The "Linux questions (and other stuff)" thread

[Bob Cat]

Don't know if this has been asked but can I use gtalk in linux and how.

 

[saptech]

If all you want to do is instant message with other google talk users, then there are clients that can IM with gtalk. It uses the xmpp protocol. I use Pidgin IM, it lets you IM with others also, such as yahoo, msn, etc.

 

[nickdalzell]

if you absolutely have your heart set on running the official (windows only) GTalk app, there is always wine

 

[argedion]

Don't know if this has been asked but can I use gtalk in linux and how.

Pidgin is pretty easly to setup for Gtalk. Its what I use.

 

[SUroot]

Pidgin is pretty easly to setup for Gtalk. Its what I use.

Pidgin works for most things. We even have it communicating with the Microsoft Office 365 Lync service.

 

[mikedt]

if you absolutely have your heart set on running the official (windows only) GTalk app, there is always wine

Google Talk works fine in a browser, IM, voice and video, no need to install anything.

 

[argedion]

Wine is for those who feel guilty and can't quite stop thinking the M$ way.

 

[Prinny]

Sometimes WINE is useful though, to be honest.

I pull rom.zips out of RUU's with WINE.

 

[Dngrsone]

I run a schematic creation program through wine... and the Netflix PPA.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I run a schematic creation program through wine... and the Netflix PPA.

Why don't you contact the respective companies and tell them you're NOT using their products because they don't have a native Linux version? That's what I do. Netflix? Not for me! My Amazon Prime membership includes streaming TV shows/movies/etc., and it works on Linux. Anything that doesn't have a native Linux version, or otherwise work on Linux (such as browser based), I do without.

(Okay, I do have one--and only ONE--long standing exception: Roller Coaster Tycoon. I've been playing that via wine since the last millennium. But that's it!)

 

[nickdalzell]

Wine is necessary for a good portion of my PC Games, which as of yet have no such support for Linux and probably never will.

 

[Speed Daemon]

Wine is for those who feel guilty and can't quite stop thinking the M$ way.

There's no need for name-calling or attacking people.

I wish that every application program had a native Linux version, but the fact of the matter is that isn't going to happen. When there is no other option but to use a Windows program, WINE is a great option to have.

 

[Speed Daemon]

Why don't you contact the respective companies and tell them you're NOT using their products because they don't have a native Linux version? That's what I do.

How's that working out for you? How many companies have responded to the "vinegar" approach?

Netflix? Not for me!

I spent much of yesterday watching episodes of a TV show that used to air on CBS, but is now only available on ION, which is only available in SD where I live. The full-HD episodes are available on Netflix, which sure does appear to be running natively on Linux on my Netgear NeoTV box. Netflix is also the only place outside of notmeTunes where I can get early episodes of Top Gear (UK).

I'll leave the deprivation, hair shirts and self-flagellation to the Calvinists and rms...

 

[Dngrsone]

Why don't you contact the respective companies and tell them you're NOT using their products because they don't have a native Linux version? That's what I do. Netflix? Not for me! My Amazon Prime membership includes streaming TV shows/movies/etc., and it works on Linux. Anything that doesn't have a native Linux version, or otherwise work on Linux (such as browser based), I do without.

(Okay, I do have one--and only ONE--long standing exception: Roller Coaster Tycoon. I've been playing that via wine since the last millennium. But that's it!)

Way to hold to your principles, man.

Linux, for me, is about flexibility, capability, and budget. It is a tool, no more, no less. A very good tool, mind you, and powerful in many respects.

That doesn't mean that I will (or must) reject other tools just because I prefer this particular one.

That is like saying, "I absolutely refuse to eat pie, because I have a preference for chocolate cake." Sorry, but a slice of apple pie just goes better with vanilla ice cream...

 

[Speed Daemon]

That doesn't mean that I will (or must) reject other tools just because I prefer this particular one.

Well said!

 

[Prinny]

WINE has had its uses for me. Just like my uses, I'm sure WINE is useless to some people. It just depends on who you are

Ahh...Arch linux...I've missed you. So speedy and lightweight~

 

[mikedt]

Wine is necessary for a good portion of my PC Games, which as of yet have no such support for Linux and probably never will.

Have you tried DOSBox? That's excellent for making those old games work with any modern OS.

 

[MoodyBlues]

Way to hold to your principles, man.

First of all, that's WOman. Second of all, when I started playing Roller Coaster Tycoon, circa 1999 or 2000, Linux wasn't NEARLY as popular or well known as it is now. So complaining back THEN wouldn't make sense.

Linux, for me, is about flexibility, capability, and budget. It is a tool, no more, no less. A very good tool, mind you, and powerful in many respects.

That doesn't mean that I will (or must) reject other tools just because I prefer this particular one.

That is like saying, "I absolutely refuse to eat pie, because I have a preference for chocolate cake." Sorry, but a slice of apple pie just goes better with vanilla ice cream...

Sorry, but that's a piss-poor analogy. For me, it's not ONLY that Linux is vastly superior to m$ products in every conceivable way, such as security, stability, customization, power, etc., but there's also the principle involved of not supporting a company whose shady, often illegal, business practices got them where they are. Or should I say WERE. I can only imagine the anguish in Redmond as Linux has overtaken the world. You do use Android, right? So a better analogy would be, "I'd love a slice of apple pie with vanilla ice cream on top, rather than my usual chocolate cake. However, the apple pie is made in a third-world sweatshop where people work 15 hour days for pennies, and on principle I can't support that. So I'll stick with the chocolate cake made in the US for living wages."

 

[saptech]

Why don't you contact the respective companies and tell them you're NOT using their products because they don't have a native Linux version? That's what I do. Netflix? Not for me! My Amazon Prime membership includes streaming TV shows/movies/etc., and it works on Linux. Anything that doesn't have a native Linux version, or otherwise work on Linux (such as browser based), I do without.

I have to agree with Moody here. I have used Wine in the past, and also used Codeweavers Crossover, which offer better support then Wine. But as time went on I decided against running Windows apps inside Linux. I know there are some that may need to use Windows programs for business purposes but you do take the chance of making your linux system unstable. If they do not make a native linux program, then I do without. I've learned to accept that!

 

[Davdi]

Windows is a tool, and sometimes a very useful, if flawed, one. I'm primarily a Linux user but sometimes it's just better from a compatibility viewpoint to use PowerPoint rather than Libre Office Impress. And I really don't like Wine. (except for a nice Sangiovese or Primitivo).

 

[MoodyBlues]

How's that working out for you? How many companies have responded to the "vinegar" approach?

Very well, thank you! Remember when web sites REQUIRED Internet ExploDer in order to access them? Yeah, that's a foggy memory for me, too, now that it's ancient history--because *I* and other like-minded people COMPLAINED, and told those companies we wouldn't do business with them until they were accessible by Linux users. There aren't any windows-based applications I need/want/care about, so I haven't complained about software, per se, in a long time. Only recently, and as a result of reading a question here about Netflix, did I pull out my old "as long as you're not supporting Linux I won't be a customer" routine.

I spent much of yesterday watching episodes of a TV show that used to air on CBS, but is now only available on ION, which is only available in SD where I live. The full-HD episodes are available on Netflix, which sure does appear to be running natively on Linux on my Netgear NeoTV box. Netflix is also the only place outside of notmeTunes where I can get early episodes of Top Gear (UK).

How early? I see old episodes of Top Gear all the time on BBC America.

I'll leave the deprivation, hair shirts and self-flagellation to the Calvinists and rms...

:laugh:

 

[nickdalzell]

Dosbox only runs old DOS games MikeDT, such as Super Solvers and Oregon Trail, or more later 1990s incarnations such as Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe or Doom. however i was specifically speaking of Star Trek Online and Flight Simulator X, which have no Linux version or comparable game of the same calibre

I have seen some impressive screencaps of X-Plane, a Linux copy of FSX, but am unsure if it is worth spending $10 on given that Flightgear never could run properly on any of my computers. even the new Toshiba wouldn't load it--it got to 'loading scenery' then silent-crashed to desktop. there is this sense of joy i get from faking 747 engine failures/fires and hearing the GPWS callouts during the simulated crash scene....and i miss it immensely. try installing FSX-Passengers and then recreating the conditions in the movie Flight and it really becomes fun!

 

[mikedt]

Dosbox only runs old DOS games MikeDT, such as Super Solvers and Oregon Trail, or more later 1990s incarnations such as Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe or Doom.

Oh yeh, Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe that was awesome.

however i was specifically speaking of Star Trek Online and Flight Simulator X, which have no Linux version or comparable game of the same calibre

Now I can't play Star Trek On-line at all....

Disabled Region. Our sincerest apologies, we cannot provide service to players in your region or to players using open proxies.


That's all I get. Is it United States only or something? And then "CBS Studios Inc.", the MPAA, the RIAA, Hollywood, etc are wondering why people are stealing their stuff.

 

[nickdalzell]

have you tried the fakeout by setting your region to USA? i have gotten around region blocks that way for a long time

BTW just got FSX running. runs quite well in fact!

 

[Dngrsone]

First of all, that's WOman.

Whatever, HUman. You all look and sound the same to me.

Second of all, when I started playing Roller Coaster Tycoon, circa 1999 or 2000, Linux wasn't NEARLY as popular or well known as it is now. So complaining back THEN wouldn't make sense.

So, you grandfathered your one favorite app in...

Sorry, but that's a piss-poor analogy.

Wow... I think this is the very first time that anyone has ever told me that.

For me, it's not ONLY that Linux is vastly superior to m$ products in every conceivable way, such as security, stability, customization, power, etc., but there's also the principle involved of not supporting a company whose shady, often illegal, business practices got them where they are.

As opposed to whom? Do you know of a computer hardware company that hasn't done the same? What are you running your precious Linux on?

Or should I say WERE. I can only imagine the anguish in Redmond as Linux has overtaken the world.

Yeah... no. Unless Linux is suddenly the overwhelming OS of choice in the corporate world, then I seriously doubt Redmond is sweating much at all.

You do use Android, right? So a better analogy would be, "I'd love a slice of apple pie with vanilla ice cream on top, rather than my usual chocolate cake. However, the apple pie is made in a third-world sweatshop where people work 15 hour days for pennies, and on principle I can't support that. So I'll stick with the chocolate cake made in the US for living wages."

Again, what hardware are you using?

Last I heard, Microsoft does most of their work here in the good old US of A. On top of that, do any coders really work for pennies? I always thought they worked for donuts and caffeine.

Now Linux, on the other hand... born in Finland. Then again, that is only the kernel. Almost everything else in your distribution is GNU... at least most of that is American.

Remember when web sites REQUIRED Internet ExploDer in order to access them? Yeah, that's a foggy memory for me, too, now that it's ancient history--because *I* and other like-minded people COMPLAINED, and told those companies we wouldn't do business with them until they were accessible by Linux users. There aren't any windows-based applications I need/want/care about, so I haven't complained about software, per se, in a long time. Only recently, and as a result of reading a question here about Netflix, did I pull out my old "as long as you're not supporting Linux I won't be a customer" routine.

But... I thought you don't need/want/care about Netflix?

Now, try this one for size-- Apple was born here in the US. In a garage, of all places. It was a giant-killer-- the Apple IIe took on the behemoth IBM. They didn't win. Nor did they lose... they just were. A niche product that invested heavily in the nation's youth for decades, until finally they came out with a hit. Then another. And a third.

Now Apple is the giant. Being challenged by whom? Linux? Only a Linux variant being used (exploited) by another giant. Where's Microsoft? In nearly every corporate and government office. Do they care about the average consumer? Only in that they want to make sure those office and government workers have the software they need to do their work at home.

Yes... Apple and Microsoft-- two sides of the same coin, living an incestuous relationship where they feed off each other, now doing the same with Linux. You do know that Microsoft was the 17th largest contributor to Linux in 2011, right?