I want the debian but not sure if...

[Glittering Blackness]

Hello guys,

I want to convert to Debian, but there are a few things i need it to do.Is it in any way possible to do the following:

-Gaming (using an fx8350 and 7970 matrix Crossfire) i know steam is supported, but are there any other platforms?

-Streaming: the goal is for android phones to connect trough UPnP or something and be able to listen to my music, and a WDLive tv for movies and the like. is it in any way possible to stream to windows phone and iphone (only music)?

-Be able to run 24/7 without any problems

-Music library should be managed (i'm using mediamonkey at the moment)

-Some form of audiobook player?


These are a lot of questions, and i don't even know if this is the right board to ask them so sorry in advance.
I'm not new to linux, but i am to debian. I have only used ubuntu and backtrack in the past.

I love "playing around" with my computer. trying beta programs, setting up new themes, trying to "personalise" the thing as much as possible.
This is the reason i keep coming back to linux, and why i love it. the reality is, sometimes i run into a brick wall after a week or 2 and just go back to windows, only to try linux again in a few months.

TL;DR:
I'm here to switch for good, convince me its the right thing to do


Thanks in advance.

[schnuller]

TL;DR:
I'm here to switch for good, convince me its the right thing to do

Well: it isn't.

I can answer one of your questions:
You sure can run Debian 24/7/365

I can even answer another question: There are tons of musicplayers similar to mediamonkey.

I am pretty sure you can stream, say with rhythmbox or vlc, xmms2 and mocp as far music is concerned, but i don't do such.

[Glittering Blackness]

TL;DR:
I'm here to switch for good, convince me its the right thing to do

Well: it isn't.

Why isn't it?

[schnuller]

If you already tried it and gave up again, then it isn't the right choice for you.
No one else can or has to convince you otherwise.

Besides that Linux is getting more and more like Windows anyway. And the mobile stuff is the big deal, the hype, right now.
If you really want to switch from a Windows feeling, then i would go for one of the BSD systems.

edited: corrected a typo, pointed out by another user

[Glittering Blackness]

If you already tried it and gave up again, then it isn't the right choice for you.

Never really gave up, just couldn't find the time to find the alternatives to the windows software i use.

If you really want to switch from a Windows feeling, then i would go for one of the BSD systems.

I want to switch from the feeling i have no control over my OS, not nessesarily from windows.
I've used Linux in the past and really liked it, 3-4 years ago it was my dayly driver (ubuntu)

Debian is my choise, and i plan to stick with it.

[schnuller]

you will have more control over your OS if you use a BSD one.

[Glittering Blackness]

use a BSD one.

Explain

[schnuller]

no

[Glittering Blackness]

no

wow, thanks! --'

[confuseling]

I wouldn't take what schnuller says personally

BSD is very good, but often not considered suitable for a desktop. If you want something general purpose, might be worth trying FreeBSD at some point, but I think Linux is a better choice for someone relatively unfamiliar with Unix.

Ever tried virtualisation? Install Virtualbox in Windows and you can try out as many OSes as you like (well... they have to support Virtualbox, but most Linuxes and BSDs do).

[thanatos_incarnate]

Debian is an OS that requires you to do a lot of reading and preparation on your own. If you're concerned or annoyed about that. why not stick to Ubuntu or Mint for the while being? They have everything Debian does for most people's needs and even their LTS releases are almost up to the same stability standards as a stable Debian release.

Apart from Steam, there are also these with some Linux support:

-gog.com
-humblebundle.com/store
-desura

Most of those are indie games, although Steam and gog.com are at least somewhat offering AAA titles.

A lot of emulators will give you good results (most consoles up to generation 6). Most dos games work well.

Some Windows games work well, too with Wine (especially with the Playonlinux software)

[Glittering Blackness]

trying FreeBSD at some point, but I think Linux is a better choice for someone relatively unfamiliar with Unix.

Never used unix

Ever tried virtualisation? Install Virtualbox in Windows and you can try out as many OSes as you like (well... they have to support Virtualbox, but most Linuxes and BSDs do).

i have used VM's for my job, mostly windows machines tho. i did install debian, ubuntu and gentoo but i'd like to dual boot and eventually remove windows.

[schnuller]

Never used unix

i did install debian, ubuntu and gentoo.

To answer your question from above:
Linux attracts people who make such statements. Give BSD a year or two, and it will attract such people too.
And hence i think one might just as well use Windows, like stated in my first post in this thread.

I wish i could say:
It can't get any better.
I am sure you will offer more gems, for the crowd to have a good laugh.

Are you sure the device you are using is a computer?

[mean_dean]

Besides that Linux is getting more and more like Linux anyway.

errr....umm...what?

[golinux]

Besides that Linux is getting more and more like Linux anyway.

errr....umm...what?

Obviously a typo.

[RU55EL]

TL;DR:
I'm here to switch for good, convince me its the right thing to do

Well: it isn't.

Why isn't it?

If you already tried it and gave up again, then it isn't the right choice for you.

Never really gave up, just couldn't find the time to find the alternatives to the windows software i use.

Debian may not be the best choice because you can't find the time to find alternatives to the Windows software you use. Debian is not an "easy" choice for a replacement operating system. It is solid, and after you have taken the time to learn and figure out how to use it, it is easy. But, you have to be willing to spend the time learning and figuring out how to use the system. That is why, if you want to switch to Linux from Windows, Debian may not be the best choice.

[golinux]

Linux is not (and hopefully never will be) a windoze replacement.

From a rant posted to the lkml:

Partially it's a belief that the Linux Community must fight against the
hegemony of Windows and Mac - as if the existence of Linux depends upon
the vanquishing of alternatives. Those who think Linux should cater to
idiots and droolers should go back to their Macs and Windoze boxen, and
stop trying to 'fix' Linux. It wasn't ****** broken!

[RU55EL]

Linux is not (and hopefully never will be) a windoze replacement.

From a rant posted to the lkml:

Partially it's a belief that the Linux Community must fight against the
hegemony of Windows and Mac - as if the existence of Linux depends upon
the vanquishing of alternatives. Those who think Linux should cater to
idiots and droolers should go back to their Macs and Windoze boxen, and
stop trying to 'fix' Linux. It wasn't ****** broken!

Debian is an excellent operating system to replace Windows. Not in the sense that it is like Windows, or easy to learn and use, but in that it is a more capable system.

[mor]

Glittering Blackness,
in other words, the problem with your question ("I'm here to switch for good, convince me its the right thing to do") is the wrong assumption that the convincing must be done by any other than yourself.

I know that it is common to chant and praise the virtues of one's favorites, and Operating Systems are no exception, but unlike what one may presume from this general attitude, that is not uncommon even among the most aloof of "linux" users, it still is a matter of personal preference to use it or not.
No one can know if something is right for someone or convince anybody about using anything (beside tricking or forcing them or asking them to make huge sacrifices), it all depends on the very usefulness and suitability for one person.

In numerous occasions you stumbled in approaching "linux" and it is likely because you were trying to make it fit when and where it didn't.

Many are inclined to think this is not for you because you are still thinking in terms of finding alternatives and replacements to something else that already works for you, instead of being driven by a natural interest and desire to use something else for what it is.

TL;DR
As long as you keep looking at it ("linux", Debian, whatever) in terms of it being a replacement of what you are used to (Windows, Ubuntu, whatever), you are gonna find yourself missing something.
Don't try to become a vegetarian by shaping tofu into pork ribs and hamburgers, you're always gonna fall short. Either you embrace something new for what it is or you don't, and in that case it makes more sense to stick with what you already have.

Bye

[thanatos_incarnate]

Linux is not (and hopefully never will be) a windoze replacement.

From a rant posted to the lkml:

Partially it's a belief that the Linux Community must fight against the
hegemony of Windows and Mac - as if the existence of Linux depends upon
the vanquishing of alternatives. Those who think Linux should cater to
idiots and droolers should go back to their Macs and Windoze boxen, and
stop trying to 'fix' Linux. It wasn't ****** broken!

Well, I'm a bit sick of such thinking to be honest. Nothing is final and an OS
will change according to its users needs. True, we won't change entire paradigms
in order to cater to certain users, but if those users want to have a certain
usage case from Windows or MacOS replaced, they are free to do it.
This also is part of software freedom.
Linux (not kernel, the entire software ecosystem) has never since its inception
been a conservative OS. It has borrowed left and right to replicate things from
UNIX, from Windows, Workbench or Mac GUI.
There is generally some place for conservativism within the Linux ecosystem,
but usually you can always ask yourself the question: Is Linux the same as it has
been 5 years ago?