Linux not ready for prime time?? Let's try...

[John L]

Redjack commented elsewhere that Linux is not "quite there". While for a PVR I agree, I do think it's very possible that if given a good mature linux distro and a correct installation, to run without the "Beast of Redmond" on a home pc, for a home user, and not give up any functionality.

So, this little portable is dual boot, Windows XP MCE,and Suse 10.1 Linux. I realize I have a certain geek factor that an average home user won't quite possess, but I'm going to try an experiment...I am going to slide exclusively into Linux for my OS, and do all work from the Linux installation, until I hit something that Linux does not do, or does not do well.

In order to make me slightly more "Normal user" like, for the course of this experiment, I will work exclusively within the GUI interface and will not cop out and go into CLI mode. Having to touch CLI means the experiment is over. It's now 8:00 PM on July 7th. I'll repost back to this thread occasionally with status reports as to the great Penguin experiment of 2006

(For the record, I did this in 2002 and it lasted about a week before I was stymied by file compatibility with Excel....should be betterer now...)

[John L]

First issue...but do I blame Linux?

Checking Janis' myspace.com site, the song's won't load...XML file that drives those won't parse with the Linux flash plugin.

Given the (Frankly crap) coding of myspace, does this count as something that Linux can't do??

(note that Janis Ian.com and the JIMB works fine...)

[John L]

It WAS a myspace.com issue...as it started working with no intervention from me at all.

Hmmph

[RedjackRyan]

this should make an interesting experiment. Glad the initial hiccup was just a myspace issue. I think a big part of making Linux ready for the average user is going to be compatibility with game software. Native linux games won't do, its going to have to be able to run off the shelf Windows games as well. I havent really followed the progress of the Wine folks to see where that issue stands.. At least the GUI interface on most distros has come a long way towards usability and user friendliness. I'm really curious to see how this turns out John.

[John L]

I don't game hardly anymore (no time). But, if I WAS gaming, it would probably be good old tried and true Team Fortress Classic. I'm fairly sure that itching for a good TFC game would have me scurrying back to Windoze...because even if it DID run under WINE (Which I doubt, without checking) the lag introduced would be fatal.

I know Quake III was completely ported to Linux, but most of the big online FPS titles (my favorite genre...) are using engines not yet ported over.

[John L]

It looks like the classic "I can't game" Objection may be overcome at last, at least for me...look at http://www.transgaming.com/latest_news.php (http://www.transgaming.com/latest_news.php) for information on Cedega. Over 300 supportted games (in other words, 285 more than Macintosh) , including Doom III and Half-Life II.

/me looks outside...lawn needs mowin...

Ahh, but this isn't *Gaming*...this is RESEARCH, dammit!

[RedjackRyan]

wow, transgaming has made some leaps and bounds since i last checked on them, thanks for the link !

Research first, lawn later.. This is important work you are doing John.. Would Einstein have been distracted by a lawn that needs mowing?? I think not..

[John L]

Again, not a deal killer for me because I seldom game anymore...but original Half Life works just fine. On line games like TFC, as anticipated, have lag to the point that I would consider unplayable...but then with the caveat that I wouldn't attempt serious on-line play on this laptop in Windoze, either. Mechwarrior 4 and Hitman: Contracts work fine too. So long as the game is local, they play fine.

Other things that work just fine are Music playback (Amorak) Remote desktop and Citrix client, Image manipulation (The GIMP), and HTML editing (Quanta Plus)

[Eva]

So this is what geeks do in their spare time?

Eva

[John L]

That and tweaking the GUI to make it more 1337...

[Rkitko]

haha, "Beast of Redmond." That's one I haven't heard yet :cool: I'll have to remember that one...

[RedjackRyan]

In keeping with the Beast from Redmond comment, stolen from slashdot is this little ditty.. Maybe we can get Dee to record it?


Bud Light presents ... Real Men Of Genius.

[Real Men Of Genius.]

Today, we salute you, Mr Impatient For Windows Vista Guy.

[Mr Impatient For Windows Vista Guy.]

While others marvel at an operating system whose primary repair
tradition is a complete wipe, you just can't wait for more of the
same.

[I just love my Long Horn!]

Yes, it lacks security, efficiency, speed, heck, just about
everything. But ever since 1985, when you first jammed your floppies
into that curvaceous 186, you've been enraptured with Windows.

[It was five and a quarter inches!]

Despite the fact that it requires an array of Crays to run already
invented technologies at sub-optimum speeds, you will beat the rush
and see Notepad and Clock run in CPU-crippling GPU-hogging
translucency.

[It turns on all my pixels!]

So crack open an ice cold Bud Lite, oh Chevalier of the Control Panel,
because whilst the rest of us wonder what Vista will bring, you
already know.

[Mr Impatient For Windows Vista Guy!]

Bud Light beer. Anheuser Busch, St. Louis, Missouri.

[Cardiffgal]

This is all in english and understand very very little.

[Eva]

So how is our own geek soap doing? ;)

Eva