Please support Linux/WINE again.

[QUOTE=TomWhiting;1219558]no, actually, it's not
Name one MAJOR vendor that provides support for Linux on an application basis.
Go on, name one.
manufacturers that DO provide support for Linux have to rewrite their entire product just to do so.
/QUOTE]

How bout a major gaming developer. ID Software supported Linux, free download to those who bought the game in a retail store.

As for application devs, well you can consider all the server applications written for it and hardware well broadcom chips in routers used Linux as a base hense being sued to release their code under the GPL.

Also as for the not enough players as a base, well I for one would not even touch windows on my pc if dx was available and i'm sure you wouldn't either if it was available. I played wow in Linux no problem unless it was raid night and vent was required hell blizz even had a linux installer for in house systems they just refused to release it.

I think a lot of people will be disillusioned with windows 8 when it comes out, it's a RADICAL DEPARTURE from anything they will have used before, since it's essentially a tablet OS that works on a computer (yes, I know I'm oversimplifying it). Several friends and family have taken a look at the videos on youtube and they're not at all interested in moving to win 8. So they're going to be sticking with win 7 or moving to Linux.

Unfortunately, I don't think there will be a mass exodus from windows to Mac or Linux, which sucks, but I do believe we will see more people switching to one or the other when win 7 is EOL'd, if Microsloth hasn't gotten their act together and given them what they want.

I fully understand why EA/BW aren't making a linux version of swtor, as it would be a huge (and expensive) undertaking with little reward. After all, EA and Bioware are businesses, not charities and the bottom line often determines whether they will dive into something or not. It's just a shame that linux ISN'T a good investment for companies like these, because linux itself is really amazing, especially when compared to Windoze.

Linux has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade and I believe it will continue to grow, especially if people are as disillusioned as I believe they will be at the signed apps requirement that's coming both in OS X and Windows 8. I know OS X will have a way to turn this off in their new OS coming out this summer, but I suspect that there will be a time when the "switch" to turn it off will go away, which will leave Apple and Microsoft in full control of who writes software and where it can be purchased. Personally, I hate the idea of signed applications for desktop computers. We have seen how this all turns out in the tablet arena and while it does make getting apps easy, it also seriously hurts the smaller developers and people who develop things which the companies may disapprove of, for whatever reason. It boils down to censorship in its most basic form and it's wrong. Most people don't know that apple REQUIRES app developers to pay a fee just to list their apps on the Apple app store ($100 per year)...on top of that, they also get a portion of the proceeds of each sale. I assume the same will be true of Microsoft's iteration of the app store as well. Eventually you will ONLY be able to buy applications for your computers from these "app stores".

So I believe the idea of free software and unobtrusive UI design may lead some to choose linux where they previously wouldn't have given it a second thought. These app stores will also lead developers to Linux and away from the more restrictive (and even cost-prohibitive) Apple/Microsoft business models. I believe that people WILL pay for good software for Linux and if developers can keep the profits they make, it will certainly be better for them and their businesses. Currently, most developers for tablets are individuals or very small companies and I think we will see this trend ramp up for desktop computers too as the Apple/M$ app stores open and become more prevalent. I think the cost and lost income potential will be what decides if these developers stay with cupertino and redmond or they come to the linux side of things.

I DO believe we will see a mac version sometime in the future. It's too big of a market to pass up for Bioware and EA. The "tablet windows" version may also drive people to Apple products. I think win 8 is just plain silly. Apple would be wise to stay away from tablet interfaces on desktop computers (even though that's where they're headed, as well, just not to the extent that Microsoft has). Apple could REALLY cash in if they give people a viable alternative to the Metro interface coming on Win 8. If people wanted to use a tablet interface, they'd buy a tablet. I see this as just another colossal Microsoft failure that the world will be FORCED to adopt ("Windows Me", anyone?).

I wonder how many of these "just get windows noob" -type of people have ever actually USED linux? I always find it amusing when someone blindly supports something when they have no idea of the alternatives to it. I use windows for playing swtor, but that's about all I can stand it for. I am almost afraid to browse the web on it because with my luck, I'll end up with some virus that destroys my install or forces me to buy a very overpriced antivirus application. I was a mac user for over a decade (longer if you count that I used the apple II as my first computer when I was younger, then didn't really have a computer for several years when I left home). So Apple products have always felt like home to me, like where I belong. When Apple switched from the PPC processors to intel, I wasn't on board anymore. The PPC processors did what I needed them to do with a lot more speed (I was an audio/video editor) than their intel counterparts, at least back then. This was when AMD was still ahead by a good margin in terms of raw computing power, which is what is required for A/V editing. I really couldn't see paying $6000 for a computer I could build myself for 1/3rd of the price (speaking of the Powermac when it first switched to intel). Sure, OS X was nice, and it still is, but it simply wasn't a logical business move for me at the time, so I left Apple altogether. Since then I've bounced around between Windows and Linux, spending most of my time in Linux because Windows just seems to clunky and unintuitive to me.

People who REALLY know their computers seem to use Linux. I don't mean hardware geeks, but software gurus...the ones who you'd call to fix your computer when it breaks. Perhaps that's why linux hasn't taken off like it should have... it's pretty much designed by gurus for gurus. For a long time, the LOOK of linux put people off as much as the complexity. Now, thanks to distributions like Mint Linux and Ubuntu, linux is finally accessible to the masses (and beautiful to look at as well). All we're waiting for is for Microsoft to screw up, or make enough people uninterested in their latest product. This Metro Interface could be the straw that breaks the camel's back, but I think the app store will be far more detrimental to M$ when all apps MUST be signed, than their new tablet interface. If Apple follows suit, they will lose market share too. It's just a matter of whether the people are ready for Linux...because Linux IS ready for the people.

Many said the same thing about Vista. In fact, a lot of new Mac and Linux users were the direct result of Vista.

Microsoft has a history of making products that are only good every other generation. Windows 7 was marketed as the anti-vista and it worked like gangbusters. Windows 9 will probably be marketed as the anti-8. That is, unless Microsoft listens to it's customers and makes a desktop-only version without the Metro UI. (Which there's a good chance they might, there's already a Metro-only version for tablets running on ARM processors.)

While they still have to pay the developer subscription fee, Apple doesn't charge for free apps. They only take a cut of the ones that developers charge for (and some of those paid apps are so bad, I wish Apple would take a bigger cut just to punish them )

Just use Microsoft Security Essentials (Free from MS and uses very little system resources) and don't install anything you know you didn't download yourself. You'll be fine in Windows Land (at least from a security standpoint)

It is interesting how easy this went to off topic.
Wine is now workin, Windows erased from hdd... No need to discuss the future of richest software manufacturer in the world. Of course, they are going to survive. Of course they are going to continue to maintain their position as number one PC gaming platform.

I'm sattisfied with current situation. Actually I'm good with it since Vista. Back then M$ started to give trial period on their Windows. Trial perod is just enough to play new games till Linux comunity develops workaround and thus we can play all games available.

Anyhow, I find this to be trolling. So let me remind you that in previous post
I can testify it works on several distros (all I've tried). Also, crossover is workin' too.
So, please, stop trolling and speaking against windows and/or mac. We can all use our heads and decide if we want this or that.

Does the name UNIGINE tell you anything ? just one of the most advanced engines available now, all the major magazines test gaming gear using it. It has native support for LINUX and OpenGl 4 (yes tesselation). And yes there are atm 3-4 games beeing developed under it that will work by default on Linux. So your argument is invalid. Stop writing on forums if you have NO IDEEA what you are talking about.

p.s the small company Google also has the "not widely used" Google Chrome port for Linux, S2 with Heroes of Newerth have a linux port, and Blizzard dedicated a page where one of theyr employees gave instruction on How To wine+wow (btw wow does have support for opengl). Like i sad, get your facts straight and then start talking.

Dualboot Windows.

You use Linux, I know you know how to do it.

If you're a gamer, you would already have a Windows dual-boot anyway and not use a crappy emulator.

W.I.N.E = Wine Is Not an Emulator

man this made me LOL so bad... hahahaha

ya this is really *********** lame i hate windows its such a POS O.S if you dont treat you machine like a queen your gonna have more errors than a catholic priest. i really wanna make the swich to linux because you can do almost anything without worring did i "safely remove that flash drive" did i properly shut down the pc? did i just install a program or a virus is this website full of virus's the list goes on and on with linux i have never really had any of these problems with windows it seems like i cant get a brake from these problems i just wanna play my game on linux you biosexuals

The last 4 month i've been enjoying this game without any problems running under ubuntu with wine. Yesterdays launcher patch broke it again

Just saying in case someone at Bioware wonders why i'm not buying more playtime.