I'm currently running windows xp, and wanted to try a linux. I've never used linux before, so wanted to know how to install it. Can I run it live from cd? or can I install it on windows? Also what are some good benifits about linux. Is linux capable of running pc games.

Thanks in advance.

Yes. All versions of ubuntu Can run from a live CD without messing with your system. Try Kubuntu along with Ubuntu and see which you like Better. Kubuntu is just like Ubuntu but with a KDE interface.

If you decided to actually install Linux to your Harddrive check out Linux Mint, its Ubuntu with all the media codecs and players installed.

Linux Mint: Linux for the Desktop

what they said about running it live.
there are many, many, many benifits of running Linux. of course, quite a few of them are subjective. for instance, Linux is quite modular, you can add in support for certain hardware or software, so you do not have modules that you don't really need.
another thing is that usually, when you install graphics drivers, you do not need to restart the whole computer; just the X server, which does not take long to restart, at all
something else that Linux and Unix are quite well known for is the permissions. you may have heard of the root user, on Linux, or Unix, and basically they have access to everything. this is good, and bad, because important files or directories could be wrecked by accident. this is why you typically are logged in as a more regular user.

of course those are just some reasons, and some of them are subjective.

I hope it goes well

For one advantage of Linux or Unix see the thread about the forced Windows updates.

Quote: Originally Posted by Fire Hawk of course those are just some reasons, and some of them are subjective. I hope it goes well

Too True, the only reason why I'm not using Linux or OSX for that matter on my main is no Direct X support...

Some games run, some games don't. Best to type in the name along with the distro of Linux you want to check for compatibility (in Google).

Linux brings speed and stability, good for internetting, but if you're a hardcore gamer looking for everything that Windows brings to the table, but on a different OS, you're not gonna find it in Linux.

You will find cool, multiple, flipping, 3D desktops though. And it's free!

What about running a virtual machine with windows installed?

Having the VM you can have you directX and play you windows games, all without having a actuall install to hae to boot from (not having to restart to play games).

My school has so much about virtual machines, and yet we still use windblows as our native OS...

Quote: Originally Posted by s1ugh34d What about running a virtual machine with windows installed? Having the VM you can have you directX and play you windows games, all without having a actuall install to hae to boot from (not having to restart to play games). My school has so much about virtual machines, and yet we still use windblows as our native OS...

I though running xp in vmware in linux, that it wasn't able to render 3d....things.

I could be wrong.

I don't think VMWare supports 3D as well, your better off trying Cedega or Crossover Wine, or even the free open source Wine package to play DirectX/OpenGL games in Linux. Apparently Crossover has made some recent breakthrough in Wine, and Cedega has always been geared, marketed towards gamers.

Quote: Originally Posted by Wafflesomd I though running xp in vmware in linux, that it wasn't able to render 3d....things. I could be wrong.

True, its only got OpenGL, what a shame, fricken M$ B$, don't you think they would want you "Virtual PC" (the M$ edition of VMware) to have graphic capabilities.


Thinking of VM ware, Has anyone made a virtual machine inside a virtual machine?

I love VMware, you can cluster computers with it too.