I have had enough problems with Linux. I don't think I'll ever get linux. Maybe when I move out from my parents and if I have like 2 computers. I can't seem to understand those who are saying that some linux desktops are easier to use than windows. I don't know which OS is better than who, both have their own benefits. It all depends on what you need I guess.
On topic: I do agree with you. More Linux/Unix servers won't harm...
Try Ubuntu. Even my comp-tarded friend hasn't had problems with it yet, and he's been using it the last month. To understand how comp-tarded this individual is, I've had to reformat and even physically replace his HDD so many times that both my Windows install disks and also his original Windows install disk cannot be used to install Windows again. Which is why he had to settle for a Linux distribution this time around, neither of us can afford a new copy of Windows XP.
Also, if you have over 330MB of RAM, you can try it on a Live disk; which means you simply boot from the disk and it runs from your memory (
no need to install). This also makes it slower as all hell, so don't think it'll always be so slow. If you don't have 330MB of RAM, you'll need to install it using the alternative disk like I did.
PS: Ubuntu has a tool called GPARTED. If you can use the Live disk then use the program to make your Windows partition 2GB smaller (make sure you defragment it on Windows before doing so, you could lose data otherwise) and use this space for installation. Then just test from here.
Ubuntu ships disks for free, or you can download .ISO files and burn them onto a CD yourself. The installer may be a little hard, but if you can install Windows on a brand new hard drive you'll be able to install Ubuntu.
CIPsoft's client doesn't work if you don't have the right OpenGL extensions available on your graphics card. That's another problem with using Linux. Of course, you can just use the Outcast (it's got its own forum on *fans) if this is the case for you. (Alternatively, wait for
YATC to be completed)
There's also plenty of OT tools available on Linux. I'm pretty sure there's an IP changer and OTItemEditor compiled for Linux computers available on *fans and RME even has an
Ubuntu/Debian package.
EDIT: Also, I was wrong. Linux has virtual memory, it uses a SWAP partition. When you install ubuntu and it asks you to make a SWAP partition, make it at least twice the amount of RAM you have (if possible). This is the "recommended size". No reason not to make it smaller or larger. I didn't know this and made my SWAP partition the same size as my RAM (coincidentally the size it suggested in the installer) so that's why I thought it didn't support virtual memory.