well, they also believe linux will rule the desktop market any day now. they believe that linux is more stable/reliable then windows(been shown to not be true since the windows 2003 days) they believe linux is immune to malware/exct they believe the great Trevolds(sp?) is correct to feel that a stable driver API/ABI is an evil idea and that tying all drivers directly to the kernel is the best way to do things, even tho this means that even very minor kernel updates/patches tend to break video and audio drivers... im sure i dont need to go on.... if you really want a *nix based system thats modern and well thought out, I would look at BSD...unlike linux its got a stable driver/hardware API/ABI, oh yeah, and unlike linux, bsd always supports the same installer packages :P

The problem as others have mentioned is that Linux has no stable driver/hardware API, every kernal update breaks drivers for sound and video it seems.... tying drivers that closely to the kernal is a stupid move....its why bsd and windows dont do it.... if you want to push for a *nix gaming solution, push for better BSD support, unlike linux BSD has a stable driver/hardware api/abi. Linux is far from optimal in its current desktop(or even server) forms, it works, and it can be effective for some jobs but, its not really ready for prime in desktop or gaming. try putting your average "power user" who uses more then a basic office suit, web browser and media player on linux....have fun getting all the windows apps they need working at the same time, have fun trying to replace windows apps with linux native apps.... heres a REALLY fun one, try opening a 1+gb excel file with openoffice or one of its offshoots......then try manipulating it.... i didnt know about the last probem till a client of mine ran into it when they tried to change their office off of ms office to FOSS......they have several VERY VERY large xls files that have been used since the company opened decades ago.... under openoffice on my 6 core system it takes a few minutes to fully open, then it stutters and lags as you scroll around in it....horrible.... ms office: smooth as silk 5-7sec load time, WordPerfect same deal, opens large files fast and "just works" blah....point is, if your going to be a linux user, use linux native software and support the movement for more linux software. Also to the fellow above that mentioned supporting windows users vs linux users.....testify brother....testify.... cant tell you how much trying to help somebody track down an audio or video driver bug under linux makes me wana cry.....windows...pretty easy....uninstall driver....reinstall driver...99/100 times....problem solved....

well said, and what I have said for a long time.

I fully Agree. I am a Windows guy, I admit that, and it wont make me popularr around here, BUT I dont have a problem with BSD or even Linux, I dont like them for the average user as a desktop because, its to much work to have to help them get windows software working or find decent alternatives for many apps.(i have tried for years, if the users more then a basic user, its just to much work to replace or WINE all the apps they want.) I will never understand die hard linux users buying Windows software and Games and being upset the dont work or about stuff like this where they end up banned. buying windows software as a linux user is idiotic, your just supporting studios sticking to windows and NOT making a linux version. the invariable complaints after such stupid actions are also stupid....if you want to use linux, buy and use native software/games....accept that you wont have the selection of quality apps and games windows has, feel free to lobby studios to put out even unofficial linux ports for games(like cryptic has unofficial support for STO under WINE....) Oh yeah and crazyjj, your asking something horrible, your asking them to PAY for an operating system, how could you ask such a thing? most people I know who switched to Linux did it because they didnt want to pay for windows... so asking them to buy windows so they can dual boot and game.....how horrible of you!!!