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Windows 98, XP, DOS, or Linux?
seibu:
--- Quote from: vputz on June 07, 2004, 10:07:46 am ---But if you've never worked with it before, it can be pretty intimidating and can result in some weirdnesses (my current wierdness: neither the keyboard or my CP can generate keypresses fast enough to keep the birds in the air in "Joust"--but plugging in a USB gamepad and using the joystick works just fine).
-->VPutz
--- End quote ---
If you're using X, I'm not sure what's going on because I think it handles keybords itself, doesn't it? If you're using svgalib there are some keyboard options I think you can tweak in its config file. I also think there are some kernal compilation options you can play with concerning keyboard support. Sorry this is very vague, but I remember my installation giving me lots of options on keyboard buffering etc.
danny_galaga:
im using win98se with mame32. mainly because i already had the disk. my new pc (and appearently all new pcs) came with xp installed but no cd. i havent done any proper benchmarking but i can turn my cab on and when its done shut it down again and then boot up once more before my pc has finished starting up. pc is a P4 2.6ghz, cab is an amd2000xp. both only have 256mb ram. that could show that if you dont have the latest hardware and you use windows, xp could get a bit clunky. I like how stripped back win98se can be. hate the idea of having stuff on the cab thats not needed. drawback is i cant even take a screenshot and edit it cos theres no paint! thats what the pc is for... ;-)
win98se seems more stable to me but then the cab isnt hooked up to the internet getting fiddled about with god knows what. seems those idiot virus senders target xp. i think really they should get a gun and target their brains!
vputz:
--- Quote ---If you're using X, I'm not sure what's going on because I think it handles keybords itself, doesn't it?
--- End quote ---
Yes, I'm using X, and yes, I believe it handles the keyboard stuff itself. Somewhere in linuxland there's an answer. But for now, it does almost everything I need. At some point, probably when I get a new TV, I'll find a way to make a standalone cab out of my own TV and maybe lose X, but for now it makes life easier in other ways.
-->VPutz
nipsmg:
Here's my rundown:
Slow computer : (i.e. 166 - 400) DOS or Linux
You want an OS that will run fast with minimal overhead and can run as many games as possible. The great thing about DOS here too is you have the emulators like vantage that run few games, but run them VERY well on slow dos machines.
Medium computer : (500 - 1ghz) DOS or Linux or WIN98SE
Tradeoff here. You want to run the classics, and you easily can, on any operating system. If you don't know DOS or Linux and aren't good at really troubleshooting, you can run 98SE and have the ease of use that you need. If you know DOS or linux, go with them to run the MOST games at full speed, or 98 if you don't care about the ultra high end games and don't want to bother.
Fast computer : (1ghz - 2ghz) Linux or 98SE or XP
Tradeoff again. Linux runs games fast, but unless you know it, forget it. Linux has a large learning curve. It pays off in the end, but it's a pain in the butt. 98SE here will run relatively fast, but ... it's 98.. so .. it's still susceptible to all the same crashes and crap that came with the 9x kernel. Yeah it's better than 95 or ME.. but hey, I hate it personally. -- Now, XP is a great OS. and on these machines, it runs VERY WELL. Will it run slower than 98? Sure. But it WILL RUN STABLE. and it boots very quickly. XP is the choice. XP is finally something done RIGHT by Microsoft (Besides the whole friggin blue interface Theme, which I hate. so I switched it to windows classic theme and it's better. *end off-track rant*
Really Fast Computer (ESPECIALLY if it's a hyperthreaded processor 2ghz+): WINXP!!!
OK. You're not going to be able to run California Speed or Crusin USA ANYWAYS. Even with the ultra fastest P4 hyperthreaded 800 mhz bus w/ 2GIGS of DDR400 ram. forget it.. NO WAY.. You can run EVERYTHING else at full speed in ANY os. GET WINDOWS XP. Update it with windows update. Get it set up to automatically log in with one user. It will be stable. It will rarely, if ever, crash. You won't have to spend 2 months figuring out how to use it. There's a ton of available emulators and frontends for it. YOU KNOW windows. Go to http://www.asoftwaresolutions.com/product.asp?productid=481&categoryid=54 and order XP Pro for $120. They're OEM Versions, I dunno if they're supposed to be selling them, but I got them, wrapped, with the labels to put on the outside of the computer, AND I called microsoft, AND they ARE legit versions of XP.. not pirated. the holographic CD's and Book and everything. RUN XP.
Disclaimer: This is my OPINION. I'm not calling anyone else stupid or a loser or whatever for picking their methods. Don't flame.
End disclaimer. ;D
--NipsMG
SirPoonga:
Note, hyperthreading doesn't affect mame, but the speed does.