[dark_flame]

I have a problem that many might share with me.

I love linux. I enjoy using it, I enjoy being able to tweak anything I want, and I love the look and feel. The problem is how standard Windows is. I mean you can't play games, or run any of the apps that I use on linux like you can in Windows. I am using Windows XP now, and have taken a look at Vista. Looks like the biggest load of bull ever. If you haven't heard about the implemented DRM, read up on it. And seeing this and that XP will soon be going downhill really troubles me. I would love to make the permanent switch to linux, but understand I have spent money into building a gaming rig and many games. Not to mention that all the useful apps I use are native to windows only, and installing any in linux is hell. I wish they could develop a double click install such as windows. Mind, it doesn't bother me too much when I am in the mood.

Well my question is, since I have been out of touch with the linux community so long, I was just wondering when we might see changes as described above. Just curious. Sorry, I know this kind of thing comes up a lot.

[techieMoe]

What sorts of apps do you use in MS Windows? There might be workable alternatives in Linux. Take a look at this chart of analogs:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...s-windows.html

There are a few commercial games that run in Linux, but you're right; the latest and greatest will likely always show up on MS Windows first for at least the near future.

No one says you have to use one or the other. A good dual-boot solution will let you use both for their respective apps. For a while in college I dual-booted just so I'd have somewhere to play my games.

[cayalee]

as an aside, if you've been away from linux for a while, you'll see a vast improvement in installation in the well recongised distros, ie suse's "yast", ubuntu's "synaptic" and "automatix" and so on...