Teach me about Linux - Page 4

**birdie_in_Texas** · 05-15-2008, 03:48 PM

uh...stupid uber newb question..

What is KDE and what is GNOME, and which one do I want..?

**Superfast** · 05-15-2008, 04:06 PM

KDE and gnome are different desktops, and there are different programs on them. Jus stick with the default that your distro is using.

I'm no die-hard linux fan. And i've been trying Linux for years to try to replace windows and all it's slow crap. With ubuntu 8.04 i finally feel it's here. It just all works. My wife can use openoffice and she doesn't notice anything different. Try it!

**birdie_in_Texas** · 05-15-2008, 04:30 PM

is there a "good" reason why none of the games, like CoD4, are made to run in this Linux stuff..?

I am going to go ahead with this OpenSUSE thing, but do not know which of the "desktop" things to try first..I guess the beauty of it is, I can try them both? Right?

**Waldo_II** · 05-15-2008, 05:32 PM

The reason most major games don't run on linux is because Microsoft has it's illegal monopoly over the PC market, and because Microsoft is evil and won't let anyone else use Direct X. The biggest difference between Windows and Linux is the Kernel. The kernel is a lot like the engine in a car- it is the core of an operating system. It is how the operating system handles data and calculations. A program written for the Windows NT kernel (used in all Windows operating systems since Windows NT) and Windows libraries can not run on a Linux box (natively) because the kernel and the libraries are different.

The reason few companies make major games for Linux is because of the small user base. The cost to port a game over to Linux from Windows will rarely make money because so few people are going to buy the Linux version. One of the reasons no one uses Linux is because there are so few games for it.

There are quite a few that work, though. Doom 3, ET:QW, and Quake 3 are prime examples. iD Software ports most of it's stuff over to Linux.

And Gnome and KDE are different desktop environments. The difference is mostly cosmetic, but they do come with their own libraries, so there are KDE-only applications and Gnome applications. Most distros come with only KDE or only Gnome, but with OpenSUSE you can have both (And I think you can have both on at once. I haven't tried it though). For a beginning user switching from Windows, KDE will feel more like home.

ScratchMonkey · 05-15-2008, 06:37 PM

You have to remember that most users have never used anything but Windows, and many have never used anything but one particular version of Windows. So the term "desktop environment" is a piece of meaningless jargon.

Some explanation here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_environment

Even this is a bit technical, but there are some screenshots that may help a bit.

**El_Gringo_Grande** · 05-16-2008, 11:59 AM

Pretty neat picture showing the forks of Linux.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waldo_II

The reason most major games don't run on linux is because Microsoft has it's illegal monopoly over the PC market, and because Microsoft is evil and won't let anyone else use Direct X.

It is a legal monopoly.

And the company I work for doesn't let anybody use our libraries without paying, so we are evil?

**PanzerHans** · 05-16-2008, 01:44 PM

I can vouch for Open Suse 10.3. Works like a charm. I´m using it everyday for work.

Main obstacles(as with every desktop Linux distros) are:
1. Getting the Wireless working(I have a broadcom chip - worked out of the box)
2. Getting the video drivers to work correctly. Use the 1 click install driver for either Nvidia or ATI(if it applies). Note that almost all Intel newer chipsets are well supported. This is due to Intel supplying most of their code as source and this allows the Linux distributors to supply the correct drivers.

Caveats: 3d acceleration - might be a hassle to get up and running.

**Wimpinator** · 05-16-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

That's just it, I don't understand much of anything at that link. That link assumes a basic understanding of linux, which I do not have. The only reason I even tried Ubuntu is because I've been told that I can do everything via the GUI now. I'm most definitely NOT a command line sorta guy...

I tried copying the code from that site and pasting it into the "Terminal" application, and it looked like it was working, but then it threw all kinds of errors at me and I figured I had guessed wrong and that there's something else I should be doing.

Did you get this working yet? I have an Acer laptop running Ubuntu that has the exact same broadcom chipset.

Open System > Administration > Restricted drivers manager. The firmware for the Broadcom should show up under "Firmware". Click the "Enabled" box and hit close. You probably need to restart X (ctrl + alt + backspace) or the entire machine.

**MagnaCentipede** · 05-16-2008, 04:04 PM

Waldo:

I used to be in support of SuSE, but then Novell got in bed with Balmer. Seeing your comments toward Microsoft in these posts, what have you do say about that development?

**CingularDuality** · 05-16-2008, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wimpinator

Did you get this working yet? I have an Acer laptop running Ubuntu that has the exact same broadcom chipset.

Open System > Administration > Restricted drivers manager. The firmware for the Broadcom should show up under "Firmware". Click the "Enabled" box and hit close. You probably need to restart X (ctrl + alt + backspace) or the entire machine.

Oh, I tried that several times and it told me that the Broadcom chip requires proprietary firmware that can't be included in the Ubuntu distro and that I must get from a legit site...

**Waldo_II** · 05-17-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnaCentipede

Waldo:

I used to be in support of SuSE, but then Novell got in bed with Balmer. Seeing your comments toward Microsoft in these posts, what have you do say about that development?

I haven't really heard much about a partnership between Novell and Microsoft, so I can't really say. It doesn't surprise me, though. Novell is actually a large company (unlike communities behind other distros like Ubuntu), so they have to find ways to make money to say alive and to please the shareholders. A partnership between the biggest Linux company out there and Microsoft just seems inevitable.

But, I think this will affect SLED users more than OpenSUSE users. SLED is, I believe, completely run by Novell, whereas OpenSUSE has both a community and Novell. The community will probably keep Novell from putting anything evil in their distro.

**MagnaCentipede** · 05-17-2008, 02:49 PM

You might read-up on the topic. The super-short version is Microsoft picked up the bullhorn and announced "Someday we might start lodging software patent infringement lawsuits at will, hint hint. Who wants to hop in bed with us?" Suddenly Novell and Microsoft are announcing a wonderful business partnership. I think Lindows jumped in, too. This raised drama because willful submission to an MS threat implies fear that they could be defeated if MS decided to file shot-gun infringement charges.

ScratchMonkey · 05-17-2008, 04:22 PM

I started a separate thread for the firmware issue:

http://www.tacticalgamer.com/hardwar...ntu-linux.html

**Lorax74** · 05-20-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

Oh, heck. I've never paid any attention to that.

It's a Compaq Presario v6110US

I looked around a bit and didn't find much specific to this model. I'm not an avid Linux user, or even BSD user, these days and understanding what I did find was trying at best. I would suggest trying another distro (short for linux distrobution, or flavor of linux) and see if it finds your card. Try live cds...

**Bamboo** · 05-20-2008, 07:40 PM

Couple of recent links I think fit in this thread well:

Fedora 9 Puts Your Desktop on a USB Drive

Run the Ultimate Boot CD from Your Thumb Drive

Flipping the Linux switch: Switching, literally, with Ulteo Virtual Desktop

Splashtop Linux interface coming soon to every Asus motherboard

05-15-2008, 03:48 PM	#46 (permalink)
birdie_in_Texas Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: TEXAS..! Age: 38 Posts: 1,515	Re: Teach me about Linux uh...stupid uber newb question.. What is KDE and what is GNOME, and which one do I want..? __________________ \|TG-13th\|Birdie IKARIAM INFO: 2 TOWNS IN 2 WORLDS WITH 4 COLONIES AND 1 BIRDIE TO RULE THEM ALL. Call of Duty - Official Rules, Announcements & SOPs Contact a CoD Admin Here

05-15-2008, 04:06 PM	#47 (permalink)
Superfast Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Norway Age: 32 Posts: 1,650	Re: Teach me about Linux KDE and gnome are different desktops, and there are different programs on them. Jus stick with the default that your distro is using. I'm no die-hard linux fan. And i've been trying Linux for years to try to replace windows and all it's slow crap. With ubuntu 8.04 i finally feel it's here. It just all works. My wife can use openoffice and she doesn't notice anything different. Try it! __________________ TG-E1st TacticalGamer European Division \| Team up with us today! xfire: superfastkill steam: Superfast

05-15-2008, 04:30 PM	#48 (permalink)
birdie_in_Texas Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: TEXAS..! Age: 38 Posts: 1,515	Re: Teach me about Linux is there a "good" reason why none of the games, like CoD4, are made to run in this Linux stuff..? I am going to go ahead with this OpenSUSE thing, but do not know which of the "desktop" things to try first..I guess the beauty of it is, I can try them both? Right? __________________ \|TG-13th\|Birdie IKARIAM INFO: 2 TOWNS IN 2 WORLDS WITH 4 COLONIES AND 1 BIRDIE TO RULE THEM ALL. Call of Duty - Official Rules, Announcements & SOPs Contact a CoD Admin Here

05-15-2008, 05:32 PM	#49 (permalink)
Waldo_II Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: /bin/sh Posts: 76	Re: Teach me about Linux The reason most major games don't run on linux is because Microsoft has it's illegal monopoly over the PC market, and because Microsoft is evil and won't let anyone else use Direct X. The biggest difference between Windows and Linux is the Kernel. The kernel is a lot like the engine in a car- it is the core of an operating system. It is how the operating system handles data and calculations. A program written for the Windows NT kernel (used in all Windows operating systems since Windows NT) and Windows libraries can not run on a Linux box (natively) because the kernel and the libraries are different. The reason few companies make major games for Linux is because of the small user base. The cost to port a game over to Linux from Windows will rarely make money because so few people are going to buy the Linux version. One of the reasons no one uses Linux is because there are so few games for it. There are quite a few that work, though. Doom 3, ET:QW, and Quake 3 are prime examples. iD Software ports most of it's stuff over to Linux. And Gnome and KDE are different desktop environments. The difference is mostly cosmetic, but they do come with their own libraries, so there are KDE-only applications and Gnome applications. Most distros come with only KDE or only Gnome, but with OpenSUSE you can have both (And I think you can have both on at once. I haven't tried it though). For a beginning user switching from Windows, KDE will feel more like home. __________________ \|TG-XV\|Waldo_II Violence doesn't solve anything. Exceptions for: Slavery, dictatorship, communism, genocide, oppression, evil/racist/hateful regimes bent on world domination... Florida is pretty sweet.

05-15-2008, 06:37 PM	#50 (permalink)
ScratchMonkey Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Pablo, California Posts: 3,349	Re: Teach me about Linux You have to remember that most users have never used anything but Windows, and many have never used anything but one particular version of Windows. So the term "desktop environment" is a piece of meaningless jargon. Some explanation here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_environment Even this is a bit technical, but there are some screenshots that may help a bit. __________________ Sig

05-16-2008, 01:44 PM	#52 (permalink)
PanzerHans Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: By the PC Age: 35 Posts: 2,198	I can vouch for Open Suse 10.3. Works like a charm. I´m using it everyday for work. Main obstacles(as with every desktop Linux distros) are: 1. Getting the Wireless working(I have a broadcom chip - worked out of the box) 2. Getting the video drivers to work correctly. Use the 1 click install driver for either Nvidia or ATI(if it applies). Note that almost all Intel newer chipsets are well supported. This is due to Intel supplying most of their code as source and this allows the Linux distributors to supply the correct drivers. Caveats: 3d acceleration - might be a hassle to get up and running.

05-16-2008, 04:04 PM	#54 (permalink)
MagnaCentipede Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,551	Re: Teach me about Linux Waldo: I used to be in support of SuSE, but then Novell got in bed with Balmer. Seeing your comments toward Microsoft in these posts, what have you do say about that development? __________________

05-17-2008, 02:49 PM	#57 (permalink)
MagnaCentipede Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,551	Re: Teach me about Linux You might read-up on the topic. The super-short version is Microsoft picked up the bullhorn and announced "Someday we might start lodging software patent infringement lawsuits at will, hint hint. Who wants to hop in bed with us?" Suddenly Novell and Microsoft are announcing a wonderful business partnership. I think Lindows jumped in, too. This raised drama because willful submission to an MS threat implies fear that they could be defeated if MS decided to file shot-gun infringement charges. __________________

05-17-2008, 04:22 PM	#58 (permalink)
ScratchMonkey Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Pablo, California Posts: 3,349	Re: Teach me about Linux I started a separate thread for the firmware issue: http://www.tacticalgamer.com/hardwar...ntu-linux.html __________________ Sig

05-20-2008, 07:40 PM	#60 (permalink)
Bamboo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Inside the D.C. beltway Posts: 1,734	Re: Teach me about Linux Couple of recent links I think fit in this thread well: Fedora 9 Puts Your Desktop on a USB Drive Run the Ultimate Boot CD from Your Thumb Drive Flipping the Linux switch: Switching, literally, with Ulteo Virtual Desktop Splashtop Linux interface coming soon to every Asus motherboard __________________ LINKS 10th Tactical Guard Server Rules and SOP * Kicked? Banned? READ THIS FIRST!* Contact an Admin * Nominate your teammates for a ribbon Stoop and you'll be stepped on; stand tall and you'll be shot at. -Carlos A. Urbizo-

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