I do not know how long I’m single boot only with Linux (Arch Linux to be more precise). But this weekend, Windows has won a place in a corner of my hard drive.
A little attempt here to explain the why of the thing. In what could be perceived as a step backwards.
Like all things, Linux has its advantages and disadvantages, I will not go back on benefits, explained many times here in the ticket listings on Linux but the disadvantages. For me there are not many well-known in the community:
- Video games;
- The drivers / support materials.
For drivers, we know, and we pay attention like choosing a printer. While a for windows “installation CD” is generally provided with the equipment. For Linux, you must find the right driver for most cases this poses no problem, but if the device is a bit too exotic, there is a risk of not finding a driver to run it.
For games, it is also well known that Linux does not support any games, only to have them turned or wine or playonlinux. Many games are still supported, just to see the list provided by the two applications, but first, go through emulation (more or less) is not necessarily a good performance level, the Moreover, all the games are not supported, although most are aware I am not necessarily fond of what most people want to play. Of course there are games natively under Linux without wishing to disparage the excellent work provided by the developers these games are not up to some commercial games and do not have the financial means of large industries video games and even if the repertoire of native Linux games growing up, the choice is still limited to more traditional.
There may be other reasons I guess pushing the use of Windows, some software professionals do not like running with Windows, although it is often a false reason for the serious alternative exists, but it than any specific software is required by the company.
Getting back to my case, for games that I decided to give Windows although I am not a big player, make sure to be able to run a game out-of-the-box not choose a game according to its compatibility with Linux, but just take a game that makes me happy is still important. Of course I understand the values of Free Software and stuff, but I’m not at the point of boycotting any proprietary if it has a broad interest in relation to free alternatives. Even if Windows find it strange at first, I even hope to have a new look on it with all his things I learned from Linux.
Technically, the installation went rather easily and without any loss of data, I found my CD of Vista, with its license. A curious thing to install anyway, I have two hard drives, the aim being to put Windows on the second, and on a separate partition. During installation, it recognized me correctly the two hard drives and partitions, but when I selected the partition (ntfs formatted) a “Windows can not find any system volume that meets the criteria for installation” as curious is that I simply unplug the SD 1èr to put only one provided for Windows, and it worked … This is some mystery of Windows, upon installation, after reconnecting everything, rearrange my grub and reinstall some drivers, it is a facility that has really gone smoothly.
So here I am with a new OS on my PC, Arch Linux remains my primary OS and every day. Maybe next time, will be the turn of a BSD to have a little space on my hard drive to change virtual machine. Opinions may differ on the issue but is not it limit the use and capacity of my computer do not have access to all the existing games?