the hardware vendor. As a long time Linux user, I caution against ever using hardware where the only driver comes from the vendor. If it is not supported by the kernel, you don't really want the pain of using it. This means it is best to do some research of chipsets and what not before trying to buy new hardware, and possibly using a LiveCD as suggested above to test out existing hardware. The most difficult problem here is that some vendors are very undisciplined about changing hardware implementation without changing the visible markings on packaging, so it can sometimes be a nasty surprise to buy some "supported" hardware and find out it is no longer supported because it isn't the same Zipwell Industries Floobuzzle that someone else had great success using last quarter... the only out-of-kernel driver I use these days is a driver for the Atheros 802.11a/b/g card built into my laptop.

Games can be tricky. Some games have native Linux ports, and some can run under the windows emulation layers (or in a windows virtual machine). Things that are pushing the modern 3D graphics envelope will not run well under emulation in many cases. But I am not a gamer, so don't take my word for it. Ask google about the specific game and Linux.

I think the best way to experience Linux is as a purist: don't try to run commercial software on it. Try out the open source alternatives, and keep a windows machine (real or virtual) around to do those other things if and until you become a convert. Try out the new/different ways without betting the farm on it. It is hard to give it a fair shake when you are in a panic to recover some existing work method from your past, instead of having a relaxed experiment without dire consequences.

I've been using Linux since 1992, and one of the only recent times I felt the need to boot a windows virtual machine was to get an exact printout of a Thai Immigration Bureau document in MS Word format. The manual spacing they did just didn't come out right under OpenOffice. If they would have published PDF, I would have had no problem.