Should I wait?

Newbie-ish question.. Please forgive me if I'm asking in the wrong place..

I'd really like to try Linux (Ubuntu, actually). After checking my hardware and software that I use, The only thing I'm unsure about is whether I will be able to use SL under it. Should I wait to try and switch over until the Linux client is further along, or is there a way to get SL working well enough for "everyday use" under Linux yet? I've read about "wine" but can running the windows client under wine produce a useable experience, or is it still very early/buggy?

Oh, and lastly, is it possible to bring my inventory with me from windows to linux?

Thanks for helping out a newbie

I am always in support of trying new things... and Linux is a great thing to try. You don't necessarily have to give up Windows right away either, if you're unsure. Many people dual boot Windows and Linux.

As far as SL goes... The alpha client seems to be stable again for now, and we recently learned a new release of it is in the works... no realy specific info on that yet though. Running the Windows release of SL under WINE provides different results for different people, some do have trouble or less than stellar performance. However for myself and some others, SL under WINE runs great. The only issue with is an alpha channel issue that effects clothes changing sometimes.

And finally, your inventory is stored at LL, changing OS or PC isn't going to effect what inventory your character has.

--Val

Don't wait. Sadly, the Linux version is not yet up to par with the Windows version (streaming, hotkeys, fullscreen(!!!), copy&paste, sound, etcetc.), and it will probably take months or a year at least (or even more), given the current speed.

I would say go for it! It is definately worth the trouble, and once you get used to how linux does things differently from Windows, I think you will really start to appreciate the stability and configurability. The thing I like most about linux is that things don't *just happen*. It is always possible to work out what is going on, and what different programs are doing (unlike windows or OSX in my experience) although getting to that point does take some time.

I have not used Windows for the last 3 years, so I am really not sure how the linux version of SL compares to windows. However, I find it to be perfectly usable (minus sound and uploads at the moment), and running under wine it works pretty flawlessly (minor audio glitches and alpha channel problems aside). As others have mentioned, a new version of the linux client is being worked on that should have more functionality. Also there are some helper scripts that have been written to enable uploads and copy/pasting with the linux client.

Overall I would say try linux for linux. If SL is keeping you locked to windows, the linux client may be enough to keep you from rebooting to win. I would not say SL is the highlight of linux, but it is perfectly functional, and a really nice addition to an ever growing software base. There is so much more to discover in terms of free software under linux.

The Linux client is extremely unstable and in my opinion unreleasable. However in Ubuntu the Windows version runs flawlessly under Wine.....as root. Which is in and of itself very frightful. Not to mention all of the tweaks you'll need to do to Ubuntu to get Wine up and running properly.

"If the ways of the Jedi were easy there would be thousands of us instead of dozens."
-Jedi Master Luke Skywalker
Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (DOES run well under wine)

Avoid, avoid, avoid!

I've had nothing but problems with the Linux client since the release of 1_10. It works under Wine - but only just; no sound, keyboard problems, etc. Avoid the aggro. Stick with the Windows release. At least Windows is good for something.

I think you are doing something wrong. There should be absolutely no reason to have to run it as root! It runs fine as a normal user under Debian (which is what Ubuntu is based on), and AFAIK others using Ubuntu do not run as root.

I would be interested to know what the problems with the latest release of the linux client are in your opinion. I know it lacks features, but it is pretty stable and easy to install.

Edit: oh sorry, saw your other post! I don't think your experiences are typical, but it seems that you are having some interesting times getting it to work!!