1st hardware upgrade for my Linspire Linux-Now I know

This is why more Windows users don't switch over to Linux!

http://www.linspire.com
from JoeUser Forums
I bought a Nvidia GeForce 6200 for my Linspire box this wekend and it took me about 6 hours to get the software setup properly to make it work, but I did get it working and boy, what a pain in the ass! This right here is reason enough there are not more Windows users moving to Linux. Plug in Play is a godsend. Of course, it could possibly be partially the fault of Linspire, but I will only know that once I get into using other Distros.

Had to get the 2.95 gcc compiler installed and setup for gcc and cc to work correctly. Then quit KDE and quit X-Server, which since I didn't know how, I just started up in Debugging mode, which has X-Server turned off. Then I also had to have the kernel source downloaded and setup in /usr/src/

Of course Linspires Click and Run and OS setup are botha curse and a blessing, either way, it was tricky. Once all this was setup, running the shell script from Nvidia got it setup and the XF86conf-4 config file setup and running properly. Of course, the KDE panel for Display settings are not showing the Nvidia settings availible yet, but at least I can play 3D games on Linux now.

Hopefully any future attempts will be faster due to this learning experience, but we shall see. I am thinking of starting a Screencast for Linux users and Linux newbies, but we shall see what sort of free time and open source software is out there for screen capture on Linux.
10,567 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
if gaming was easier on linux I'd be there 100%, now its only like 15%
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
2.95 gcc compiler installed and setup for gcc and cc to work correctly


This above a beyond all else will keep anyone but computer saavy users from ever trying Linux. The thought of having to recompile bits of your OS in order to play a game is incomprehensible to 99% of the computing world..
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The thought of having to recompile bits of your OS in order to play a game is incomprehensible to 99% of the computing world.

That'll be because that 99% of the computing world actually has a 'Real Life' [tm] ....

Anyone with a propeller-hat want to give Mister Relswick back the 6 hours of life he has lost forever?...

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
haha, so I don't have a Real Life! I knew something was wrong there.

the 6 hours isn't a 'total' loss, but yes, it was annoying to some degree, but I am a geek after all. I did learn a bit after all.

Yes, I have yet to play a decent game on Linux yet (tuxcart don't count as a real game, even if it is ok)

One thing about computers as in many things, the more you know about them, the better off you are. Besides, I hear there are Linux consulting jobs out there paying ~$50 an hour...


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Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
One thing about computers as in many things, the more you know about them, the better off you are


I agree with you there, after all I am a programmer by trade but that doesn't mean I have 6 or more hours to waste on installing a video card. In that 6 hours I could completely re-build my computer including spending time to nicely zip tie all cables out of the way for the cleanest looking install possible, re-install the OS and all software and be playing any number of games in the time frame it took to install one new hardware device..

For my time it's clear where my money is best spent, and all the FUD spread by the Linux zealots about Windows security is just unrealized as far as I'm concerned. The last time I had a virus was when I was in College and I had to use floppy disks to store my assignments in the computer lab. This was on a computer running 95 or 98 also. Even my fiancee who is a self admitted computer noob has managed to stay virus and spyware free for the most part once I gave her the standard internet safety speech.

So, while I can appreciate your efforts in learning Linux I must say that for myself it's just not something I see as a worthwhile investment in my time. Congrats on the accomplishment though, I bet you were psyched when you finally got it working! Imagine, that was for a 6200 that's probably been out for a while, I wonder if I'd even be able to find drivers for my 7800 GTX..
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Props on getting it to work. Sorry to say I will not see myself using any Linux based box as my primary PC. I love technology, I love that it makes my life a little better, faster, easier and more confy. It seems that Linux lacks those qualities and therefor I have steered clear of it till now. I do want to learn simply because I am a geek and things like this are a must just to know. Nothing like showing off that there is more to you than just Windows. If only I can find a woman just as geeky as me that would find this as a turn on. Oops sorry, strayed from the subject.

I did download a Linux distro, one I saw mentioned in an article here. It's called Slackware. I have yet to try it cause it has 4 CDs and I downloaded it at work, since I have no internet at home for now, but I have no way to take it home with me yet. Once I do I will try it out, but no promises that I will get hooked immidiately. Like Kevin_C
said, I just can't waste that much time on installing just on piece of hardware. Time is money and unless someone is paying me I will have to make time I don't mind spending to do such a thing. Who knows.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I never had trouble with nvidia cards under linux. Generally their installer is spot-on and as easy to use as the windows one. It's ATI I've had a nightmare of a time with. I have a box with a PCIE ATI X300 vid card running SuSE 10.0. No matter what I do, I follow all the directions everyone has posted about the damn thing, and I still can't get the machine to recognize the card as having 3D capabilities (which it does). After months and months of work on the problem, I had to give up. I think I may just wait for nvidia PCIe cards to get really cheap and just drop a basic card down in the box.

Linux is waaaay off from being able to really compete on the desktop. Add to that the fact that there are only a small handful of games available (hell, even the Mac has more!) and it's no wonder people aren't migrating yet.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
From what I have read in Linux Journal magazine and Tux Magazine, the distros have come a LONG way and are much easier to install. It was the upgrade issue (which I believe was aggrevated by Linspire) I was having as I am not advanced enough to backup the email data for my wife yet, so I had to bear through it. Stay tuned and I will post other stuff on my Linux experience as I go.

I am considering starting a Linux Noob screencast for those, wishing to learn as you go.

Main reason for switching - the experience, secondary reason - LOTS of free apps, almost anything you want.