Thanks Gilrond. I'll be watching this topic from now on
I also recommend using quality hardware with GNU/Linux. I've never had a compatibility problem but I've been using gaming-level hardware for years. And I use Nvidia.
In some distributions the nouveau drivers can be a pain to remove, but the Nvidia installer should be able to take care of that in *most* cases.
Since we're doing this Linux gaming thing, let's clear up some concepts.
Linux is an operating system kernel, operating under the hybrid/modular kernel architecture. It means that basic OS operations (like device drivers) run in "Kernel Mode" while user applications run in "User Mode", not interfering with each other and avoiding total system lock-downs or freezes in most cases. It was conceived and created by Linus Torvalds in the early 90's.
Meanwhile and much before that, Richard Stallman started a project called GNU with the goal of creating a free and open source operating system, different from the Unix systems of the time that restricted what people could do with their hardware. Thus, GNU (GNU's Not Unix) developed many parts of an operating system but lacked a kernel. Together with Torvalds, GNU with Linux or GNU/Linux was born. Out of respect for the people who designed, programmed and made possible the big majority of this project, the system should be called GNU/Linux and not simply Linux, even though the latter is more popular and catchy.
"Linux" implements features found in several popular Unices, such as System V startup scripts. Like many other modern OS's, it features graphical environments with eye candy, multiple user accounts, concurrent user login, etc.
One of the interesting features of GNU/Linux is that it entitles you to a free software license, meaning it gives you freedom to modify and distribute applications, like a no-DRM on steroids. This has gathered a lot of people around the world who donate their time to improve, maintain and support the system. These guys, girls, men and women believe that some basic things (like an OS) should be accessible, easily available, and non restrictive, and so they work for that.
The "Linux" system is not usually distributed "per se". Like Android, there are groups that have built services and applications and bundle them together with a Linux kernel and GNU software to create what is called a distribution. Some popular distributions are Slackware, Debian, Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS, SuSE, Ubuntu, to name a few. The main differences are in how distribution-specific programs are managed, what applications come included with the package, how some drivers are managed, etc. For example, Debian and Debian-inspired distributions use the .deb format, a very fast and efficient way of distributing programs. The Red Hat family uses .rpm.
Unlike what many people think, you do *not* need advanced technical skills to use or install a GNU/Linux distribution. On the other hand, many of them work right out of the box and require less tweaking than Windows to work for BASIC TASKS. The difference is that, since these are open systems, the possibilities for adjusting them to one's wishes and whims are virtually unlimited.
Anyway, I'll stop now. If any of you has "Linux" or Linux gaming questions, this is the right place
