Newsgroups: rec.autos.simulators
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From: dripton@netcom.com (David Ripton)
Subject: Re: Linux, a great platform for racing simulators...
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Date: Fri, 26 Feb 1999 20:29:02 GMT
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In article <36d4e774.20231451@news.supernews.com>,
Brett Reschke <my_spam_account@yahoo.com> wrote:
>Actually,  Linux has such a relatively configurable kernel, that it
>does *not* force you into anything at all.  If you want to run a lean
>OS, you can hack the kernel to do *only* what you wish, and nothing
>more.  This is exactly one reason that Linux could 'win'.  It has the
>ability to be all OSes to all people.
>
>Now, I'm no Linux guru.  To be sure, I've only played with it, and
>couldn't hack the kernel to save my life.  But I can easily see the
>potential.  The point is that the kernel *can* be hacked.  

Hacking the kernel is hard.  Rebuilding your kernel to only include
the stuff you need is easy.  Read the Kernel HOWTO, and use "make 
xconfig" for the most user-friendly interface.

>Just like an average user doesn't know the details of how the
>wallpaper changes in Windoze, in the future, the average user won't
>need to know how their Linux box switches to "Extra Lean Grand Prix
>Legends VIII" mode, either.  But it will be done, just as they wish.
>When they wish, they will switch back to "Extra Fat Windoze" mode, so
>they can do whatever it is that a bloated system does well. ;)

Recent Linux kernels are modular, meaning that features that aren't
needed all the time can be loaded on demand.  If you only use your
sound card and 3D acceleration and wheel drivers when playing GPL, 
they should only be loaded then.  (Of course, the reality is that
few video cards have 3D drivers under Linux, and wheels that aren't
just plain old analog joysticks aren't supported.  There's a chicken-
egg problem that games won't be ported until the driver support for
the hardware they need is there and vice-versa.  But the tide is 
moving in the right direction.  Creative Labs, for example, has
actually hired someone to write Linux drivers for their video and 
sound cards.)

>I think over time, there will be several OS's, that's true.  Who
>knows?  But, Linux has the ability to capitalize on whatever strong
>points you desire in an OS.

Linux is already the best overall Unix, and it's improving while the
rest are standing still.  I expect the non-Open-Source Unix vendors 
to start hurting over the next couple of years, with the exception 
of those who do something Linux doesn't (like realtime) or those who 
make a lot of money selling hardware (like Sun)   MS will take a 
while longer.  The turning point will come when Linux is easy enough 
to use that computer vendors start including it rather than Windows 
9x with most machines.  (As computer prices fall, the cost of that 
bundled copy of Windows becomes more and more significant.)

If you want to see more games for Linux, buy games that have
Linux versions (like the upcoming Quake 3 and Civ: CTP) and return
the comment cards / online registration forms for all the games
you buy so the game company marketeers see your opinion.

-- 
David Ripton    dripton@netcom.com
spamgard(tm): To email me, put "geek" in your Subject line.
