I use Ubuntu Dapper Drake, Fedora Core 5 Bordeaux.
The fact that you are using a Debian based release, GNU software's not too hard to look out for. Go search the net for different softwares. But make sure that before installing a software, you must know what are things needed for it. Cause if you make a mistake, it'll be pretty hard to reconfigure your dependencies. Remember it's less GUI in Linux and more of a CLI. So one screw up, you'll have to do it a bit...painful.
Since I am a Linux user for the past 6 years, I'm just gonna go over a little checklist for you of the things needed the most.
1. Make sure you know how to switch/update/disable/add repositories. This knowledge will help you in properly allocating your resources. Some programs will not run if a different repository is used.
2. Update your Linux, almost everyday, there'll be available update for your copy(Debian).
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
3. Just be careful of some binaries you will install, most of the binaries released over the net are pre-compiled and do not have a build. So it's either you'll need to check the source if the binaries won't screw you up or yet, do not install it until a better build is released. Remember that Ubuntu is not the only distibution for Debian as well.
4. Do not install as much as programs as you would want to. Although Linux saves space more than any other OS's. You will not want other programs to be running on the background that will enable some repositories that you do not know. This will cause some programs to have conflict with the one running on the background cause it's repo is not disabled.
About Codecs:
Do not install any other things aside from MPlayer. It'll be what you'll need from DVD's to MP4's
Installing it is not hard. Just make sure you know what you are doing.
I'll show you how:
1. Make sure you got additional repositories. If you don't know how, here:
Quote:
sudo cp -p /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list_backup
gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
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Text editor will open
replace everything with
careful at this point, if you got any other repo, it's your best choice to replace it with these. These are up to date and can be used with most applications.
Save the text file as it is.
then to install MPlayer:
Quote:
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sudo apt-get install mozilla-mplayer
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To use MPlayer, follow the official site's manual. They have lots of CLI's to list down here.
If you still want codecs:
Quote:
sudo apt-get install gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-gl gstreamer0.10-plugins-base \
gstreamer0.10-plugins-good gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse \
gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse w32codecs
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that is probably the most complete i have ever came up with. make sure the above repo are installed when installing these codecs.
GAMES.
I never play games with Linux. But if you are pushing it. I guess Windows games are on your top list right?
You'll get a lot of answers that says use WINE. But don't use it. It's a pain to run PC games on that emulator. The only thing WINE's good at is to run MS Signature Apps.
I have never tried this for a while but you might want to check this out.
http://www.transgaming.com/index.php...ceid=2&meid=-1 it's not free but the last time I tried, Warcraft: TFT worked smoothly like in Windows. Along with HALO: Combat Evolved. Such a shame that they charge for it, but i'd say, it's worth it.
If you don't want to pay then you can go for Wine, or hopefully wait for a port. or just use open sourced emulators. I can play decent PSX games on Fedora Core.