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What operating system do you have, and why?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 9:42 am
by Bjarne BZR
I started this thread as the Desktop thread went overboard with OS pros and cons. So here I go:

What I use
I use a Linux distribution called Ubuntu ( version 5.04 Hoary Hedgehog )


Why I use it
- I like the concept of open source.
- There is something within me that really hurts when it comes to using programs that cost money without actually paying.
- I cant afford to pay for an operating system + all the programs I would like for it.
- The software I have installed now would probably cost me around 5000$ or more if I was on a "pay for it- operating system"

I used to use Windows, but for the reasons above: I tried installing Red Hat Linux as dual boot on my comp. Never really used it because of the games I craved.
A year later I heard a lot of good things about Ubuntu and decided to madly convert and whipe my machine clean and run only Ubuntu. Just to see if I would be able to keep it without going mad with Game withdrawal.

And after 1/2 as an Ubuntu user, my verdict is: Yes, I can. And perhaps others could sa well. But I've had some technical problems that would frighten a less technically sawy person. Ubuntu is trying to be "an easy to use for anyone" OS, and it has aceaved a lot in that direction. From what I gather on the next version ( out in a month ) it includes a lot of omprovements in the user friendly area. So I vould not recommend anyone to install this version, but I WOULD recommend the next version.

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:35 am
by General Death
XP SP2

I use it for ease of running apps, games and its really stable.

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:00 am
by Surgeon
Windows XP SP1 (had too many problems with SP2) - again like Jason says its a reasonable stable platform to play games and create maps

P.S - Deathy - like the new banner :)

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:10 am
by Bjarne BZR
I dont know how protected our privacy is in a forum like this, but what amount of programs do you use that you havent paid for?

I know that when I was running Windows: my comp was filled with hords of stuff that was commercial programs that I did not pay for.

Today I can actually say that I use all my programs legally. The only thing that may be of a non legal character is parts of my digital music collection ( but most of it is still legal I think due to the Swedish law up to about ? a year ago ).

My question in short:

What percentage of the stuff in your computer is totally legal?
( I'd say I'm at something like 95% myself )

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:25 am
by jv_map
Hmm I'll stick to the original topic of discussion :)

I use win2k mostly... it's the most stable windows with least useless features I think. Basically it's reasonably good although the endless stream of security updates and accompanying reboot whiner (I want to reboot now! right now! :cry: ) can be annoying, as well as the 'my this' / 'my that' folders it just loves to fill the 'my docs' dir with, making it impossible to keep things tidy.

Sometimes I use linux as well which definately isn't a bad alternative, but the major drawback is most programs I use or have to use are designed for windows and more often than not there are no linux versions available.

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:10 pm
by lizardkid
Windows XP SP1

Very good, stable, lots of good little features, easy to keep yourself protected, no other OS has it's level of compatibility, and it comes with a batrillion other programs.

It fits me great :D

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:26 pm
by At0miC
Windows XP Professional SP2

Have no problems with it and I don't need an other OS.

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 1:33 pm
by Elgan
i use and have paid for XP SP2 :| - i like hasle free. Did i just say hassle free:S

i have thought about installing linux but i dont have time to go messing arround, i mainly use my pc for reading forums and scripting/modding and playing mohaa anyway and thats fine in windows. I didnt have a single crash and my pc is not riddled with spyware and viruses like my brothers.

I'm just taking the easy way out. It works for me, why change?

though IE worked for me, i changed anyway and now firefox > IE.


This article is about M$, not much related to this but some epopel might wanna read it. Microsoft Appeals Source Code Sharing

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 2:55 pm
by Rookie One.pl
I've got XP SP2 only because it was included with my new comp.

My main system is Slackware Linux 10.1 - because "Slackware is for Linux Zealots!" :twisted:
I'm unable to use it at the moment as my video driver's kernel module, after my modifications in an effort to enable hardware 3D acceleration (I've got a crappy I915GL... :( ) started causing a segfault and a kernel panic while allocating the stolen memory (damn integrated crap!!! :evil:). :?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:21 pm
by Bjarne BZR
Rookie One.pl wrote:I'm unable to use it at the moment as my video driver's kernel module, after my modifications in an effort to enable hardware 3D acceleration started causing a segfault and a kernel panic while allocating the stolen memory
That sentence explains pretty well why Linux has not become a contender for the desktop of the regular user, does it not? ;)

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:03 pm
by General Death
Bjarne BZR wrote:
Rookie One.pl wrote:I'm unable to use it at the moment as my video driver's kernel module, after my modifications in an effort to enable hardware 3D acceleration started causing a segfault and a kernel panic while allocating the stolen memory
That sentence explains pretty well why Linux has not become a contender for the desktop of the regular user, does it not? ;)
Thats what prevents me from changing. I am not picky about what I use because of others opinions of it.

If I can run all my software and hardware with ease and its stable I am all for it.

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:52 pm
by hogleg
XP SP1

Sure I have my complaints with MS and their OS, I've just not seen anything better.

And if I did it comes down to TIME.I can only dedicate 2 or 3 hours a day to the pc

and do I want to spend that time learning to crawl again?

MS is like any other greedy Company (monopoly),people have figured out most of their deceptive ways to keep sucking $ out of the economy. But isn't that what they teach you to do in
college? Kind of nice to see google ruffling Bill's feathers.

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:43 am
by Elgan
oh for the first time...guess what??:P

hit e shutdown..and the pc BSOD and restarted.lol oh dear. i must of done somethign messing with the sound.i dunno

i was only on skype and msn at the time, audio and webcam..

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:36 pm
by bdbodger
I see farcry has an addon for XP X64 OS

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/Dev ... ir=IEGFC01

Makes thing look a lot better they say . I wonder if you add SLI mode to the mix what it would be like .
AMD64 Exclusives

In addition to improvements to existing content, the AMD64 version includes additional multiplayer levels and areas that can only be accessed in the 64-bit version of the game. Check out the screen shots below to see the new areas and additional physics in the game

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2005 7:28 pm
by Splaetos
anyone else actualy used x64?

I lost my mind, ditched the mobile idea, and got somethingh else...
  • AMD x2 64 4400+
  • MSI Neo4 Plat Sli MB
  • eVGA 7800 gtx(and another to follow in maybe... 3 months..)
  • 2 gig(dual) gskill ram
  • 2x wmd raptor 10k (raid 0)
  • seagate 250g 7.2k (being shipped) for storage
  • Thermaltake Tsunami Case
  • Thermaltake 480w psu(getting an akasa 550 or 650 sooner or later)
  • Plextor DVD slot loaded
anyway, aside from my general loathing of M$ I really like x64 over xp pro, the issue of course is drivers... no wireles nic's, alot of software issues still to be resolved... etc. I cant manage to network x64 to xp. I am dual booting xp pro and x64 at the moment, I can only network off the xp partition.

Overall though, the performance of x64 seems much much better; faster, smoother, looks better... BF2(bundled with my evga) runs very nice on x64 and WOW runs exceptional on this computer(I dont even play the game anymore but friends do, I just log onto it to sit there and say 'damn thats smooth!')

the xp pro partiton annoys me, id like to ditch it entirely... need the network for a couple more days though, and have some unresolved issues... thief:deadly shadows wasnt running on x64 right(the intro vid looped ad inifinitum) but others say it works on x64 so ill give it a go... i dont even play the game, my friends little brother does. Once DT v4 comes out, I will prolly jsut use x64, maybe maintain a small partion for x86...

I have no willpower... while i was buying a router and stuff at best buy, i saw they had the g5 laser mouse and g15 board in stock, and HAD to buy them immediately... I love them both though, well worth the price in my opinion.

I dont have farcry... though i may get it, not really my type of game.. i usualy jsut stick to a couple i really like... the biggest allure is pretty much that is one of maybe 2 games actualy built(partialy) for 64 bit.


edit: so far the bigesst downside of my new system is I can actualy see the flaws in my sig and avatar... they looked a bit better on the geforce 2 lol... but the avatar is meant for a black background anyway... the green realy brings out the fuzziness!