Transformation Completed. Linux,& May the source be with

[MasterGod]

When I was young I started like many using the Windows operating system and continue with its new versions over the years.

Not long ago, just few years back I've heard of another operating system, I've heard its call Linux or Unix or something like that but I've never checked it out.
Then Ubuntu became famous, so much that I had to try it.
Using a virtual machine I've finally for the first time installed another operating system, it was Ubuntu Edgy.
Many problems I had trying to understand what the hell is going on while it didn't recognized my graphic driver. Disappointed I've removed it and forgot about it.
Few months later my friend told me about some other Linux Ubuntu based which has this software the handles all driver installation and I though why not giving it a shot, I can always remove it again. And that's what I did.
Linux Mint was a very nice improvement but it too failed to recognize all my hardware and I had problems again with the graphic driver.
Lost any hope, I deleted it.

Few months later I've decided I want to port my engine to Linux and for that I had to have a working Linux installation.
So I've downloaded the latest Ubuntu and installed it as a virtual machine again. From there the recent winner, randomMesh helped me setting up Linux and install the problematic graphic driver. He also helped me setting up NGE for Linux but that's another story. Thanks again randomMesh!!

Few months later I've thought about checking Linux as a desktop machine but I didn't like Ubuntu that much.
Then I found openSUSE. This was the beginning of a long relationship.
I formated my computer and installed openSUSE 11.0 as a dual boot with Windows XP. I've been like that for few months checking openSUSE/Linux while still having Windows as my main OS. openSUSE was a great upgrade from Ubuntu as it had no problems at all. It recognized all my hardware and I had no driver installation problems (with the graphic card or anything else).

And now, after having it as a virtual machine, checking it with dual boot, I've removed my Windows installation and installed only openSUSE 11.1 as the main and only OS.
Next I'm going to install Windows XP as a virtual machine on my Linux machine for Visual Studio etc.

My goal now is to be a Linux expert for the following days to come.

My first two questions are:
1. Anyone knows something that is as good as VMware that is free and for Linux (openSUSE 11.1 64bit)?
2. One of the main reasons I've moved to Linux was that I couldn't stand anymore that Windows becoming slower and slower from day to day. Every time I installed windows after about a year it became very slow and every install/uninstall made it even slower.
Does it happens like that with Linux too?

My last wish is, do you Linux gurus have any tips to give me? What every Linux user must know?

And may the Source be with you my friends.

[randomMesh]

1. Anyone knows something that is as good as VMware that is free and for Linux (openSUSE 11.1 64bit)?

I use QEMU.

2. One of the main reasons I've moved to Linux was that I couldn't stand anymore that Windows becoming slower and slower from day to day. Every time I installed windows after about a year it became very slow and every install/uninstall made it even slower.
Does it happens like that with Linux too?

No, the filesystems of Linux are much better than NTFS.

Thanks again randomMesh!!

No problem, was fun.

[deadReaper]

Yep Im using QEMU too, but if you know and like vmware you can use that as well.

My Linux (Ubuntu) is running nearly 5 years now and as fast as at the beginning

[randomMesh]

...if you know and like vmware you can use that as well.

It's not free, only the VMware Player is.

[MasterGod]

My Linux (Ubuntu) is running nearly 5 years now and as fast as at the beginning

AWESOME!!

And can I use 30-days version to create virtual machines and then use free player to use those machines?

[aanderse]

Not sure what I like more between qemu and virtualbox (http://www.virtualbox.org/), so if you have the time check them both out.

[wITTus]

VirtualBox is awesome
Just 3D acceleration is missing, but they're working on it.