The state of 64-bit Desktop Linux

[Giles Orr]

Sorry for the reply-to-self, just wanted to confirm what I said earlier.

2009/2/11 Giles Orr <gilesorr-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org>:
> 2009/2/11 Marc Lanctot <lanctot-yfeSBMgouQgsA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org>:
>> Giles Orr wrote:
>>> 2009/2/11 Marc Lanctot <lanctot-yfeSBMgouQgsA/PxXw9srA at public.gmane.org>:
>>> I'm using Sun's native Java.  Haven't used it heavily, but no problems.
>>
>> Do you know what version? My big test, which 64-bit Blackdown has failed in
>> the past, is running the Text Twist game on Yahoo games. If it doesn't come
>> up or it comes up without sound, then it's not working 100%. My girlfriend
>> and I make a hobby out of that game, so this is a no no :)
>
> I'm at work, specific details will have to wait for me to get home.
> I'll try to answer then.

I'm using Sun's JRE version 6-07-4 (Debian package name
sun-java6-jre).  As far as I can tell from my install records it's now
a being treated as a standard Debian package and upgraded along with
other packages.  I don't remember off the top of my head how to
determine which repository it's coming from though, but my
sources.list isn't showing anything wilder than
http://www.debian-multimedia.org .

It passes the "Text Twist with sound" test.  Fun game.

>>> I'm using a low-end (6200?) dual head nVidia card, following Lennart's
>>> advice from several months ago for compiling the module: I suppose
>>> that means I'm using the Linux driver, not nVidia's own.  I don't have
>>> OpenGL support, but haven't bothered to pursue it as it isn't a big
>>> problem for me.  I have dual head, that's all I wanted.
>>
>> Why would you do that over using the proprietary driver (I mean other than
>> RMS's loss of freedom argument)? Isn't it crippling? Are you implying that
>> the proprietary driver doesn't come with dual head support?!
>
> Because I don't make a hobby of running GLXGears and then cursing if
> the fps is less than 500.
>
> Gimp, Firefox, and aterm are all running really well, I have dual
> head, what more would I want?  I do prefer to use fully free stuff
> when I can: in this case, I haven't moved to the proprietary driver
> for a mix of two reasons: it's harder to install and the only reason I
> care is because I can't currently play crack-attack (a Tetris-Attack
> clone video game that requires OpenGL) and that just hasn't been
> enough to motivate me to fight with NV's proprietary driver.
>
> I think my DVD playback is fine, but I'll try to check that when I get home.

DVD playback is fine, on both heads (unusual in my past experience).
And now I know I don't like totem.  gmplayer is irritating as all
get-out - but I still prefer it over totem.

-- 
Giles
http://www.gilesorr.com/
gilesorr-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org
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