Second Life Client

When you are new to Second Life (SL) and see references to the Second Life client, don't get confused. "Client" is just tech speak for the software you need to connect your computer to the Linden Lab computers where Second life is stored.

The Second Life client is free to download from the SL support site and comes with a handy Quickstart Guide. Be sure to pay attention to which link you choose to download from. There is a link for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems, so choose the one that matches the operating system on your computer.

System requirements

Before installing the Second Life client, read the system requirements. The software needs a good graphics card in order to process the elaborate and life-like simulations that Second Life is capable of producing. If your system is lacking, check with a local computer store. You may be able to upgrade components that don't meet minimum requirements without the expense of buying a new computer.

Site registration

In order for the software to connect to the Linden Lab computers, you will need to register on the Second Life web site and create your user account. You will need to choose a new first name for your avatar. Think ahead of time about the name you want to use, since it cannot be changed once you register. You cannot choose your own last name, so you must choose from the list of last names provided by Linden Lab.

You will also be able to choose the initial appearance of your avatar, but the clothing and accessories can be changed after you're inside. You can change everything from skin color and hair style to gender, so don't worry too much about your choice of avatar at this point.

Using the viewer

Once you have your Second Life viewer up and running, and your membership is set up, you can log in and start taking a look around. The 3D rendering that Linden Lab uses in Second Life is spectacular to behold. Second Life is one of the most realistic immersion environments available to the general public. For this reason, it will pay off for you to take the time to run through the tutorials on how to build objects in your environment.

Although you can use real money to buy Linden dollars (L$) which you can then use to buy clothes, transportation and housing, if you have a flair for design, it's more fun and much less expensive to make everything yourself. With practice, using the controls in the Second Life client will become second nature. You will soon be easily flying and teleporting all over your virtual world.

Click Here to Leave Second Life Client and Return Home