Gavin, 14 November 05
I use Linux because it gives far more control over the setup for my PC, I’m able to add in things like database and web servers as need be. I recently set up Lighttp while getting to grips with Rails
This level of control makes it a natural OS for folks like myself that enjoy trying things – and get satisfaction from running things like a PVR for free. But with the modern distributions, it is increasingly a tempting choice for anyone just wanting to break from the Microsoft desktop.
The main barrier to wider adoption that I have most often heard cited is the lack of games available for linux. If users need to boot to WIndows to play their games, the most they will opt for is a dual boot system. These times are changing however.
Though not a gamer myself, I note with interest the progress made by Cedega which has just launched a release capable of running most Windows games including many top of the range first person shooters.
I have recently been using the open source WINE code that cedega is built upon with great effect. There are a couple of programs I like that aren’t available natively in linux and both work with minimal hassle under wine. Band in a box is one of wine’s featured Gold apps. Being a very specialised midi application means there are a few tweaks needed to get it running.
The other app ran pretty much straigt away though. Gipsy media are a UK company that produce a digital telly guide, digiguide which I loved when using Windows a few years ago. When they sent me a link to a new trial I had it set up in linux in minutes, and so far has been flawless. Having said that I’ve found that FreeGuide for linux might be a workable alternative. It uses xmltv data, like Myth, and offers a few of the features that I liked in Digiguide. I’ll see over the next few weeks of the digiguide trial if the Windows app under wine has enough extras to beat the open source alternative.
Sadly things don’t seem to work yet with wine for Continuum which was one of the only Windows games that I enjoyed. Though even with it, there have been a couple of reports of success.
