Windows 2000 Updated Information

[Punk]

Very good Colo!

I couldn't agree with you more...Maybe there is a petition organized somewhere. And if not...we'll do it.

Why I think W2K rocks??? I am a developer and it's very stable, but I also have a very fast cheap dual celeron 400@500 Abit BP6+ G400 MAX setup and it rocks....The games that play with the beta driver...rock. So if anybody is thinking about an upgrade and W2K check out the Abit BP6 solution.... 2 is better than one...like dualhead....

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What I like about computing?2 much 2 mention

[APV]

Colo, 100% agree with you.

[Larry]

Let's vote Colo for prez!!! <weep> that moved me!!!!

Larry

[Rags]

Colo would be correct if it weren't for on major omission: It is not us, the ones who build their own systems, tweaking hardware, upgrading video cards, dual booting os's, who make the decissions on what OS will be used for what. It is Microsoft....before you bust a nut let me explain to you how MS controls this.

First, let's figure out where most of the computers are sold. OEM's such as Dell, Gateway, Micron, Comcrap, etc. are the companies who supply the vast majority of users their computers. What they put on their affordable "consumer" computers is what people will use. Rarely do these people change anything, except maybe buy a printer, add a usb camera, or install Print Shop. They use that OS that is installed, they don't want to get a new OS (Hell, they don't even know what an OS is), they love their computer the way it is. Now, how do OEM's decide on what OS to put on their computers????? This is where it gets interesting. They pick the OS that is going to offer general stability, wide compatibility, and competitive LICENSING fees. MS right now has the two most compatible OS's in the world right now, and they both offer reasonable stability and compatibility, but they do NOT share the same low licensing fee. MS charges roughly triple for NT than they do 9x. So, if 90-95% of the people who buy their products could care less, just as long as it will run the programs they use, why would the companies change over to an OS that costs them three times as much for licensing?
Now, how about software development: As we have learned from above, most people are running the cheaper OS, so mister mojo programmer decides he wants to develop a 3D racing game. He wants to build a game that most people will be able to run on their system, that way he can sell more of his games, and make up for the cost of development. He also wants to go with an API that is majorly supported, and wants to go with an API who offers great help to their developers. That leaves DX as the API, and win9x as the OS. Now, MS sees that most of the game developers are using 9x, and little interest is being held in NT DX development, so when it comes time to add another DX version, what OS are they going to make sure they support? That's right DX is going to 9x first. Pretty soon, NT is several DX's behind 9x, and the last few DX game developers for NT finally give up, because they can no longer bring new features to their games like the ones in the latest DX in 9x. Now how does one game in the most popular API on an OS that is abandonned from the top for gaming? The answer: HE CAN'T.

I know.....It sucks, but unless MS changes something, that is just the way it is.

Rags

[Wombat]

Funny, I thought colo was advocating Linux at first.

[kewlcat]

For those of you complaining about game support for the business oriented Windows 2000, you *can* have your cake and eat it too. As Wombat mentioned, there is something called Linux and some games now run very well with it.

40+ fps in Quake3 is possible with "a solid, extensible, stable fully 32-bit kernal, fully protected from the applications and drivers running on it". Linux proves it.

As for Windows 2000, market driven economics wil probably ensure it never becomes a gaming OS. I would be more than happy to eat my words -- I like what I have seen of Windows 2000 so far. Also, you won't be seeing NBA Live 2000 (or the other 90% of hardware accelerated games that use D3D) for Linux anytime soon.

At the cost of sounding cheesy and corny, I'd also like to ask you to consider that Linux driver development is generally done by people who do it in their spare time, for no monetary considerations and purely out of dedication. Windows driver development depends once again on what sells best and the driver development teams are "just doing their jobs". (not badly or anything, but they have to concentrate on the ones that are more needed for Matrox's business model, i.e. not Win2k)

Still I agree with colo that consumer support does and will make a difference to Matrox's support of an OS. The whole Matrox-Precision Insight deal is evidence of that, as are similar deals that PI has made with the other 3D card manufacturers in the past. Too many Linux users use Matrox cards for Matrox to ignore this burgeoning market niche.

Okay I am done with my rant for the day, but the debate shall live on blah blah blah...

Rahul

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Abit BP6, Dual Celeron 366@550, G400 32MB DualHead, 128MB RAM, WD26500 6.4GB, SBLive! Value.
Running Mandrake 6.1 and Windows 2000.

[mj12]

While all of you are debating whether to consider w2k a gaming OS or not, remember that millennium will be the last 9x code base (which its just a rehashed 98se which is a rehashed 98 which is a rehashed 95...)Keep in mind that the next consumer OS after millennium will be based off of the NT kernel.

[This message has been edited by mj12 (edited 13 January 2000).]

[kewlcat]

There is more to life than Quake? Really?

Seriously, though, Linux application support is getting better. Scoff though you may, Star Office is not a test version, but a fully functional free version -- try it on Windows! If you didn't need to convert to MSOffice <insert version number> here all the time, you would have a full-featured office suite. As is, Star Office has converters to and from MS Office 97/2000. I have been working in biological research institutions for the past three summers; invariably Linux is the primary OS used, and StarOffice is the office suite. Perhaps its weakest area is the presentation software...

As far as Photoshop goes, have you seen the GIMP in action? This isn't some image viewer either -- it has plug-ins (come multithreaded) and everything just like photoshop. Cost: free! (gasp! last I checked PS5/6 was in three figures) It even takes just as long to load up as Photoshop does, if you want to use that as a measure

And 3d Studio Max - well I don't do any 3d design, so I have no concrete knowledge of a comparable app for Linux. Though I did hear someone praising one 3d design app to death, and they were using hardware accelerated OpenGL on a G400...

Multimedia is traditionally a weak area for Linux, as it is often closely linked to driver development. It's coming along though, and while you won't be synthesizing music on Linux anytime soon, you can play MP3s, rip and burn CDs.

Well all I can say is Linux is a viable option for a complete OS. As long as you are willing to spend some time on it, and don't expect to play D3D games I don't know about you, but I love having an OS where there are driver releases every other day and people are more excited about some new feature just added than covering their a**es if something breaks. Live life dangerously, just back up regularly, it's the only way to fly!

Rahul

[kewlcat]

Oh forgot one last thing. The Linux drivers for Matrox cards are better than the Win2k drivers. For now anyway.

[APV]

Gurm,

I agree to your points except 6 and 7.

6) I have all my drives on NTFS and all programs including games run pretty well.

7) I tried all beta drivers of G400, TNT2, ATI and 3dfx, hmm you can say the G400 beta w2k driver is good, hope they keep up the good work and improve it in their final. but TNT2 and 3dfx beta are not bad either, they all have thier up and downs including the g400 beta, I wouldn't say g400 has the best beta, after all they are all beta, it is the final version that counts.

keep my finger crossed.

cheers

[mj12]

The 3d app your thinking of is called blender.

[Gurm]

keep in mind that the next consumer OS after Millennium will be based off of the NT kernel...

Unless MS changes their minds again. Millennium was supposed to be NT-based as well. *sigh*

And as far as Linux... I've said it before and I'll say it again. Linux doesn't go onto my machine until I can do my work in Linux. That means a 3D rendering package comparable in ease-of-use and feature set to 3D Studio MAX. That means a graphics manipulation comparable to Photoshop+KPT. That means a sound editor comparable to Sound Forge, and a sequencer comparable to CakeWalk. Not to mention a WORKING office suite (and don't start in on "Star Office" or "Corel Perfect Office" until they're more than half-baked test versions).

So yeah, you can run Quake under Linux now. Whoop-di-doodle-di-dingdong. There is more to life than Quake (OH MY GOD, DID I JUST SAY THAT!?), capece?

- Gurm

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