I REALLY want It but can I have it?

[Bahney]

i am VERY new to Linuz and by very new i mean i know nothing at all apart from it is called red hat and has a funky penguin logo i was just sent this video by a mate of mine and honestly i had to watch it three of four time to believe what i was looking at...stunning!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0JKL...elated&search=

Beryl,Looking Glass,Windows Vmware all in one

after spending around 30-45min or so reading up on Beryl etc i am actually starting to think that this is possible!

bloddy hell just how far has linux come! i remember 5years ago when i was shown it by a mate of mine and it was pants, only real benefit was the security features and the windows emulator was slow and painful to use, but now! wow!!! which is a testimant to all the people working on the codeing and stuff, it looks amazing just amazing

but i am trying to keep my feet on the ground, i need windows xp 64 (or 32) running because of the game si play Half life 2 etc and applications i use, so before i get ahead of myself and start getting all excited and have to change my pants i wanted to know if what i wanted was feasable and possible?

you guys are the experts so i am hoping you can help me, basically in the video when the screen goes into like a cube and you can switch between operateing systems that is what i am after!

will windows still run as it does now?
are there any added security risks with running linux/windows? ie will it allow a flood of hackers onto my pc all licking there lips as they take apart my files

just how much work is involved in getting my pc to look like that finished product? and what software is required? is it all free? (with the exception of xp of course) i am not scared of a little hard work

i am certain my pc can handle it, i have a xp 64 4400, 2gb ram, 2X 250gb 7200rpm sata hard drives, ati radion 1900XT and it runs very smooth at the moment.

any help/advice/guides will be greatly apriciated, i have been useing windows for a long time so i am very familiar with the operating system and all the usual stuff.

Thanks in advance......i still cant believe how awsome that video is!!

[techieMoe]

but i am trying to keep my feet on the ground, i need windows xp 64 (or 32) running because of the games i play: Half life 2 etc and applications i use, so before i get ahead of myself and start getting all excited and have to change my pants i wanted to know if what i wanted was feasable and possible?

Emulating MS Windows is not feasible if you want to play games on it, and especially not feasible if you want to play Half Life 2. There are alternatives to emulation, such as Transgaming's Cedega. It's not free, but for some people it allows them to play Microsoft Windows games in Linux without the need for a MS Windows installation. Note here I said some people. For others (myself included) it only works on some games, under certain phases of the moon, or not at all.

you guys are the experts so i am hoping you can help me, basically in the video when the screen goes into like a cube and you can switch between operateing systems that is what i am after!

They're not switching between operating systems; they're switching between virtual desktops inside Linux. That is one of the effects available for a 3D desktop like Beryl or Compiz.

will windows still run as it does now?

No. If you emulate MS Windows in something like VMWare it doesn't matter what OS you use as the host; it's going to run slower. I also am pretty sure VMWare doesn't offer 3D acceleration either (and no other virtual machine software at this time does, to my knowledge).

If you want to run Linux on a computer but still want to play MS Windows games, I recommend you dual-boot your system and leave both OSes on there. Boot to MS Windows for games, boot to Linux for everything else. It's the best solution for a gamer at this point.

are there any added security risks with running linux/windows? ie will it allow a flood of hackers onto my pc all licking there lips as they take apart my files

If you run MS Windows in a virtual machine, there is very little (if any) risk for your Linux system. That doesn't mean your virtual machine can't get hosed from viruses and you'd have to re-make it. MS Windows viruses do not affect Linux.

just how much work is involved in getting my pc to look like that finished product? and what software is required? is it all free? (with the exception of xp of course) i am not scared of a little hard work

VMWare is not free, but the Linux operating system and the 3D desktop software are.

i am certain my pc can handle it, i have a xp 64 4400, 2gb ram, 2X 250gb 7200rpm sata hard drives, ati radion 1900XT and it runs very smooth at the moment.

Your ATI card will give you fits, I'll just tell you that up front. ATI has the worst Linux drivers on the market right now and they're not even all that easy to install. If you're serious about Linux I'd recommend picking up a decent Nvidia card. They're much easier to get working.

any help/advice/guides will be greatly apriciated, i have been useing windows for a long time so i am very familiar with the operating system and all the usual stuff.

Just FYI, none of your MS Windows experience will help you when you dive into Linux. It is an entirely different animal. I recommend you do some research before you decide anything, starting with the "Linux is NOT Microsoft Windows" thread here:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...ead-first.html

Good luck, and above all try to have fun and keep an open mind.

[Bahney]

just a quick reply to say a big thank you to techieMoe for taking the time out to do that great reply, much apriciated.

i havent replied sooner because of family stuff sister just dropped a baby girl ! i'm an uncle and loads of other stuff has been going on.

i printed out all the information from the link you gave me, same very good points on there, and good comparisons and it has taken me a while to have the time to sit through and read most of it, but i have to say i am still not put off by it all, i thought i would be, but that article hit it on the head, i dont want something that is better then windows i just want something i can have more fun with, play around with and have it exactly how i want it something a bit diffrent then the norm.

i will be ventureing off into my Linux adventure in the next few weeks (i have Unbumtu downloaded and ready to use) and no doubt i will be poping back and forth asking loads of really newbie questions or searching the forums for advice and guideance.

Thanks once again and wish me luck


i am getting a bit excited about this, lol is that as sad as it sounds?

[techieMoe]

...i dont want something that is better then windows i just want something i can have more fun with, play around with and have it exactly how i want it something a bit diffrent then the norm.

Glad to hear it. You should find all that with whichever Linux you settle in on.

i am getting a bit excited about this, lol is that as sad as it sounds?

Not at all. We've all been there. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need here on the forums throughout your journey.

[bryansmith]

VMWare is not free, but the Linux operating system and the 3D desktop software are.

Certain version aren't free but you can download VMWare Server from here which, along with being free, allows you to create virtual machines. I use it here and it's great.