Linux

[CallaB]

Linux is the best!!!

 

[Happy Camper]

Compared to windows? I must agree

 

[Avenue]

here, here!!

 

[The_Unbeliever]

no viruses, trojans or spyware to worry about

 

[DefecteD]

no viruses, trojans or spyware to worry about

+1

 

[Prof.]

Linux FTW!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ockie]

Stating the obvious...but yes I agree

 

[sn3rd]

Free software FTW

 

[realbigdreamer]

Linux is pretty cool, but then we are probably not thinking about gaming... I would use Linux with the greatest enthusiasm if I knew I wouldn't have any problems with games. Right now I have Fedora on a 20 GB HDD, just so that I have a little Linux inside my PC .

 

[Ockie]

oh here we go again about the game story. Dont complain here...complain to EA and the other studios that does the games

 

[realbigdreamer]

I'm just saying that gaming is a big obstacle at the moment. Maybe if there could just be a better emu system? As far as developing games, it is a LOT of work to make a game engine support both Linux and Windows. I guess it is not worth the trouble to port a game to Linux, as at least 95% of gamers are currently using Windows. I do however see a lot of games supporting Linux nowadays.

 

[tolk]

Aai guys..I love linux to but saying "no trojans, no virus ect." is just plaine naive, blind faith or wishfull thinking. Linux like windows has became a victim of its own popularity. Before it was'nt targeted but that is slowly changing. That should although not discourage you from using linux see linuxformat.com and read about linux virus scanners.

 

[kingrob]

Love Linux as well.

 

[Bismuth]

I have to agree with this. Had a power failure during a system update yesterday, and while Update Manager was stuck, it even told me what to do to successfully continue the update process, something along the lines of "sudo dpkg --configure -a", if I remember correctly.

AFAIK, the virus scanners you get with Linux distros are primarily to prevent transmission to Windows systems, but will read the linuxformat article. But, installing a .deb file from an unknown source in Linux (for Debian and Debian-based distros), is the same as installing a .exe in Windows. Just use your common sense, and BACKUP. This sort of thing is not OS-specific.

B

 

[Nod]

I'm just saying that gaming is a big obstacle at the moment. Maybe if there could just be a better emu system? As far as developing games, it is a LOT of work to make a game engine support both Linux and Windows. I guess it is not worth the trouble to port a game to Linux, as at least 95% of gamers are currently using Windows. I do however see a lot of games supporting Linux nowadays.

All games from ID Software (Quake 1,2,3 and 4; Doom 1,2 and 3, etc) have run on both Windows and Linux from the start.
Here's a guide on getting Unreal to work on Linux natively.
CoD runs via Wine, but still playable.

So, except for CoD, it is not impossible to get the game engine to support Linux, more a problem that the developers don't want to make an effort.

 

[Ockie]

I have to agree with this. Had a power failure during a system update yesterday, and while Update Manager was stuck, it even told me what to do to successfully continue the update process, something along the lines of "sudo dpkg --configure -a", if I remember correctly.

AFAIK, the virus scanners you get with Linux distros are primarily to prevent transmission to Windows systems, but will read the linuxformat article. But, installing a .deb file from an unknown source in Linux (for Debian and Debian-based distros), is the same as installing a .exe in Windows. Just use your common sense, and BACKUP. This sort of thing is not OS-specific.

B

I heard though that even if you install a malicious .deb file, Ubuntu does not assign the neccesary permissions for this file to run on its own, so still pretty much harmless unless you actively go and run the program. Or is this not true?

 

[Nod]

I heard though that even if you install a malicious .deb file, Ubuntu does not assign the neccesary permissions for this file to run on its own, so still pretty much harmless unless you actively go and run the program. Or is this not true?

The problem is that the moment you install the .deb package the preinstall and post install scripts would run, which will do what ever the author wanted it to do.
So downloading would do nothing, but installing it would be as good as clicking on the .exe in Windows.

An explanation of the debian package contents are here: http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-pkg_basics.en.html
Read everything under "What is a Debian preinst, postinst, prerm, and postrm script?" (section 7.6).

 

[Ockie]

oh ok. Well, the only .deb files I install are for Skype and those kind of things. I have never seen a .deb file with the name "nakedladiesstriptease" in my email. Thank god most people are still windoze slaves and therefore us linux gods are spared from that privacy infraction hehehe.

 

[Nod]

oh ok. Well, the only .deb files I install are for Skype and those kind of things. I have never seen a .deb file with the name "nakedladiesstriptease" in my email. Thank god most people are still windoze slaves and therefore us linux gods are spared from that privacy infraction hehehe.

No matter the OS, common sense should still be part of the process

 

[The_Unbeliever]

I only install additional packages from trustworthy sources - and packages designed for that particular OS.

Mix 'n match doesn't always work - and will bork something in the process.