Linux on an AMD64 box...

[Evan Leibovitch]

Lennart Sorensen wrote:

>>I am terribly pleased, but I want it to go well, so I thought I'd ask
>>here for any gotchas on running Linux on the AMD64 architecture.  I've
>>heard a few things, like Firefox having to run in 32-bit mode (or is
>>that just Flash?  I don't remember) but I don't know how you'd set
>>something like this up.
>>    
>>
>
>Just flash, and any other non-free plugins that only come in 32bit.
>There are people working on getting 32bit plugins to work in 64bit
>browsers but I am not sure if they are done yet.
>  
>
One thing you may miss, along with a Flash player, are some of the 
Windows Media Player codecs.

Almost anything with a .wmv extension won't play under AMD64, and I 
don't think there's a fix for that coming any time soon.

>>I plan to use Debian, because that's what I use and I know it best, and
>>so I'd love to hear any advice about getting that set up so she
>>experiences minimal disruption - the whole point of running Linux for
>>her is that it's easier, more flexible and more secure, so if it's a big
>>hassle she'll go back to what she knows.
>>    
>>
If that's the case I'd suggest Ubuntu rather than 'pure' Debian. You get 
the inner guts that you know and love, and she gets a better new-user 
experience. Xandros will work this way too.


- Evan

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