Stupid Question

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Yes

by arochester Sep 26, 2009 6:24AM PDT

One of the biggest factors is how much RAM memory.

How much have you got?

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Yes

by GODhack Sep 26, 2009 7:04AM PDT

Yes, but also depends really on what you expect from OS.
Good idea is to set up dual boot system or at least fire-up liveCD mode and start understand Linux, but still keep windows.
On example if all you do is PC gaming you will not find much in Linux. Linux has many games, but those last month games for windows hits playing will be really problematic.
So you have to answer question what you do with PC and we can advice more.
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And I vant to disagree with previous post. Rely RAM is not so important in Linux. Linux is not win where new version forces to buy new computer. You can find specialized for old hardware but still very up to date Linux distros like xubuntu.

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Thanks for the reply

by titans_fan37012 Sep 26, 2009 8:58AM PDT

The computer currently has Windows 98 on it, but the main use for the computer will be games. Nothing too high tec as the computer is not loaded with gaming hardware, but the kids would use it for simpler games. I was concerned that some of the games would not be compatible with 98.

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So

by GODhack Sep 27, 2009 7:04AM PDT

Hard to tell then.
There is many Flash games like flash-games.net and many similar sites. kids like them and they all work with Linux.

Also there is specialized Linux distribution for gaming:
http://live.linux-gamers.net/
It offer many free games. But those games can be installed in any other distro too.

Also Linux has DOS emulator DOSBOX and you can get free DOS games from net and play them. dosgames.com etc.

Also SNES emulator zsnes etc.

There is quite many Linux (free) gaming dedicated sites just google "linux gaming" or similar for them I do not see reason to fill my post with links. But generally Linux gaming is separate thing with small commercial influence from few companies mainly ID Software. ex. their new project (free!? at least beta):
quakelive.com works very well on Linux.
But video card may be main problem. So we may start little of-topic what kind of video card you have? Maybe cheap upgrade possible?

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Linux is the way to go

by linuxroadwarrior Nov 10, 2009 1:28AM PST

Linux is the way to go, especially with some certain games. For online gaming, you can't beat Open Arena, a FPS title. Numerous open source games are out there, waiting to be found. Wormux is a good example.

Badda baboom!

Happy gaming!

PS. It can run AOE with WINE. Hic. Yeshsirree, it's. Hic. Good.

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RAM

by arochester Sep 27, 2009 6:32AM PDT

@GODhack "Linux is not win where new version forces to buy new computer"

Thank you for that information. I never suggested that anyone should buy a new computer. 64Mb of RAM suggests a few things, 256Mb other things and 512Mb many.

According to Wikipedia, (although people will often argue differently) "Once installed, Xubuntu can run with 192 MB RAM, but 256 MB RAM is strongly recommended"

The amount of RAM memory is important.

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hmm someone do not have 196RAM?

by GODhack Sep 27, 2009 6:50AM PDT

Puppy then DSL they need even less, maybe 16Mb RAM.
System is unimportant at all if you use Linux you just have to chose correct distribution for your system.

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Puppy 16Mb?

by arochester Sep 27, 2009 8:23AM PDT

"Puppy then DSL they need even less, maybe 16Mb RAM."

From the Pupppy site: "128 MB physical RAM for releases since version 1.0.2 or failing that a Linux swap file and/or swap partition is required for all included applications to run; 64 MB for releases previous to 1.0.2"

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DSL 16Mb.

by GODhack Sep 27, 2009 4:42PM PDT

I remember I started old Puppy on 32Mb RAM ~5 years ago. It was little lag but hey it worked.
---
p.s.
Wonder where you will find system with only 16Mb RAM so for sure impossible to run Puppy or maybe even any Linux 2.6.x? Still Linux 2.4.x possible and works well for sure on 16Mb RAM.

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No

by GODhack Sep 27, 2009 6:52AM PDT

The amount of RAM is unimportant if you use Linux you just have to use Puppy or DSL or similar distributions if you have less than 256RAM.

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I am not going to tell you how well your computer will work

by ahtoi Sep 26, 2009 3:31PM PDT

with Linux because I don't know but the beauty of Linux is that you can try them all (distributions); and it's free. I use PCLinuxOS and I counted there are over 30 games.

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YES IT IS with Great Games as well...

by BigThunder1 Oct 10, 2009 10:42AM PDT

@ titans_fan37012

Hi,

The answer to your original question is... YES! Linux is a good alternative to Windows. They both have their place, but Linux doesn't leave the older computer equipment behind just to help it's associates make money. There are Linux distro's that run off of two floppy disks and as little as 4mb's of ram. That's not to say an inexperienced Linux user should jump right into one of those distro's. They're older and still usable under certain circumstances, but basically outdated relative to todays hardware offerings. These came about "Back in the day" as one might say, for use on early computer hardware before Linux was well know by the masses. (i.e. prior to Windows v3 and v95 etc.)

If your system has the memory resources-(RAM,CPU etc.), there are many modern distro's that could satisfy your needs/desires. Many offer the option to run them strait from a CD or DVD without installing them to see if they will work on your system and fit the purpose your after. I recommend you go to Distro Watch and look at the different Linux distributions available to find one that will be suitable for your needs. They list the specs necessary to run them on a PC as well as a short review about them and their intended purpose generally with a link to that distro's web site etc..

If your children are younger and don't need to run/play the "latest and greatest games", then the vast majority of Linux OS's available today should have enough game offerings to satisfy your/their needs. The Linux community has also created a software program called Wine that will run a large selection of Windows software applications, including some of todays top shelf games that aren't designed to run on Linux, as well as some older legacy Windows applications that todays Windows OS's don't support or don't/can't run today.

The two notable Linux OS's mentioned in other posts above are not what your looking for although they are top notch OS's in their own right.

DSL-(Damn Small Linux) is small and that's it's trademark-(known as the business card OS because of it's install size). To do so it uses applications that are efficient and powerful in their own right, but not for a new user.

Puppy Linux is an awesome little distro which is modern, powerful, and only needs 128MB of RAM, can run off a CD in a RAM-Disc-(a virtual hard drive completely contained inside your RAM; no actual hard drive needed), flash drive-(as can some others), or installed to your HDD. It's very fast, but the down side for a new user is that it uses whats called a squash file system that is not a common file system for the average Linux distro and can be quite a learning curve for a new user to recompile with new or additional applications. If it offers all you need as is downloaded-(it has every modern application any major OS has today to do all the average person needs) then your good to go. Otherwise, I don't recommend it for the new user that may want to install other applications.

Ubuntu: If your machine meets the system requirements I highly recommend Ubuntu desktop edition. It's very user friendly and easy for Windows users to migrate to. It's a full featured Linux OS without needing to know anything about Linux. All software, drivers, etc. are updated from their repositories automatically so you don't have to search the internet for updates/upgrades.

Ubuntu Desktop website:

Ubuntu's recommended System Requirements below - Community Ubuntu Documentation

Ubuntu should run reasonably well on a computer with the following minimum hardware specification. However, features such as visual effects may not run smoothly-(the effects mentioned are above and beyond necessary via an application called Compiz_found in settings. A machine with 32 MB's of video or more will run it just fine in basic video mode/settings).

* 700 MHz x86 processor
* 384 MB of system memory (RAM)
* 8 GB of disk space
* Graphics card capable of 1024x768 resolution
* Sound card
* A network or Internet connection

My mother-(age 76) runs Ubuntu on a Dell Dimension XPS T600 machine that has a 600 Mhz CPU, and 640 MB of Ram with a 64 MB video card-(also ran on a 32 MB card this one replaced). She's a former Windows user and took to it like a duck to water without any questions or help-(she was always calling me for help on Windows -- now my phone doesn't ring three times a week for tech support). Just remember the above requirements are only recommendations. If your system is close than give Ubuntu a try! It'll either run or not.

There are other Linux distro's that may interest you as well. Don't just take my word for it. Go to Distro Watch as noted/linked above and play with different Live-CD versions of various Linux OS distributions and find the one that works best for you and fills your needs. Live CD versions run via CD/DVD in your optical drive and don't require installation until you decide to install it to your HDD once you find one you like.

There are numerous "flavors"-(as Linux users like to refer to them) of Linux and there's no doubt you'll find one for you and your children. Once again I lean towards Ubuntu Linux for new users currently, because it's truly user friendly for newcomers to Linux and inexperienced Windows users. Don't be afraid to experiment with different distro flavors to find one you'll truly be happy with as well.

I hope this helps in your quest to maintain an older machine. You may likely want to replace your 'other' OS eventually and this link may give you the reasons and/or incentive to do just that!

Regards,
BigThunder1

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issues

by samiakuma Oct 11, 2009 2:13AM PDT

Linux is fine if you don't want to print anything. I cannot find any drivers for the 6 printers I have around the house. This does me no good as I need to print things for school... i've also had issues loading programs or just program updates, period. It's that I don't know how to "speak" computer and tell it to do what it needs to, and most people don't have legit updates if you're not dealing with Ubuntu rather than another form of linux. my firefox browser is screwed up right now, and I assume it is because it's an outdated version... tried to download an upgrade, gave me something like a zip file you might get on windows.... then it would never let me load the dam thing! Good luck.

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Say, can you?

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Oct 11, 2009 2:31AM PDT

Would you make a top post with those 6 printers (make, model, connections) as well as which Linux you are running?

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RE: Issues...

by BigThunder1 Oct 11, 2009 4:01AM PDT

Hi samiakuma,

Sorry to hear your having a hard time with things. As the moderator R. Proffitt suggests, info about those 6 printers (make, model, connections) as well as which Linux OS-(Operating system) you're running will allow some one to help you sort these issues out and get you up and running. It's also suggested that you start a new thread/conversation regarding your issues so we don't get this thread sidetracked and off topic.

I will comment however in reference to installing Firefox dwnldd from the Mozilla site-(I'm assuming that's where you dwnldd it from). The vast majority of mainstream Linux OS's use what's called a Package_management_system to install applications etc..

A package management system is:*
...a collection of tools to automate the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing software packages from a computer. Distributions of Linux and other Unix-like systems typically consist of hundreds or even thousands of distinct software packages; in the former case a package management system is nice, in the latter case it is essential.

Packages are distributions of software and metadata such as the software's full name, description of its purpose, version number, vendor, checksum, and a list of dependencies necessary for the software to run properly. Upon installation, metadata is stored in a local package database.

A package management system provides a consistent method of installing software. A package management system is sometimes incorrectly referred to as an installer.

*Ref: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Package management system page.

The most common formats used are .rpm-(Redhat Linux based OS's) and .dep-(Debian based Linux OS's). These links should help you understand what they are etc..

You need to know which type your Linux OS uses in order to properly install software other than what that particular OS vendor offers in their software repository if they have one setup.

I hope this gives you a little insight about application installation in Linux OS's if you don't already understand how these work. Everything has a slight learning curve and we all have to start somewhere. Like you, I didn't "speak" computer either until others helped me and I stuck with it. Now I know just enough to get in trouble. LOL...

One thing I can tell you, is that the Linux community is composed of the most helpful bunch in the world, so don't be afraid to ask. There's jerks in every part of life, including the Linux community, but most of them are learning and frustrated as we all get at times, and this is generally the reason you'll have folks posting negatives about Linux. Just ask for help and you'll receive it. You may have to be patient sometimes for a response, but don't give up. We all have to start somewhere and even the pro's have to constantly learn new things as well to keep up with the changes in the computer world. So start a new thread here in the forums and you'll get the help you need I'm sure. Cnet sites and folks are another good bunch and there's some pretty knowledgeable folks here as well that can help you with your Linux OS issues.

-----
On that note I will leave this in the hands of more capable people to help you with in the new thread you start here for help. Please do so and there's absolutely no question in my mind that someone here can get you and your Linux OS working together and become best of friends for all your needs. If these folks get stump-(not likely) they will direct you to the proper place to resolve your issues. Good luck and don't give up!

HTH.....

Regards,
BigThunder1

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Repositories.

by R_Head Nov 10, 2009 9:57AM PST

Most people that tries to use Linux think on the way MS works. If the Distro has the repositories loaded properly, you have to do pretty much nothing and install by simple command lines or GUI.

I do not want to sound like a broken record but I will use Mandriva as an example.

Mandriva is like Red Hat that uses RPMs. On their distro they have repositories that you load or let their Wizard to do for you. They are all over the world. Now in the way you install a program or hardware are few ways.

1) If you install lets say a Graphic Card and boot the system. During boot will be detected and fetch the drivers during boot and installs them.

Or

2) Go to the Mandriva Control Center and choose add and remove hardware, it will detect it and will ask you some questions. Will pick the drivers from the repositories and is done.

That is all in the Distro, SuSE uses YAST similar to URPMI from Mandriva. Other system that uses similar system is PCLOS (Mandriva Spin Off by Textar) that uses Synaptics.

The bottom line is, Linux uses repositories were all divers and applications are located. Developers and Packagers makes the RPMs or DEBs packets for their distros. That is why not all RPMs are equal in the way they install.

I hope this help

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Printers

by R_Head Nov 10, 2009 9:47AM PST

I do recommend HP Printers. One advantage is that they build UNIX/Linux drivers. Their Digital Scanners runs on Linux and also have an OS called HPUX (Hewlett Packard UNIX) so they are pretty good at supporting Linux/UNIX systems.

I have an older Laser Jet 1300n and is installed with CUPS on my home network. Other ones I think is Lexmark.

But honestly, HP is the printer to have on a Mix Network (Win, Linux, Mac, etc..)

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Definately

by linuxroadwarrior Nov 10, 2009 1:25AM PST

It is a good idea to switch over, as some distros use less memory than windows.
My personal favorite is Ubuntu 9.04.

Try a few out to figure which one is best, though.

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Post the hardware specifications.

by Porch-a-Geese Nov 10, 2009 7:40AM PST

List all of the hardware specifications here.
List what you expect from the system.

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