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Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Winterthorn" data-source="post: 1099865" data-attributes="member: 1702">Gotta love all these new options here!  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" />  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f60e.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":cool:" title="Cool    :cool:"  data-smilie="6"data-shortname=":cool:" /> Okay, to the main question: I am in the process to upgrading my hardware, unfortunately most of the big chain PC stores in North America will only sell you a PC with Microsoft XP, which I do not like at all. (I'm in Canada, Ottawa to be precise.) M$ has a virtual monopoly on retail OS sales on home PCs here. So I am looking at getting a Linux machine. (Future Shop, for example, is contractually obliged to sell brand name PCs with M$ products--they won't sell me an empty machine! I asked them! And I couldn't find anything Linux-wise at Dell.ca either...) The trouble with Linux is I don't know what games it supports, nor what software it includes that may be really helpful for me as a DM. For managing some of my D&D issues, I currently use MS Excel and MS Word. While I am content with these programs, I want a safer more stable OS environment. With M$ XP (which I want to steer clear of) everywhere, and Microsoft's style of doing business (I do not trust M$ anymore, nor will I discuss why), I have decided to turn my back on M$ and look at Linux...Since my fluency in Linux is feeble, it is most practical for me to procure a complete distrubution. Assembling OS components from various sites, though an intriguing idea, is simply not within my ability. Thus, I am willing to pay a modest price for a decent product. I have been looking at SuSE, Redhat, and Mandrake for starters...I would like you folks to tell me if there are Linux distrubutions that have good programs that match the spreadsheet and word processing features I am used to. And whether the above 3 Linux distributions, or any others, permit me to continue to enjoy games like Civ III, Alpha Centauri, for example, or run some of the RPG tools we have here at ENWorld, or to play online games such as EverQue$t (LOL)... By changing my OS away from M$ XP, what are the options and possibilities? (I've already started some research on my own, but I thought I'd ask here so as to benefit from everyone's wise council <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />, and thus save myself a little time and frustration! I hope?)Btw: I would like to avoid discussions about Microsoft -- you know what I mean <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /> -- let's just stick to what possibities, considerations, problems and kewl stuff I should pay attention to regarding Linux.Thanks ahead for your help <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />-W.PS: Some of you may suggest I look at MAC. Unfortunately, my budget's too tight or I would consider it.</blockquote>

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