A word on Linux

Well, just got done installing Ubuntu Linux Netbook Edition onto my Asus Eee PC 1201 HAB netbook and I must say that I don't think I will be missing Windows anytime soon. I was impressed with how easy the install was compared to the way it used to be back in the late 90's when I first encountered and started dabbling with Linux. The install was quick and to the point and only took about 10 minutes which is pretty impressive.

I showed a few of my more game oriented friends my gaming desktop which I already had Unbuntu installed on and the first words out of their mouthes was "But Chris, how are you going to be able to play Starcraft 2 or WoW without Windows's support??questionmark???". I simply smirked and brought them over to my desktop where I had Ubuntu Desktop 10 installed. I proceeded to explain that a program called Wine has been around for over a decade and allowed Linux users to make use of Windows based programs, including Direct X backed games. They looked at me as if I had lobsters crawling out of my ears, so I sat them down, booted up PlayOnLinux which is pretty much a front for Wine, and loaded up Starcraft 2 which I had installed the previous night.

It loaded up in just a few seconds minus the login, password, and authenticator information that needs to be inputed on start up. They watched in amazment as I started up a 4 vs 4 game with full 1400 x 1050 res, full AA settings, as well as having all the texture settings cranked up to the max. I played the match for 20 minutes and didn't experience one hickup in frame rate even when dozens of units where on screen at the same time blowing shit up.

I then moved onto WoW, which started up in a few seconds minus login, password, and auth code input and proceeded to head to Dalaran. Once there, my frame rate maintained a constant 57-60 FPS and my latency was 70-90 the entire time. My friends, needless to say were impressed and said they would start dabbling with Linux over the next couple of months. I told them that almost all the proprietary drivers for graphics cards have been integrated or if not, open source drivers were available that allowed use of the cards for high level gaming, however the best part about this whole Linux thing.....is that it always has been, and always will be, free.