OS Wars!

[TheFram]

I am a little interested to see what the breakdown of operating systems that TMD members use is. The poll question is self explanatory.

A secondary question to this is:
For those using non-Windows operating systems (Mac 9.x, Mac OS X, Linux, Unix), what to do you use to play M:tG online.

Personally, my main machine is an Apple Powerbook with OS X.3 and to play M:tG online I either emulate Windows in full screen mode on the Powerbook, or use one of the plethora of Windows machines available to me at school. I am interested to know if other people have found solutions within the frameworks of a Unix/Linux/Mac OS.

[Dr. Sylvan]

[Vote delayed for a few days until I switch to Linux.]

And regardless of OS I don't play Magic online.

[Ephraim]

I'm running Windows 2000 (fully patched) on my computer. I don't play the official WotC endorsed Magic Online, although I do play a bit using Magic Workstation. As long as I have an interest in gaming, I will probably always have Windows on my primary machine. On the other hand, I have been tinkering with Linux lately and may soon be working at setting up a SuSe installation to see if I can figure out a bit of network administration.

[TheFram]

By Magic online I meant

Magic the Gathering on the internet, ie apprentice, MWS, or Magic Online, etc. Should have been clearer.

-Avi

[kl0wn]

These Windows '98 came free with my toilet brush.

[Toad]

I am interested to know if other people have found solutions within the frameworks of a Unix/Linux/Mac OS.

Citrix Metaframe. That's what we use at work to connect Sun stations (running under Solaris 8) to the PC world. Apprentice works fine here since it does not require many ressources. I've never tryed to install MWS since I don't have administrator privileges.

Or just use a dual boot, since using gateways or emulators eats up most of your ressources. That's what I use at home. I have a Win98 boot for gaming (primary boot), and a SuSe7 boot for programming.

[Malhavoc]

I am interested to know if other people have found solutions within the frameworks of a Unix/Linux/Mac OS.

Citrix Metaframe. That's what we use at work to connect Sun stations (running under Solaris 8) to the PC world. Apprentice works fine here since it does not require many ressources. I've never tryed to install MWS since I don't have administrator privileges.

You will be glad to know that you can, even without administrator privileges (just click the "ignore" button when it fails installing fonts)

Well, really you could do it with older versions, with the most recent it seems to be impossible  

Anyway, you can simply copy all your files from your installation at home on a CD and copy them on this machine, then run a .reg file such as this:

(just rename paths where needed.. used 1 dot fonts to avoid spamming)


-----------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Magic Workstation]
"InstallPath07"="C:\\temp\\Magic Workstation\\"
"First Run"=dword:00000000
"MWSChat Language"="Italian"
"MWSLib Language"="Italian"
"MWSPlay Language"="Italian"
"InstallPath"="C:\\temp\\Magic Workstation\\"
"Active Theme"="default"
"Use Proxy"=dword:00000001
"Proxy Server"="proxy"
"Proxy Port"=dword:00001f90
"Proxy Type"=dword:00000000
"Use Auth"=dword:00000000
"Username"=""
"Password"="(Ah_b]eX[h"
"Picture Paths"="C:\\temp\\Magic Workstation\\Images\\;"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Magic Workstation\Autoupdater]
"Last Check"=hex:66,af,02,f5,d0,90,e2,40

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Magic Workstation\Misc]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Magic Workstation\Misc\ApprFloatFilter]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Magic Workstation\Misc\Native]
"Use Native Language"=dword:00000000
"Use Native Name"=dword:00000000
"Use Original Data"=dword:00000000
"Use Native Type"=dword:00000000
"Use Native Text"=dword:00000000
"Use Native Flavor"=dword:00000000
"Native Language File"=""

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Magic Workstation\Misc\TDeckAnalyseForm]
"clrArtifact_ColorValue"="16711935"
"clrArtifactCrt_ColorValue"="16776960"
"clrCommons_ColorValue"="12632256"
"clrCreature_ColorValue"="8421504"
"clrCreatures_ColorValue"="255"
"clrEnchantment_ColorValue"="32768"
"clrEnchSomth_ColorValue"="128"
"clrGeneralBlack_ColorValue"="0"
"clrGeneralBlue_ColorValue"="16711680"
"clrGeneralGreen_ColorValue"="32768"
"clrGeneralMulticolor_ColorVal ue"="32896"
"clrGeneralRed_ColorValue"="255"
"clrGeneralWhite_ColorValue"="16777215"
"clrInstant_ColorValue"="16777215"
"clrLands_ColorValue"="32768"
"clrOther_ColorValue"="0"
"clrRare_ColorValue"="65535"
"clrSorcery_ColorValue"="16711680"
"clrSpells_ColorValue"="16711680"
"clrUncommons_ColorValue"="15780518"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Magic Workstation\Misc\TMainForm]
"FormVersion"="0"
"Flags"="2"
"ShowCmd"="3"
"PixelsPerInch"="96"
"MinMaxPos(1024x768)"="-1,-1,-1,-1"
"MinMaxPos"="-1,-1,-1,-1"
"NormPos(1024x768)"="1,43,1022,724"
"NormPos"="1,43,1022,724"
"Visible"="0"
"ActiveControl"="Top_DBGrid"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Magic Workstation\Queries]
"FloatX"=dword:00000000
"FloatY"=dword:00000000
------------------------------------

[Bram]

Seriously, there's a rather significant difference between Windows '98 and Windows XP. They're much more different from eachother than '95 is from '98, for example. For one thing, XP is actually a good OS.

And where the hell is the option 'WorkBench'? You PC/MAC elitists. Here's how a REAL OS looks:



That baby is from july '85. A FULL FRIGGIN' MONTH before Microsoft releast their very first Windows version. Oh yeah, and WorkBench actually WORKED. First true multitasking OS 4L!

[orgcandman]

The first true multitasking OS was multics, if I'm not mistaken. Written in the 60s, and designed to run on pdp's. Then ken thompson decided he wanted a good gaming machine. So from 69-72 he wrote unix (a play on multics) and along with Dennis Ritchie re-write unix in the C language designed specifically for unix. Funny how the game OS becomes the most robust, rock solid OS ever.
And just for the record, OS X isn't unix. It may have a FreeBSD daemon running, however it's based on mach, and mach is a micro-kernel designed from scratch. but now I'm splitting hairs...
--Aaron

[Razvan]

Unix (non OS X)

Is it just me, or does anyone else find this offensive? OSX is wannabe Unix, and to have such a category implies that any other unix system is minor.

Anyhow, a very interesting poll.

[Bram]

*sigh*

OK then...the first true multitasking GUI-based OS.

[TheFram]

@Toad: Do you know of any solutions that dont involve emulating windows/dual boot? I can and do use that option, but i would prefer something native. If it comes down to it, I may attempt to write something cross-platform in Java.

@Bram: While I agree that XP and 98 are very different, I chose to put them together in terms of both being currently supported by Microsoft (not for much longer) and (more importantly to the secondary aim of the poll) both being fully capable of running MWS and Apprentice.

@Razvan: For those who know what they are doing with their machine, an OS X machine can be a Unix machine. The GUI as well as constraints Apple has built in obfuscate that capability from the average user, but there is no doubt that the operating system has a BSD core and that users who want to can use it as such. It was not my intent to offend, just to be as clear as possible.

[Razvan]

TheFram: I know, i was just joking   .

Bram: Crazy pic.

[Bram]

That;s an actual screenshot, yo (though I admit, my first experience with Workbench was the 1.1 version). Look at that savage 300K free mem! That's almost a third of a megabyte, yo! I was the coolest kid on the block with my external 120 MB 'Overdrive' HDD for my Amiga 1200

[Razvan]

Dude, lay off the drugs. Amiga 1200? I started with a Spectrum Sinclair... and HC-85... I bet most people here never heard of them!

ps: And as they say... don't tell me you are old-school, or more old-school than me... I beta-tested the motherf*cking Abacus!

[bebe]

So none of you guys started with the main frame punch card systems. Back in '69 I learnt how to program on these. My first personal computer was an early Apple followed by the Singer Sewing machine portable Compaq using DoS only and Word Perfect. Am I too old for this?
Currently I run XP on a Sony system that is more than adequate for my needs.

[whitepanther]

I am on Windows 98 for one reason and one reason alone... It doesn't suck. XP and 2000 are like Tendrils, they don't fucking work!!!

[Ephraim]

Windows XP and Windows 2000 work under the same conditions that Windows 98 worked, ie: fully patched. They're not ideal gaming platforms, if you're into state-of-the-art games, but for the most part, they'll run any of the old staples (Starcraft, Diablo 2, Counter Strike). Stability-wise, I find that Windows 2000, fully patched is much better than Windows 98, fully patched. I take good care of my computer and I've never once suffered a Blue Screen of Death under Windows 2000. I can't say that about Windows 98.

[whitepanther]

Hmmm, I dunno, perhaps my experience has just been unusual. Either way though, i have had many a blue screen of death when playing new games on 2000 but never on 98, so for the time being I will be staying with 98, that is until developers refuse to let their games work on my beautiful OS.

[Dr. Sylvan]

Am I the only one whose XP gets really slow after just eight hours of non-intensive use? Or immediately after running even a single significant program (eg, WordPerfect, image previewing, even WordPad)? I have to restart like three times a day with XP Home, and it's this slowness that is motivating my switch to Linux. In addition to my obvious 1337ness, of course.

[Unearthly]

I run Windows XP Professional Edition (Thank you College) and I haven't had any of the problems you mentioned Sylvan.  Even when I used to run on Home Edition, I never really noticed a significant slow down even leaving my computer on for a full day.  It might be your computer, but either way Linux will speed things up for sure.  I just keep using Windows XP because of program compatibility.

[TheFram]

Mac is still WAAAAAY above the regular population. That means that there are ALOT of people that have not voted. VOTE!!!

-Avi

[wuaffiliate]

XP, because its most stable non unix operating system that lets me do anything i want to.

same xp install for a year and its still perfect. when installed and kept up to date XP works extremely well.

[Bram]

Razvan:

I didn't *start* with an Amiga 1200. I *had* an Amiga 1200. I also had an Amiga 500, and an Amiga 1000 (then known as the Commodore Amiga). Still got em all and with the exception of the 1000, they still work. The computer I started with was the Sinclair ZX-81. Which is slightly older that the Sinclair Spectrum. I still have it. 3.25 MHz. proc (I find it amusing that a modern day proc is about 1000x faster , 1K RAM, 8K ROM containing BASIC. It came out in (surprise, surprise) 1981. I was four years old at the time. Beat THAT, yo.

Bebe:

I can't beat that, though I do have parts of an old UNIVAC system at home, which my mother used to program. In 1968 you could pick up a 1.3 MHz CPU with half a megabyte of RAM and 100 megabyte hard drive for a mere 1.6 million US dollars (which is about 7.5 million US dollars today).

TheFram:

Mac is still WAAAAAY above the regular population. That means that there are ALOT of people that have not voted.

Eh? I hope you're not studying to be in research. This reminds me of something I heard on the news the other day. The Dutch police have issued a something like a 'three strike' system for driver's licences in order to decrease road fatalities. Three reasonable violations, and you lose the licence. Now after several months if implementation, police say they are concerned that they've only taken away like 2 people's driver's linceses in that fashion and thus feel the system needs to be re-evauated. I was stunned. Did noone at ANY POINT stop to think that MAYBE this was because their stupid system is actually WORKING?

Moral of the story: it may mean a lot of people haven't voted. But we can calculate this reliability. It may also mean that a disproportionate number of people use Macs over here, which would be a far more interesting conclusion.

[EDIT] I did some math on it. 61 respondents out ofd a total population of 2057 members is sufficient to draw conclusions (since 61>(2057)^(1/2)). I calculated a confidence interval for the mac users. Based on the above, I can say with 95% certainty that between 2,4% and 17,3% of the TMD population uses MACS.

[Razvan]

Bram:

I didn't *start* with an Amiga 1200. I *had* an Amiga 1200. I also had an Amiga 500, and an Amiga 1000 (then known as the Commodore Amiga). Still got em all and with the exception of the 1000, they still work. The computer I started with was the Sinclair ZX-81. Which is slightly older that the Sinclair Spectrum. I still have it. 3.25 MHz. proc (I find it amusing that a modern day proc is about 1000x faster , 1K RAM, 8K ROM containing BASIC. It came out in (surprise, surprise) 1981. I was four years old at the time. Beat THAT, yo.

Hc-85 was crappier than any Sinclair . That was my first machine. This was back in Romania, a less civilized third-world country. I don't remember the spects, but I am pretty sure it was below 1 mhz. I was... 4 years old as well, back in 1984 (what an odd number...). So I think I got ya beat.

Or maybe, who knows? My dad sent the computer back once we got to Canada (and got a AT-286 !!!! with 12 whole mhz). I miss it   .

[TheFram]

@Bram

I had some expectations coming in to the poll:

My university is about ~14% Mac users (~10% above the US population) and an equally out-of-proportion number of Unix and Linux users. I thought that, given the number of educated college and grad school age people on the TMD that those numbers might transfer slightly (of course mitigated by the number of people who chose to stick with windows for the MTG software). I made the comment because i really didn't expect the TMD to be much more than 5%-7% mac users and at the time of the comment the percentage was 11% and the number of voters was below 45.

[snachos]

I am an avid Mac and UNIX user and i have heard that there is a program called mindless that will let you play magic on the internet.  http://www.essentialmagic.com/Forums/Thread.asp?ID=399887
That has instructions for installing the program and getting it updated.  I just came across it the other day and am struggling to get fink to cooperate with me,

[orgcandman]

the program is called mindless automation and requires GTK+ 2.2 as well as GNOME (I think). It's schweet in that it downloads pictures, communicates with apprentice, and is OpenSource.

[leviat]

Apparantly the vote is over so I'll just post mine up here. My systems have the following OS's.

Home
Water Cooled Athlon - Dual Boot with Gentoo Linux and WinXP Pro
MicroATX VIA - Gentoo Linux
Thinkpad 486 - Win98
AppleBook1 - MacOS (Pre-X)
AppleBook2 - MaxOS (Pre-X)
Celeron 300a - Mandrake Linux (or Debian... can't remember)

Work
Thinkpad T30 - Dual Boot with WinXP Pro and Gentoo Linux
Intel Desktop #1 - Gentoo Linux
Intel Desktop #2 - PC-Dos, MCP Linux, OS/2 Warp

[Bram]

Hey mr. Site Admin, no reviving dead threads

I'm using PocketPC 2003 right now, by the way. Best OS evar.