Is Linux or Ubuntu just as good as paying for Windows Xp?

Question

im buying a gaming computer for christmas just to play Warhammer and browse the web. i dont need microsoft office or anything.Can i just get the computer without an operating system and then download Linux or Ubuntu instead of paying 100 dollars extra for windows xp?

Answer 1

Correct information given so far:

1. Ubuntu is Linux

2. Linux will likely not run the games you want to play (including Warhammer)



Incorrect information given so far:

1. Linux has a difficult user interface. This is generally not the case. Mac OS X is based on Linux. The Linux interface is very similar to Windows, accept there is more stuff you can do at the command line. It's DIFFERENT - that's for sure. And therefore may be more difficult to use - since you'll have things to learn. But it's not difficult inherently - if you've used neither interface before, the difference in difficulty is unlikely to be measurable.

2. Choose Vista over XP. Vista is fine. If the computer you buy is a good, reasonably new computer, Vista has a lot of good stuff going on. Most of the complaints against Vista, in my opinion, are either old and no longer valid, or deal with things most users could give a flying fig about. If you are familiar with Vista, and your computer can handle it - I recommend it. If you are not familiar with Vista, and are afraid of Linux because of learning a new interface - then consider sticking with what you know (I'm assuming you know Windows XP). If you are not scared of learning something new, then you shouldn't be afraid of either Linux or Vista.



Bottom Line: you said you want the computer in order to play games. If it can run it, get Vista. If it cannot, get Windows XP. Linux is still not a well supported platform for playing games, and Warhammer is not supported on Linux.



p.s. - Windows emulation software on Linux is really cool, but is rarely very good for handling games that require everything your system can give, so I wouldn't trust it to be able to run the games you want.

Answer 2

Well, you can. but you probably won't be able to play your game. The game runs on Windows, right? Well, Linux isn't Windows...it's better, but it's not Windows. So, programs written for Windows won't run on it directly.



You're going to pay for XP no matter what. Do you think the computer vendor gives it away for free? The cost of Windows is figured into the price, but you don't know that most of the time. If your computer says it's extra, they're at least being up front with you.



Also, Vista is the version Microsoft wants vendors to push, so you may be paying a premium to get an older version of Windows.



God, it has to really suck when you're stuck using Microsoft's products.

Answer 3

No. Linux won't run games designed for Windows. And Ubuntu is Linux. Just pay the $100 and stop asking a thousand questions. You need the OS. And you should probably get Vista instead of XP. Vista is far superior, especially for games.

Answer 4

If your buying a new system then you will have no choice in the matter Vista will be installed if you live in the states you are forced to have windows like it or not...



Linux will not play windows games unless you use "Wine" or "wube" unbuntu's windows emulator any way you have the time to make inquiries into how to play windows games on Linux

Answer 5

erm not really. Linux isn't that "user friendly" (that is, windows user friendly). and chances are, Linux wont run your game.