Best OS for gaming (excluding XP)?

[suryad]

Thanks, I forgot the title of the thread LOL!

[kteague]

OS/2, hands down! Hahaa, j/k! Well, since XP is out of the question for you, I'm afraid you're gaming experience is going to be rather limited. Take Age of Empires III as an example. A new game released by Microsoft and *does* *not* support Windows 2000; only Windows XP. Don't you love how Microsoft forces time lines on you? I sure do!... <cough>bastards</cough>

Since Windows 2000 is becoming "too old", at least in Microsoft's eyes, and you don't want to use Windows XP, I'm afraid your only other choice that will give you a lot of games to play is Linux. I'm afraid you're incorrect in that there are not many games for Linux... well, only partially incorrect. The games themselves are not *native* to linux, but they can be run under linux using Cedega (http://www.transgaming.com/). Although the games run under linux using Cedega, that doesn't mean the games are 100% compatible. For example, I was a big Solider of Fortune II player -- not single player, but online playing. Unfortunately, PunkBuster didn't work and I kept getting booted from PB-enabled servers every 3 minutes. Imagine trying to feed your SoF2 craving while getting booted every 3 minutes. Other problems I had were:

1. Not being able to perform a keystroke to swap out of the game to my desktop so I could run a 3rd party executable mod for World of Warcraft, the Allakhazam LUA addon which gathers game data and publishes it to their database.

2. Games that came on multiple CD's were hard to install because Linux handles CD-ROM devices differently, and locks the tray inside until the file system is unmounted. Point2play, the front-end to Cedega, wasn't aware of when an installation requested another CD.

3. When a game would crash, I would end up at my desktop in pan/scan mode (e.g. 1280x1024 desktop size with 800x600 viewable on the screen).

The games I play are very limited, so I can't give you good or bad stories about a lot of the games out there. The above is just my experience with the few games I play. However, even though I mention the "bad" stuff, it doesn't mean Cedega is bad. It has a lot of good points:

1. Friendly and knowledgable support.

2. A voting system to have new game support added, existing bugs fixed, etc. (the more you pay them per month, the more votes you're allowed to submit -- $5/month = base fee gives you 1 vote per month).

3. The way it works. It doesn't emulate anything such as a PC or Windows. They basically supply DirectX/Direc3D DLL's that the games hook in to and, instead of the games hooking in to Windows DLL's, they're hooking in to the DLL's made by Transgaming. In essence, it's a souped up version of WINE (http://www.winehq.com/).

I switched from XP (also due to the activation crap I had to deal with after coming home from work one day and my PC rebooted fro AutoUpdates and thought I had new hardware) to Debian GNU/Linux and Cedega. I'd have to admit, I did some hellafied upgrades to my hardware for the longest time without having to go through reactivation. It was just annoying to go home one day after fixing a bunch of computer related stuff at work, hoping to kick back, relax, and play a game to wind down, just to find out Microsoft ****ed me with no Vasoline and some 20-grit sandpaper (specially manufactured by Microsoft) wrapped around their rods, giving it to me DP-style. I used that for about a year, paying for my Cedega membership, giving them my 2 cents, and placing my votes. Then, after the shortcomings I faced (see above), I went back to the Dark Side and, my father, Lord Vader (Bill Gates) sits right next to me. I can say I'm happy for now... at least, until my next crash. At that point, I'll probably see the light at the end of the tunnel again as I pop my old Linux hard disk back in the drive and hold two middle fingers up, facing northward to Redmond, WA..

Yeah, that's right, Bill. I still hate you for the job security your nimwit developers give me on a daily basis.

[suryad]

Wow what is is it about windows activation that people hate so much? Sure it is annoying.........but ONCE every time you reinstall....surely if you are getting annoyed at the activation then you must be reinstalling too many times!!

[BigDaddy]

Just use a crack that will disable the Activation crack. Or do like me NLITE a WinXP install and disable Activtion cra p

[RayOK]

For the OS, I guess 2000 with all the latest stuff. Definitely nLited.

For the DOS games part, check out DOSBox before dual booting.

[SiMoNsAyS]

Just use a crack that will disable the Activation crack. Or do like me NLITE a WinXP install and disable Activtion cra p

let me remember you our forum rules:

Discussion of circumventing activation/timebombs/keygens or any other illegal activity will also not be tolerated. If you ignore any of the aforementioned you will receive a final warning. If you choose to continue, you will be banned without notice.

please, evade any kind of discussion about cracks/illegal activation

[albator]

Then use Home Edition and nLite it.

Hmm, you don't like the activation... sounds like you are afraid of M$ finding out you use a pirated version. My assumption could be wrong but it's applicable...

If is the case dont be afraid, they can't

(dont presume it my case )

[ChrisX64]

Wow what is is it about windows activation that people hate so much? Sure it is annoying.........but ONCE every time you reinstall....surely if you are getting annoyed at the activation then you must be reinstalling too many times!!

It's annoying because I don't like being treated like a thief when the software I have is 100% legit. Same goes with "genuine advantage". Just one more thing to annoy the legal users and make the illegal ones laugh...

& on the thread topic - personally I like Server 2003. I've used every other "modern" version of Windows and it offers the best blend of compatibility with stability & speed. Sure, it's a server o/s, sure it's not made for gaming, but I'll take it any day over XP. It also comes with the benefit of not having as many hotfixes to download once you install it.

[suryad]

They cant? Then what is this bull about the Genuine Advantage tool?

[Zxian]

Wow what is is it about windows activation that people hate so much? Sure it is annoying.........but ONCE every time you reinstall....surely if you are getting annoyed at the activation then you must be reinstalling too many times!!

It's annoying because I don't like being treated like a thief when the software I have is 100% legit. Same goes with "genuine advantage". Just one more thing to annoy the legal users and make the illegal ones laugh...

& on the thread topic - personally I like Server 2003. I've used every other "modern" version of Windows and it offers the best blend of compatibility with stability & speed. Sure, it's a server o/s, sure it's not made for gaming, but I'll take it any day over XP. It also comes with the benefit of not having as many hotfixes to download once you install it.

Try to look at it from the other side. Microsoft loses millions of dollars per year on pirated copies of Windows. They've released certain software that is only available to those people who have actually purchased Windows. Not to mention that once you've activated, it takes copying two files over from your previous installation to avoid having to activate again. A whole 2 files!!!

Lets say you go to download SyncToy. You go to the website - they check to see if you've actually bought it - you pass - you get to download! How on earth does that make you feel like a theif? They're giving you the right to download something extra once they know that you've actually paid them. For most of the pirates out there, they don't get to download. I really don't get this argument at all...

And as for your recommendation, sure, endorse more piracy. Server 2003 Web edition is $399 and Server 2003 Standard edition is $999. Just another way to laugh I guess...

Just to be somewhat helpful for the orignal question - Win2K or Linux.

Edited October 21, 2005 by Zxian

[anfo1369]

i rarely post on MSFN, but i thought i'd give me 2 bytes worth.

1 - I agrre on the choice of Windows 2000 Pro for the reasons previously stated.

2 - I can also agree with both the benefits and the aggravations of product activation.

3 - Windows Genuine Advantage failed my purchased legimate copy of XP Home Edition... how does that comfort me? LOL

just my opinions....select you're own path

[ChrisX64]

Wow what is is it about windows activation that people hate so much? Sure it is annoying.........but ONCE every time you reinstall....surely if you are getting annoyed at the activation then you must be reinstalling too many times!!

It's annoying because I don't like being treated like a thief when the software I have is 100% legit. Same goes with "genuine advantage". Just one more thing to annoy the legal users and make the illegal ones laugh...

& on the thread topic - personally I like Server 2003. I've used every other "modern" version of Windows and it offers the best blend of compatibility with stability & speed. Sure, it's a server o/s, sure it's not made for gaming, but I'll take it any day over XP. It also comes with the benefit of not having as many hotfixes to download once you install it.

Try to look at it from the other side. Microsoft loses millions of dollars per year on pirated copies of Windows. They've released certain software that is only available to those people who have actually purchased Windows. Not to mention that once you've activated, it takes copying two files over from your previous installation to avoid having to activate again. A whole 2 files!!!

Lets say you go to download SyncToy. You go to the website - they check to see if you've actually bought it - you pass - you get to download! How on earth does that make you feel like a theif? They're giving you the right to download something extra once they know that you've actually paid them. For most of the pirates out there, they don't get to download. I really don't get this argument at all...

And as for your recommendation, sure, endorse more piracy. Server 2003 Web edition is $399 and Server 2003 Standard edition is $999. Just another way to laugh I guess...

Just to be somewhat helpful for the orignal question - Win2K or Linux.

I can see your point, and this is how I 'wrote off' activation to myself when it came out. But the whole 'genuine advantage' thing, I mean, I understand their problems with piracy, but now you have the CD key - Activation - AND genuine advantage. Come on, eventually, enough's enough.

And HOW am I endorsing piracy? I did not pirate my copy of Server 2003 (which happens to be Web Edition), nor did I ask anybody to pirate it. I simply expressed my opinion on the topic question.

Edited October 21, 2005 by ChrisX64

[Zxian]

And HOW am I endorsing piracy? I did not pirate my copy of Server 2003 (which happens to be Web Edition), nor did I ask anybody to pirate it. I simply expressed my opinion on the topic question.

I just think it's somewhat silly to suggest a very expensive OS without mentioning the hole that it'll burn in their pocket.

Well... one viable option when it comes to Server 2003 is to do what I do - use the trial version and then reinstall every 6 months. Set up a good UA disc and you're set!

[BigDaddy]

Just use a crack that will disable the Activation crack. Or do like me NLITE a WinXP install and disable Activtion cra p

let me remember you our forum rules:

Discussion of circumventing activation/timebombs/keygens or any other illegal activity will also not be tolerated. If you ignore any of the aforementioned you will receive a final warning. If you choose to continue, you will be banned without notice.

please, evade any kind of discussion about cracks/illegal activation

I obeyed the forum rules.

Cos when I buy an OS it's MINE. And I can do whatever I want with it.

So I give a rat's a** about MS policy. If I buy an overly expensive OS then I can as sure as hell do whatever I want with it.

And besides every consumer has the right to create a backup.

Why do U think NO-CD cracks for games still exist on the legal side?????

[SiMoNsAyS]

I obeyed the forum rules.

Cos when I buy an OS it's MINE. And I can do whatever I want with it.

So I give a rat's a** about MS policy. If I buy an overly expensive OS then I can as sure as hell do whatever I want with it.

I would like to have the time to explain you what you can and what you can't do, and what you should and shouldn't do but that's not the case at the moment.

first you CAN'T do "whatever you want with it"... toc, toc, license agreement? ... that ugly screen you bypass at the very first process of the installation tells you to not modify any of the components of the system core.

i know, i know, you're going to talk me about uxtheme.dll or tcpip.sys, that's illegal too but is sure m$ won't demand you for using an alternative msstyles, but it will certainly do for removing/sharing knowledge about windows activation.

And besides every consumer has the right to create a backup.

Why do U think NO-CD cracks for games still exist on the legal side?????

yes, you have the right to create a backup for your personal use... so what has this to do with activation?

i told to evade this kind of discussion b/c i've spent sometime here and i know people is prone to write phrases like "you can remove/download X in order to use a windows system without activation"