[ELPIRATA]

Yep, decided to jump into it and now Windows only remains on my HTPC. Its funny, the biggest thing that kept me in windows was the multichannel sound, as it didnt work on this machine (which used to be my primary mediaPC).

I had promised myself that once multichannel audio worked... I would take the plunge.. and so it did.. and I did. Weird if you take into account that by today standards this can't be the HTPC (and it isnt) but decided that it was worth it to do it anyways.

A client decided to throw away a Dell Precision 370, P4 2.8ghz with small 40gig sata drive and 512mb ram (which is a lot better compared to my old Sempron 2400+ from where Im typing this message). The Precision also had an old 64MB Nvidia Quadro card, which is noticeable better to the one I was using (Geforce FX5200) or so I feel.

Anyways, I upgraded the new HTPC to 2GB memory, threw in the SB Audigy value, which should work well for 5.1 content and the last piece of the puzzle... CoreAVC, a highly efficient video codec that allows my system now to play 720p MKV H.264 content, whereas before, without it, it wouldnt while using 90-95% of the CPU now does it flawlessly with 55-65% of CPU. Still can't do 1080 stuff but at least I was able to watch the Beijing Opening and Closing at 720p and 120"

Of course, not everything will look as nice all the time, but I love it.

When I get the camera working again (or if I get somebody to take new pics) I'll put some pics up.

ELP

[ELPIRATA]

Oh, I forgot....

I got EWWWW to work in Ubuntu, so I did the trial, my 2nd time (first time it was a long time ago) and this time I got to the Cruiser without help, last time I got to the Destroyer with OEC's help. Its still BORING man, I did all the traveling manually to make things go as fast as possible but still there would be times that I was this close to falling asleep.

The amazing thing was that I was able to play in Ubuntu, and even though it wasnt a native client, it behave quite well. The system lags, it gets worse with time, forcing you to dock at a station and quit the client and load it again.

This, though, wasnt OS related, as I did play as well on the 120" with the HTPC and same lag would show up. Using the extreme memory usage options.... didnt help much either. Graphics qualitiy wise, it seemed that in Ubuntu the image was a lot sharper and brighter. Even when I connected to the HTPC via Vinagre (VNC Linux clone) Windows looked great and it never looked this great when I used to have it connected to this same monitor.

I even brought my brother to see me play EWWWW and he was bored just 5 mins in. Not the kind of fun experience. To me, I just liked the views and the music, and being able to scroll around the ship looking at things, and perhaps how technical stuff is, but other than that... its a dull game and the worse, the lag, at $20 a month and after I upgraded from DSL 1mb to cable 4mb and this lag is ridiculous, I'm not paying $20 with that lag. But since that Jumpgate doesnt work yet in Ubuntu, I might pay for just one month, though I know I'll have to be closing the client often.

Anyways, just wanted to vent my experience with the EWWWW game.

ELP

[Ambrosius]

Yes, but does MSIE work with it, that's the key.

P.S. GEEK!!!

[Pyrophred]

Originally Posted by Ambrosius

Yes, but does MSIE work with it, that's the key.

You mean people still use that?

[Ambrosius]

Only smart people.

[Tobyus]

EWWWW seriously stands for something? =0

Congrats on the switch! I've dual booted Red Hat in the past, but I haven't played with Ubuntu yet. I'm actually hitting a point in my life where I'm not getting the uncontrollable urge to play something every spare minute I have, so it might be a good time for me to try something like this. I've got a spare 2 ghz P4 with a Geforce 4 TI 4600 (whatever that thing was called) that would probably play nice with Ubuntu, but I also hate to waste a legitimate XP license...

[Ambrosius]

HELP! I'm surrounded by geeks!

[biteme]

Once again ambro, someone that gets in his pretend space ship and hauls pretend cargo to pretend space stations for pretend space cash shouldn't make fun of geeks

[Ambrosius]

Quit griefing my RP!

My kids constantly remind me that I'm I geek, so I don't need it from you.

[Jump]

Windows FTW!!!!!!
Posted via Mobile Device

[ELPIRATA]

@Toby: I've been near Ubuntu ever since the 7.10 release and every release has gotten better. I remember telling Istvan that wine (the compatibility 'program' that allows windows programs to be installed in Linux) was close to have the direct3d code finished and last I read they were finishing dx10. Its not perfect, but it works in many cases.

EWWW = EVE.

As things goes with Jumpgate Evolution... I have this horrible feeling that Jumpgate Evolution will not be what Id want to play. I guess I'll be there (if it works with Ubuntu) but I dont expect to last long. Of course, this also happened with Jumpgate Classic, I joined while parsec was being finished, but Jumpgate Classic went into retail first (parsec never got finished) and so I stayed with Jumpgate Classic.... so who knows what will happen.

But to me, the PvP thing looks to be that its a huge point thats make or break for me, even if I pvp only with roids.

ELP

[Tobyus]

I was hoping that wine would be able to keep up with DX, glad to hear they are making progress.

I'm staying hopeful that Jumpgate Evolution will be everything that I want it to be, or at least close enough where I can overlook the negatives.