Fri, 24 May 2013 12:16:33 -0700 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.1.4 & Feed Publisher http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4140#Comment_4140 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4140#Comment_4140 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:14:26 -0800 Elohim
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I suspect I'll have a massive reduction in the games I'll be able to play, but apart from that?

Much appreciated. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4148#Comment_4148 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4148#Comment_4148 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:30:04 -0800 bschory
Those games you can play on windows could be played through an emulator on linux, or you could always dual boot. You'll get some reduction in performance, but it should still be workable. I personally dual boot Ubuntu and Windows 2003 Server on my PC. From a personal perspective, other than games and the Adobe Creative Suite, I have no reason to ever run Widows over Linux. Professionally I develop code in C#, and it ties in to MS SQL, so I need Visual Studio and SQL Server.

The other nice thing about Ubuntu are the Kubuntu and Xubuntu side projects, so you can play with KDE and xfce, or switch to them permanently. I favor Gnome currently, so Ubuntu itself is just fine for me, but KDE has its strong points as well.

If this post ends up inadvertently turning this discussion in to a KDE versus Gnome debate, I apologize in advance. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4153#Comment_4153 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4153#Comment_4153 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:34:13 -0800 Doctor Pockets http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4154#Comment_4154 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4154#Comment_4154 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:35:56 -0800 lazarus corporation
Advice:
download a copy of Ubuntu (or request a copy to be sent to you) and run it as a live CD first (boot from the CD without installing it). This is a great way to test that all your hardware works with Ubuntu without altering your current Windows XP installation. Have a play using the live CD and get a feel for it. When you've got a few hours spare, back-up all your user files (I burnt mine onto CD), insert your Ubuntu disk, do a clean install and say goodbye to Windows.

Kubuntu has been great for me - it's plug and play. I plugged my digital camera in and Kubuntu immediately detected it and gave me access to the pics. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4157#Comment_4157 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4157#Comment_4157 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:37:27 -0800 Telecart
Then go out and buy a macbook, cuz srsly, it's awesome. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4159#Comment_4159 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4159#Comment_4159 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:47:43 -0800 Elohim
btw, @ Lazarus corporation - is there any way by which to test Unbuntu without using a CD? Just to see if game CDs work with it. Also, how could I nab an emulator? ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4163#Comment_4163 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4163#Comment_4163 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:54:15 -0800 Nil
Not sure if that's any help, but meh. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4168#Comment_4168 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4168#Comment_4168 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:59:40 -0800 lazarus corporation
I've got Wine installed to run a couple of bits of software I use which are only available for Windows. It's fine for me. YMMV - I'm sure other posters will have opinions. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4196#Comment_4196 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4196#Comment_4196 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 15:48:57 -0800 ken
Definitely try Ubuntu out with the live CD (they make it really easy to do that) before installing it. And I agree with lazarus about Kubuntu being the Ubuntu of choice, but that's very much a matter of opinion. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4271#Comment_4271 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4271#Comment_4271 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:56:48 -0800 Sarpedon http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4280#Comment_4280 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4280#Comment_4280 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:11:41 -0800 WilliamDanger So fuck it, I'm on Linux.

I was able to make Steam work using WINE as well, so I can still play Portal and Team Fortress 2.
Next step is to try install the Adobe CS2 suite. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4283#Comment_4283 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4283#Comment_4283 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:20:26 -0800 Mark W here, and use the website Easy VMX to create the virtual machine file you need. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4412#Comment_4412 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4412#Comment_4412 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:25:10 -0800 Elohim And for "research" purposes, of course...
I think Wine might be the answer. I checked out a guy who lives a few floors above me, and Ubuntu seemed rather swish on his. I may pick up some programming know-how over the Christmas break. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4424#Comment_4424 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4424#Comment_4424 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:51:08 -0800 munin218
Windows is teh eeeeebilll........ ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4567#Comment_4567 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=4567#Comment_4567 Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:28:28 -0800 kperkins I've been using a System76 laptop, preinstalled with Ubuntu, for about 4 months now, and everything works great, including wireless networking (there is a problem with the card reader, but it is pretty much usable now).
Games are probably what would keep you from using Linux (I'm not a big gamer, so no big deal for me), since there are very few FPSs, etc. made for it, but there are some, and all sorts of other games included in the distro ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5201#Comment_5201 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5201#Comment_5201 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:17:06 -0800 Gnosus ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5211#Comment_5211 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5211#Comment_5211 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:38:32 -0800 Elohim Like it. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5216#Comment_5216 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5216#Comment_5216 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:49:42 -0800 Gnosus http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5236#Comment_5236 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5236#Comment_5236 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:36:43 -0800 daiosho Just say no to package management.
It'll take you a couple of months longer to become properly proficient, but you'll end up on a first name basis with your computer.
I started using it in 1996 and it has hardly changed at all (this is intended as a positive point).
It'll seem a little daunting at first, but when you've got slackware down, you'll have linux, and for the most part unix down. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5476#Comment_5476 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5476#Comment_5476 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:21:33 -0800 Vespers
Slackware is what I intend for my third OS. Currently running Debian, but once I get another box and have both Debian working for an everyday box and windows running for gaming, then I'll get another drive for that box and start setting up slackware. It's not something you really wanna do on your only computer for the first time. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5489#Comment_5489 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5489#Comment_5489 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:36:18 -0800 hmobius
Has Linux changed that much? Is it worth the pain? I hear great things about Ubuntu but what's the selling point? Why not use FreeBSD or OpenBSD even for that matter? I really liked BeOS when it was around and was sad when it died. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5525#Comment_5525 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5525#Comment_5525 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:26:14 -0800 Elohim
Hmph. Anyway, let the battle commence... ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5537#Comment_5537 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5537#Comment_5537 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:53:12 -0800 StefanJ
Support is still mostly via discussion boards. I saw a few newbie brush-offs, but mostly of people who didn't try searching for an answer first. If you start your question "I tried X based on what I read on thread Y, but I still have a problem," people will respect that you did your homework.

Mind you, I use XP on my "main" productivity and fun machine. I think XP is pretty good. Vista . . . Vista could suck a honeydew melon through a garden hose. My laptop came with Vista and I have half a mind to put Ubuntu on it.

My Fedora box is what a friend calls a "TiFaux" system . . . a MythTV television PVR. It's great! I think I used my VCR for recording once this year. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5558#Comment_5558 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=5558#Comment_5558 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:25:11 -0800 Kostika
Linux does have its benefits though. It certainly doesn't need a lot of the power to run wonderfully unlike Windows. It is a good OS. I agree that everyone should give it a go if they can. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6332#Comment_6332 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6332#Comment_6332 Sat, 08 Dec 2007 12:49:58 -0800 Elohim http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6469#Comment_6469 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6469#Comment_6469 Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:01:32 -0800 Josh T. http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6837#Comment_6837 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6837#Comment_6837 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 15:28:56 -0800 Elohim
@ Josh T. - How are you liking it so far? ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6878#Comment_6878 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6878#Comment_6878 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:59:19 -0800 hank http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6913#Comment_6913 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6913#Comment_6913 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:11:59 -0800 iangil
Ubuntu nearly completely converted me when I first installed it—it's the easiest and simplest OS to install ever. But the thing that ensured that I would never go back to Windows was Amarok. I was feeling extreme frustration at the sparse functionality, intentional incompatability, and unseemly bloat that is iTunes, and I don't care what you say about WinAmp or Foobar2000, they're (nearly) just as shit. Amarok is hands-down the best music program I've ever used. It has every feature that I've always wished those other programs had.

Also, the Ubuntu forums is a wonderfully helpful—and free—resource that has consistently provided solutions to every problem I've encountered in Ubuntu.

The thing I love most about Linux is that if there's some feature that you wish it had, either:
a. it's there, and you just haven't found it yet, or
b. some nerd thought the same thing, built the feature, and it's available free online.

That said, the switch can be tough, and the new interface can get some getting used to. Some computer know-how (or willingness to learn) is really helpful, even with Ubuntu. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6988#Comment_6988 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=6988#Comment_6988 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:46:18 -0800 rfrancis
I run Windows XP on my desktop and my laptop.

Linux is swell, but seriously, right tool for the right job. Firefox's Linux port is bloody slow and always has been, sadly. OpenOffice is all right, I suppose, although there again I find it to be a pig. I wish X-windows had been taken out and killed years ago and replaced with something sensible. And yeah, I do my share of PC gaming, so that matters, too.

I dunno. I've tried it and don't care for it to this day. Tried it on my daughter's machine and gave up there, too. Mind you, I've always got a Linux server running in my house and it's crucial to my day to day. But not as my interface, no. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=7066#Comment_7066 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=7066#Comment_7066 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:32:35 -0800 bpepple developer for Fedora, but for most users, Linux has gotten to a point where almost anyone can use it without problems. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=7072#Comment_7072 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=7072#Comment_7072 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:11:53 -0800 hmobius http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=7091#Comment_7091 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=7091#Comment_7091 Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:58:55 -0800 bpepple Fedora on MS Virtual PC ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8015#Comment_8015 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8015#Comment_8015 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:58:58 -0800 hmobius http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8020#Comment_8020 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8020#Comment_8020 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:10:39 -0800 Unsub I was able to do 90% of the stuff I use a computer for like forums etc. Even sites with lots of pics came up way faster.
I use a lot of freeware on my XP system but I think for most people who just want to experience what linux is like an older PC with a smaller distro like DSL(damn small linux or puppy is a great way to go. It will also give you a very secure place to put all that boring spreadsheet stuff away from all your porn/games etc. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8062#Comment_8062 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8062#Comment_8062 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:56:23 -0800 rfrancis http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8097#Comment_8097 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8097#Comment_8097 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 04:44:24 -0800 eggzoomin
Unless you need any sort of specialised hardware support, or rely on Windows software. For musicians, Linux is less than useless. No Pro Tools, no Nuendo, no Cubase, no Logic, no Sonar and no plugins of any note. No support for proper soundcards - I don't mean anything manufactured by Creative, I mean professional multichannel interfaces. I'm well aware of Audacity, but to be honest, I've tried the 'doze version and it's nowhere near as good as the commercial packages. XP for me, then - it's fair to say that, at the moment, Vista is similarly useless. I've not looked into the subject in depth, as video editing is not my thing, but I suspect the same things are true for those who want to hack up great lumps of vids using specialised kit.

Also worth noting is that I installed SUSE 10.1 on its release and it wouldn't recognise my graphics card, a Radeon 9700, no matter how I twisted and turned. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8103#Comment_8103 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8103#Comment_8103 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 06:05:42 -0800 Doc Ocassi ALSA soundcard matrix you will see plenty of multichannel devices listed, you will have the same setup problems and learning curve with any linux install. You have distros built for sound, like Studi64 which is already at Version 2.0. The software you can get for linux is not as bad as you say, for example Jack is a great tool, you have to watch your hardware when building a multimedia box, but that is no different than any OS. Ardour, RoseGarden and Hydrogen are professional level tools, of course you only get what you pay for, but if you aren't willing to pirate very expensive software, these are all freely available. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8105#Comment_8105 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8105#Comment_8105 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 06:41:05 -0800 eggzoomin http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8126#Comment_8126 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8126#Comment_8126 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 09:59:59 -0800 Elohim http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8144#Comment_8144 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8144#Comment_8144 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 11:42:34 -0800 Doc Ocassi http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8164#Comment_8164 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8164#Comment_8164 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:39:20 -0800 Elohim
I do both :p ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8174#Comment_8174 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8174#Comment_8174 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:14:01 -0800 Doc Ocassi
I presume it's going well for you, which distro did you go for? ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8196#Comment_8196 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8196#Comment_8196 Sat, 15 Dec 2007 17:39:32 -0800 Josh T. http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8548#Comment_8548 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8548#Comment_8548 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:51:22 -0800 Elohim I love the list of applications ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8587#Comment_8587 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8587#Comment_8587 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:17:31 -0800 Josh T. http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8597#Comment_8597 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8597#Comment_8597 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:22:51 -0800 Dirk Deppey
Ubuntu's free, all the software is free, it does everything I need it to do, and generally kicks ass. What more do you want? ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8676#Comment_8676 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8676#Comment_8676 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:45:52 -0800 lazarus corporation
@ Josh T. - How to use Amarok to manage your iPod in Ubuntu ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8716#Comment_8716 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8716#Comment_8716 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:05:51 -0800 Josh T. http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8754#Comment_8754 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8754#Comment_8754 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:01:40 -0800 lofidelity
Linky here ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8779#Comment_8779 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8779#Comment_8779 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:28:14 -0800 jcfiala http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8790#Comment_8790 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8790#Comment_8790 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:16:30 -0800 hmobius http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8880#Comment_8880 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8880#Comment_8880 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:34:03 -0800 stevel
We just released 0.4rc1 last night. We're hoping to make 0.4 final by the New Year. On Windows/Mac, we already use VLC for our media core playback. On Linux we use GStreamer for all the media decoding. Is there something specific you think VLC would provide us on Linux that GStreamer doesn't?

cheers, and thanks for the comments. ]]> http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8889#Comment_8889 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8889#Comment_8889 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:30:13 -0800 hmobius http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8920#Comment_8920 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8920#Comment_8920 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:24:35 -0800 stevel http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8959#Comment_8959 http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=145&Focus=8959#Comment_8959 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:15:53 -0800 jwelcher
The Pro and Con question is hard to answer. I think a more telling question is: what linux distro is the best "modern" desktop replacement and what are the downsides?

Two years ago, I would have said SuSE. It included the more software and config choices than say Red Hat/Fedora/CentOS, the YaST gui admin was decent, and things like USB devices and multimedia formats and tools worked better and looked good. SUSE slid a bit in the transition from the Germans to Novell in the last 2 years it was just plain eclipsed by Ubuntu.

I am extremely impressed with Ubuntu 7.10. The "Synaptic Package Manager" is very simple to use. Admin interfaces simple. Support for all manner of USB devices is impressive. Attach a camera or a USB stick and the right stuff happens. There are still "typical" linuxism, but Ubuntu and it's wonderful support forums knock them down quickly. One example of a current issue is support for the latest Flash 9 player in web browsers under 64-bit installs. It doesn't "just work", but there are FAQs out there to help. But it took me a bit of tweaking to make it work and I do this for a living. Once it was working, I was watching the newly launched MSNBC video player and it worked as well in Ubuntu as it did under Mac or Linux. (Well, except for full screen...).

So I would have to say if you are a Win/Mac type person looking to get into Linux, I will third and fourth the recommendations of this board and suggest Ubuntu. Instead of the pain of configuring dual-booting, note that there is a VMWare player included in the packages for free. VMWare will host guest operating systems in a slightly slower virtual host. So you can run Windows apps and Microsoft software. Also check out Parallels for Linux. Intel Core 2 Duo chips support hardware virtualization which avoids the software slowness by passing commands directly to the CPU from guest OSes. You can run REAL Windows at native speeds under Linux. Graphics hardware is lagging a bit, some gamers probably still need to dual-boot.

[RELIGIOUS MODE ENGAGE] What is the BEST desktop platform right now?

Mac on Intel. Here's why.

It is UNIX and based largely on FreeBSD (my favorite OS). You get UNIX tools and software free, the best GUI interface, and you get the vastly awesome mac Multimedia capabilites: sound, graphics, video. You can expect your cameras, scanners and printers to "just work" (Ubuntu still lags). Leopard is VERY NICE and innovations like the total backup solution Time Machine are compelling.

But the killer sale is using Parallels and BootCamp. BootCamp is a Windows dual-boot partition, but installed via an Apple supported installer that could walk your Grandma through the process. Making a dual-boot computer has wrecked more hardened sysadmins than I can count but BootCamp is easy. Install Parallels 3.0 you have the COMPLETE PACKAGE. You can now use the DISK PARTITION of bootcamp as your "virtual Windows Machine". Translation: you can run windows inside Mac as a virtual host running at near native speeds. The new "coherence" mode of Parallels shares your desktop and cut and paste buffers transparently between Windows apps and Mac apps. It is mind blowing to see it work. I have my Mac Doc at the bottom of the screen, and the Windows Start menu at the top. BUT, if you need to play BioShock, you just go to preferences and select your Windows disk and reboot. At that point, you have a full-fledged Windows Only machine and Gamers will be very satisfied with the frame rates. To put the dollop of whipped creme on top, I also run an Ubuntu guest operating system under Parallels. There are differences between the UNIX/*BSD origins of Mac's OS X and Linux, so it's nice to crank up a pure Linux environment esp for certain Open Source software.

So there you go. If you get a Mac with Parallels, you get UNIX/*BSD/Linux/Max OS X/Windows, all at native speeds.

I'll save talking about the built in Green Screen technology in the Leopard version of iChat for later... but iChat is certainly the Mac Killer App. It's worth having a Mac just so you can do the 3 or 4 person round-the-world iChat conference. I do an Australia/California/Michigan iChat a couple times a month and it is so much better than a phone call. Now that I can have fish swimming around my head during the call, I feel like my life has reached some kind of pinnacle. ]]>