Nothing_Much

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With the upcoming release of Steam for Linux, I feel like it's appropriate to make something like this.

Firstly, Linux, itself, is a Kernel, not the OS itself. It's bascially the foundation to create an OS so you may want to know a bit more if you want to, but for the people who are lazy and just wanna know which OS you want then keep reading.

As of right now, there are a ton and I do mean a TON of what are called "Linux Distros". "Distro" is a shortened term for "Distribution" for a Linux-based Operating Systems.

For now, we'll just deal with the 2 most popular distros that are very well known to be user friendly.

Ubuntu and Linux Mint.

Ubuntu was created in 2004 and is backed by a company Canonical". (Which is why Valve is able to build their own foundation on trusting a, while "non-profit", full blown company.)

Ubuntu comes in two different forms, LTS and STS.

LTS (or Long Term Support) is the version of Ubuntu that has software supported for 5 years. Meaning you won't have to upgrade it to another version until you're nagged to do so. The current LTS version is 12.04.

STS (or Standard Term Support) is ther version of Ubuntu that has newer software but is supported for about 2 and a half years. If you're wanting newer software, then go for this version, but Steam is made to work 100% for either version of Ubuntu.

You can get Ubuntu 100% free here.

If you're not liking the looks of Ubuntu, you can try the official derivatives using different "Desktop Environments". The Desktop environments are basically what you look at like how Windows has the Start menu, the desktop icons, metro in Win 8, etc. However, unlike Windows, you have quite a few to choose from. Here's a simple list of the Ubuntu derivatives:

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Kubuntu uses the K Desktop environment, it's probably the most customizable out of the DE's.

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Xubuntu uses the XFCE Desktop environment, it's lightweight and customizable.

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Lubuntu uses the LXDE Desktop environment, it's even more lightweight and customizable. NOTE: Assuming you read about what LTS is, Lubuntu does NOT have a LTS version, so you will have to download the latest version (12.10).

[h2]ALL DERIVATIVES ARE THE EXACT SAME OPERATING SYSTEM, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE LOOKS[/h2]



If you're not liking Ubuntu or any of the derivatives try out Linux Mint, it aims itself to be more "Windows" like, at least in my opinion, which is stupid, but I digress.

Linux Mint is an unofficial derivative from Ubuntu, making it basically, an "Ubuntu-based" distro, like the other "ubuntu's" but it's not official, which only means that it's not backed by the same community.

Linux Mint has created their own Desktop Environment, called Cinnamon. It's the most Windows like, so if you're lazy or not wanting change, then this will work for you.

Unlike Ubuntu, which bases its numbers from the Year and Month it's been released (ie: 12.04/12.10), Linux Mint bases its releases by numbers, which are following parallel with Ubuntu releases.

As in, LM 13 is to Ubuntu 12.04, also meaning that 13 is a LTS release as well.

Since Linux Mint is 100% build upon Ubuntu, Steam will 100% work with Linux Mint as well. Just install it from the Steam website.

If there's any questions about how to install Steam, I'll consider making a tutorial for "How to install Steam on Linux".

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DISTROS TO MAYBE CONSIDER IF YOU HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE:

Fedora/Redhat
OpenSUSE

DISTROS TO AVOID (FOR NOW) IF YOU ARE A MAJOR BEGINNER:

Debian Linux
Arch Linux
Gentoo Linux
 
Make a guide on how to install a linux distro on a vitual machine, that's what most people are going to be doing.
 
I hear there's suppose to be a promo that's suppose to come out on tf2 if you run it on linux

Edit: Derp didn't even see tehman's thread I just heard about it yesterday feel free to spam with your clocks
 
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Make a guide on how to install a linux distro on a vitual machine, that's what most people are going to be doing.

While there are 3D linux drivers on VM's, it's not recommended at all to play a 3D game on a virtual machine, besides using Linux natively is more fun, as well as both distros listed gives you the option to make new partitions to dual boot.
 
While there are 3D linux drivers on VM's, it's not recommended at all to play a 3D game on a virtual machine, besides using Linux natively is more fun, as well as both distros listed gives you the option to make new partitions to dual boot.

I'm sure it could handle enough tf2 to get the promo.
 
I'm sure it could handle enough tf2 to get the promo.

It's the drivers that don't have enough 3D extensions for Linux, OSX, or Windows even. Since they're emulated it'd be impossible to play it. Also, the Linux version of Steam detects the specific types of drivers that are needed to run Steam. Which.. I think is lame, but OpenGL was behind DX back then. That means Steam won't even turn on with a VM installed.

So if you're gonna be a lazy ass then try your hardest then, good luck.
 
It's the drivers that don't have enough 3D extensions for Linux, OSX, or Windows even. Since they're emulated it'd be impossible to play it. Also, the Linux version of Steam detects the specific types of drivers that are needed to run Steam. Which.. I think is lame, but OpenGL was behind DX back then. That means Steam won't even turn on with a VM installed.

So if you're gonna be a lazy ass then try your hardest then, good luck.

God damn it, well now I have to install this stupid thing properly just to get a promo that might not even look very good only to uninstall it right after.
 
God damn it, well now I have to install this stupid thing properly just to get a promo that might not even look very good only to uninstall it right after.

You know, what other games do you play? Because if you limit yourself to Source/Goldsrc(soon) games, you don't need Windows at all.
 
God damn it, well now I have to install this stupid thing properly just to get a promo that might not even look very good only to uninstall it right after.

Or just skip the whole thing and buy it for 2 ref from some desperate trader eager to get rid of it once they realize they are 5,000 on outpost.
 
I'm giving fair warning to people who are attempting Virtualbox. It most likely will ask you to install NVIDIA/AMD/Intel Graphics drivers, so it most likely won't launch.
 
Alright, I have a legitimate question here: I used wubi to install ubuntu and it's apparently supposed to detect if I need the 32 bit or 64 bit version and install accordingly, but when I started up ubuntu and tried to install steam I got the "wrong architecture i386" error. From a bit of googling it's an apparent bit issue, I'm not sure but I think it means that wubi installed the 32 bit version, can I get some help with this?

Also the "how to" they have for installing Steam on ubuntu is written towards people who know what they're doing with linux, I have no idea what I'm doing with the thing nor do I know anything about the prerequisites or how to get them or if I have them. Can you make a guide on figuring these things out? Write a guide for linux retards on how to install linux based Steam.
 
Alright, I have a legitimate question here: I used wubi to install ubuntu and it's apparently supposed to detect if I need the 32 bit or 64 bit version and install accordingly, but when I started up ubuntu and tried to install steam I got the "wrong architecture i386" error. From a bit of googling it's an apparent bit issue, I'm not sure but I think it means that wubi installed the 32 bit version, can I get some help with this?

Also the "how to" they have for installing Steam on ubuntu is written towards people who know what they're doing with linux, I have no idea what I'm doing with the thing nor do I know anything about the prerequisites or how to get them or if I have them. Can you make a guide on figuring these things out? Write a guide for linux retards on how to install linux based Steam.

Sure, but to answer that question, you need the package "ia32-libs" from the Ubuntu Software Center.