Installing Linux = voiding Best Buy Warranty?

[ricardo diaz]

If I install Linux on my laptop, will that void the warranty I have with Best Buy?

PS. Can World of Warcraft work with Linux?

 

[rmx]

hell no. if anything, they should extend the warranty if you install linux on it

 

[ricardo diaz]

That said, do you think Mandrake would be cool to choose?

Linux is like a box o' choc'lates. You never know whatchu gunna get.

 

[cire]

depends on what brand laptop. most companies say if you install a different OS on, your warrenty is voided until you reloaded the default OS.

 

[ricardo diaz]

Toshiba.


=\

 

[rsabo]

I would recomment Ubuntu - easy to install, free-er, and other-type-of-free-er.

Oh, and I think WoW does run on Linux with Wine.

 

[dan1son]

Linux may void the manufacturer warranty (read warranty card), but it will not void Best Buy's service plan. Their service plan doesn't cover software anyway... which it shouldn't.

Now some of the techs might not like it for diagnostic purposes, but they'll get over it.

 

[Arainach]

If you haven't used linux before, stick to Ubuntu or SuSE. If you have used it before, you know what's out there and what you like (I personally advocate Gentoo, although Slackware and Debian are also good).

Will WoW RUN in Linux? Yes, under the Cedega API layer. But the performance hit is considerable. I don't play non-native games in Linux - I dual boot for max effect.

 

[psychogentoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arainach If you haven't used linux before, stick to Ubuntu or SuSE. If you have used it before, you know what's out there and what you like (I personally advocate Gentoo, although Slackware and Debian are also good). Will WoW RUN in Linux? Yes, under the Cedega API layer. But the performance hit is considerable. I don't play non-native games in Linux - I dual boot for max effect.

Yeah running WoW under Linux you will notice a big performance hit...if you thought IF lag was bad, just you wait.

I agree with Arainach, that a dual boot for gaming might be a better solution.

As far as linux distros, I'd put Mandrake/Mandriva along with Ubuntu and SuSE for ease of install. If you're the type who doesn't like the "wizard" interface, you can try gentoo and do a stage 1 install.

 

[Arainach]

If you do Gentoo, do a Stage 3 Install. Stage 1 and 2 installs are rife with circular dependencies that can bite you later on in a system's life. For technical details, read this thread. (the link appears to have been removed once the /var/db/pkg problem was fixed) If you still want the maximum speed boost, I highly reccomend the Stage 1/3 Installation with gcc 3.4.4. (that guide I linked to uses 3.4.5; I'm using 3.4.4 and have used 3.4.3, but 3.4.5 should work just as well) Compiling with a gcc 3.4 instead of 3.3 is a huge performance boost.

However, if you're new to Linux, only try Gentoo if you're willing to (A) make mistakes - Even after 2 years of starting on Mandrake, it took me 3 installs to get my first Gentoo install right (B) ask for a lot of help - the Gentoo Forums are huge and very helpful, don't be afraid to ask for advice and (C) do a LOT of configuring and tweaking by yourself - Gentoo is not nearly as automated as most Linux distros.

EDIT: reading the 3.4.5 thread, they finally fixed the /var/db/pkg thread, so a Stage 1 thread isn't as damaging as it was before, but I'd still reccomend Stage 3.

 

[HypnoLobster]

It wont void the Best Buy warranty, but It will definetly irritate some of the techs.

I would start with SuSE. I have never liked Mandrake, and always hated Red Hat.

After you re comfortable with the commands and general Linuxy-ness of it all, do something cool, like use Vector Linux (they need support. Excellent distro) or Slackware, Debian, Gentoo. SuSE can be a bit of a resource hog, but it is very easy for a new user.