[Mitlov]

Has anyone out there used boot camp for gaming, but instead of installing Windows, installed Ubuntu or some other variety of Linux? If so, how did it work for you? Since I wouldn't use Boot Camp for anything but gaming, I'm unenthusiastic about spending $250 or so on Windows.

[Janichsan]

Actually, BootCamp only works for Windows. You can install Linux on a Mac in a dual-boot setup, but it's a bit more complicated. However, if you do there's not much gained concerning games. You have more games natively for Mac than for Linux and for Windows games, you'd need more or less the same compatibility solution as you would use under Mac OS X (such as Wine and CrossOver Games).

Anyway, an original copy of Windows – especially XP – is much cheaper than the $250 you mention.

[Mitlov]

Janichsan, on December 23rd 2008, 01:29 PM, said:

Actually, BootCamp only works for Windows. You can install Linux on a Mac in a dual-boot setup, but it's a bit more complicated. However, if you do there's not much gained concerning games. You have more games natively for Mac than for Linux and for Windows games, you'd need more or less the same compatibility solution as you would use under Mac OS X (such as Wine and CrossOver Games).

Anyway, an original copy of Windows – especially XP – is much cheaper than the $250 you mention.

Gotcha, won't bother with Ubuntu then.

Windows XP Home from Amazon.com is $179. Windows XP Pro from them is $268. Windows Vista Home Premium is $215, and Vista Home Basic is $175. The "upgrade" versions are much cheaper, but I don't have a copy of Windows I'm upgrading from, so I'm assuming those options are out the window. If there are some raging deals I don't know about from somewhere else, though, by all means, let me know. Thanks!

[Janichsan]

Look for OEM or System Builder versions. Those are much much cheaper. I can't give you any decent tips where to look for those, you'd have to ask one of our numerous US residents for that, but you should get those at every computer store – online or retail.

[bobbob]

Mitlov, on December 23rd 2008, 01:09 PM, said:

how did it work for you?

I installed it on my old PC, and it works OK. The 3D graphics drivers have to be installed from the system config menu, and Wine has to be installed with instructions from winehq. I haven't spent any time getting anything but Office working under Wine, but that was just double-click to run and hit next a few times. Anything that Wine supports should be fairly easy to run going by that.