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TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#251: Jul 30th 2012 at 2:58:24 PM

Well, I will not be getting Ubuntu or Windows 8. From what I have seen and read about them, both have serious ease-of-use issues when compared to Windows 7, which I still think is the best operating system that Microsoft has ever produced. And one game does not a games distribution system make. And since I think any time that Valve spends outside of the Steam client for Windows and for pity's sake Half Life 2 Episode 3 is completely, utterly and totally wasted, I have even less reason to raise a muffled strangled cheer for any news of a Steam linux client.

I appreciate that I am not the arbiter of what Valve should do, I am merely stating an opinion.

Shaggy Kitty! from Purgatory, ME Since: Jan, 2012
Kitty!
#252: Jul 30th 2012 at 3:40:57 PM

I'm bad at using Linux.

If I have to I'll just program a Linux distro that has Wine built in and has a filesystem that I'm familiar with.

If anyone in the thread wants to kidnap me, I don't mind. We'd just be in their van drinking Mountain Dew and watching MLP for days on end
DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#253: Jul 30th 2012 at 10:21:34 PM

[up][up]To be fair, this link (scroll down a bit) does seem to imply that Left 4 Dead 2 may not be totally alone, seeing as it says "one of the first Valve games to be released on Linux". Also, I wouldn't say it's time wasted since it would be spent giving everyone a fair and level playing field experience-wise.

As for usability: try Kubuntu. IMO, KDE is the closest interface-wise to someone migrating from Windows, and should be less of a pain to get used to. Not to mention you still get all the goodies and benefits of an Ubuntu system.

Shaggy Kitty! from Purgatory, ME Since: Jan, 2012
Kitty!
#254: Jul 30th 2012 at 11:44:21 PM

Isn't Linux Mint Mate better than KDE for that?

If anyone in the thread wants to kidnap me, I don't mind. We'd just be in their van drinking Mountain Dew and watching MLP for days on end
DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#255: Jul 31st 2012 at 7:24:04 PM

[up]Eh, Linux Mint MATE (and Cinnamon to a point) seem more like Windows XP, while KDE's closer to Vista/7. Really all comes down to personal preference though. Also, it seems that Windows 8 goes RTM starting tomorrow... wonder how much longer before the potential shitstorm from hardware manufacturers starts?

edited 31st Jul '12 7:28:46 PM by DemonSharkKisame

Shaggy Kitty! from Purgatory, ME Since: Jan, 2012
Kitty!
#256: Jul 31st 2012 at 9:23:33 PM

I'm really praying that there's an option to disable Metro. I doubt it, but whatever.

I install the Windows 8 Preview on systems that I build for people. It's free and it works, so whatever.

If anyone in the thread wants to kidnap me, I don't mind. We'd just be in their van drinking Mountain Dew and watching MLP for days on end
Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#257: Aug 1st 2012 at 5:22:21 PM

I'd say that MATE is a pretty Windows-like layout. I'd recommend Linux Mint MATE over Kubuntu, though based on my experiences with LiveUSBs of each.

DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#258: Aug 3rd 2012 at 2:58:34 PM

Having to help a friend install drivers for his Wacom tablet is reminding me exactly why Linux seems so "scary" to Mr. Average Joe. Holy crap it's annoying.

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#259: Aug 4th 2012 at 1:32:47 PM

Why hasn't anyone been able to come up with an install process that is as seamless as Windows 7's?

Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#260: Aug 4th 2012 at 2:11:42 PM

Because Microsoft has bajillions of dollars to throw at that and the kind of centralized development needed to really get that out there?

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#261: Aug 4th 2012 at 2:28:16 PM

Development needs coders. I thought Linux coders were supposed to be the best?

Shaggy Kitty! from Purgatory, ME Since: Jan, 2012
Kitty!
#262: Aug 4th 2012 at 2:38:28 PM

Nope. Microsoft makes more money than any company that makes Linux.

If anyone in the thread wants to kidnap me, I don't mind. We'd just be in their van drinking Mountain Dew and watching MLP for days on end
Tangent128 from Virginia Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Gonna take a lot to drag me away from you
#263: Aug 4th 2012 at 5:23:03 PM

Money and quality are not always coorelated.

Some Linuxes are hard to install, because the system is all about customization. "Fire and forget" and "to your tastes" are incompatible.

Ubuntu may be simple though?

Do you highlight everything looking for secret messages?
MisterC Angry Moth from roughly over there Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
Angry Moth
#264: Aug 4th 2012 at 9:52:10 PM

So, hey, need some recommendations for a new Laptop. Mine is getting old, and I'm gonna buy a new one. Considering that:

  • I currently have a Macbook and I like it, but would be wiling to consider something else.
  • I'll use it mainly for school, and I'm studying to become a programmer.
  • I'd still like it to be good enough to run some games, like The Binding Of Isaac or TF 2
  • I don't have a set budget for it.

What would you guys recommend?

Who's an angry moth? You are! Yes you are! You're the fuzziest and angriest moth! Original pic.
pvtnum11 OMG NO NOSECONES from Kerbin low orbit Since: Nov, 2009 Relationship Status: We finish each other's sandwiches
OMG NO NOSECONES
#265: Aug 4th 2012 at 10:40:32 PM

I've had good experiences with Asus, and plan on updating up from a G50v to a G73 or G74 sometime this year. They have a variety of laptops that fit just about every budget you can think of. I'd talk smack about their Eee netbooks, but hey, it's a netbook.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.
Shaggy Kitty! from Purgatory, ME Since: Jan, 2012
Kitty!
#266: Aug 5th 2012 at 2:35:08 AM

[up][up] Gaming wise, you're going to want something that has it's own GPU.

I suggest Think Pads, because I've had really good luck with them. Not so good for gaming, though.

Don't get a Mac, though. For gaming and programming, that would be the worst OS to use. Plus, the hardware is older than most current PCs, and you can't upgrade them. Macs are only good if you want something pretty, or want a high res laptop for art or graphic design.

I'll do some research and post links.

Here! It's probably the best deal you can get for the money. Great for gaming also.

There's also this, but you'd need to... yeah.

edited 5th Aug '12 2:58:02 AM by Shaggy

If anyone in the thread wants to kidnap me, I don't mind. We'd just be in their van drinking Mountain Dew and watching MLP for days on end
QuestionMarc Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#267: Aug 5th 2012 at 7:45:13 AM

About Mister C's query: I've heard about the Samsung serie 9. Is that a solid choice?

MisterC Angry Moth from roughly over there Since: Jul, 2010 Relationship Status: Healthy, deeply-felt respect for this here Shotgun
Angry Moth
#268: Aug 5th 2012 at 2:29:20 PM

[up][up] & [up][up][up] Ok, thanks, I'll look into those.

Who's an angry moth? You are! Yes you are! You're the fuzziest and angriest moth! Original pic.
Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#269: Aug 6th 2012 at 8:28:27 AM

Question: could an external hard drive plausibly lose its formatting without being specifically formatted by a computer? To my knowledge, the drive has not been exposed to any magnets.

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#270: Aug 6th 2012 at 9:22:03 AM

Well, dropping the thing would cause a problem, so was it dropped?

Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#271: Aug 6th 2012 at 9:35:05 AM

I don't think so. Problem is, I backed up all my shit to that drive. Kinda blows if I can't get it back. Also, so far as I can tell, it still works mechanically, but nothing can read it and windows machines want to format it.

edited 6th Aug '12 9:35:50 AM by Balmung

DemonSharkKisame Since: May, 2009
#272: Aug 6th 2012 at 9:54:49 AM

Sounds like mechanical failure to me. Had a friend's hard drive just up and die suddenly on him a couple of months ago, sometimes it just happens.

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Balmung Since: Oct, 2011
#274: Aug 6th 2012 at 11:07:28 AM

Looks to be almost all Windows software.

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#275: Aug 6th 2012 at 11:51:53 AM

Run it from the disk. If you do that it boots up into its own menu. The tools on it are quite useful for when your hard disk is kaput but the data on it is still available for sending to another disk.


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