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Windows XP or Linux?
jub3i:
I plan on running mame(xmame), and an emulator for NES, SNES and N64. What operating system would work best? Does xmame support just as many games as mame? I think snes9x works for linux, but what about a linux NES or N64 emulator? I don't have a problem running linux, I've used it before, so it's just a matter of if there are linux emulators out there.
What is ArcadeOS? I've seen it tossed around but I don't know much. I think I heard it's DOS based? What about those bootable linux OS's that I've seen? (I can't think of the name of any right now.)
I have Windows XP and Fedora Core, and can download any other linux distro if need be. Any help on OS choice is apprecaited, thanks guys!
vputz:
xmame IS mame, just with X interfaces. It even maintains the same release numbers; the changelogs invariably start with "everything from MAME version x.xx"
XMame and XMess are both fine emulators. If you want to host tons of other emulators, make a good inventory of what doesn't work under Linux (Visual Pinball, for example, if you're into that). Also, some front-ends are Windows only, if that matters to you.
A good Linux installation and AdvanceMame (from what I've heard) is a great combination. Yes, there is a touch more overhead than, say, DOS, but I think even just from a system maintenance perspective it would be preferable to use Linux. I just use xmame.x11 myself, and it works wonderfully (and even supports multiple trackballs under X).
Having said that, XP's quite usable as well. Matter of taste more than anything, really. I use Linux and X because my emulator box is also my home theater PC (and I wuv Linux...), but both would be good choices.
-->VPutz
TalkingOctopus:
I think that XP has a better selection of frontends and I would choose it for that reason. Also, there are some fun PC based games that play well on a cab, which are windows only.
Jakobud:
As much as I would like to give praise to Linux game emu's, the best NES emu is VirtuaNES (Windows only) and the best SNES emu is ZSNES (Win and maybe a commandline version i think). Overall, WinXP will give you the best choice of emulators and frontends.
Tiger-Heli:
--- Quote from: jub3i on June 21, 2004, 05:04:42 pm ---What is ArcadeOS? I've seen it tossed around but I don't know much. I think I heard it's DOS based?
--- End quote ---
DOS-Based frontend for MAME.
--- Quote --- What about those bootable linux OS's that I've seen? (I can't think of the name of any right now.)
--- End quote ---
Knoppix, There's also Knoppix MAME. I played with both of them, but couldn't figure out how to find my roms in KnoppixMAME or how to start X-MAME in Knoppix. Pretty steep learning curve in Linux, although many people say it's worth it.