India state departments asked to switch over to Linux once XP support end

[froggyboy604]

With the Microsoft Corporation deciding to stop technical assistance for Windows XP operating system next month, the Tamil Nadu government has advised all its departments to install free open source software BOSS Linux.
 
“Consider installing BOSS [Bharat Operating System Solutions] Linux as one of the mandatory operating system,” said an order issued by Information Technology Department. Listing various aspects in support of the software developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), the order said BOSS Linux, by virtue of being open source software, can be modified to specific needs.
 
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This is a good idea since Linux is free, and it is free compared to Windows.

 

[zoldos]

Nice.  I'd love to use Linux, but there just doesn't seem to be an easy way to run native Windows apps in it.  Esp. games....

 

[froggyboy604]

Steam for Linux now has 369 Games according to http://store.steampowered.com/search/?os=linux&category1=998 , and there are a lot of free and paid Linux games which run on Linux which can be installed from Linux Software stores like the Ubuntu Software Center program found on Ubuntu.

 

[zoldos]

I mean like name brand native Windows games like WoW, and other MMOs, and shooters, racing games, etc.

 

[froggyboy604]

I know that Playonlinux supports hundreds of Windows games like WoW according to http://www.playonlinux.com/en/supported_apps-1-0.html and Gog.com is adding Linux support to hundreds games according to http://www.gog.com/news/gogcom_soon_on_more_platforms

 

[zoldos]

I know that Playonlinux supports hundreds of Windows games like WoW according to http://www.playonlinux.com/en/supported_apps-1-0.html and Gog.com is adding Linux support to hundreds games according to http://www.gog.com/news/gogcom_soon_on_more_platforms

Wow, and it's free?

 

[froggyboy604]

Yes, PlayOnLinux is free, and you can find download and installation instructions at http://www.playonlinux.com/en/download.html

 

[zoldos]

Awesome!  If I hadn't paid like $200 for Windows 7 I'd switch....