Need advice for choosing OS

[Merce]

I've been planning a mini PC that will hook up to my TV so I can still play mame, despite deficiencies in space and funds for a full cabinet.  I have all the components picked and the basic design down.  I'll throw together a website once I have something to show, but I think its kinda pointless until I actually start building.

What I don't have nailed down yet is the software.  Obviously mame will be loaded, probably some other emulators as well.  And I have a couple front end chosen that I just need to review.

The part I have been really unable to decide is what OS should I use?  Win98 or Win2K?  I'd like to make it appear as little like a PC as possible, which is much easier to do with 98.  But I plan on using USB as my primary/only inputs, and if I recall correctly the USB support with 98 left much to be desired, enter Win2K.

I've been wrestling with this one for a good week, any advice and/or recommendations would be much appreciated.

[Wade]

I'd use 98, but if you have plenty of machine it shouldn't matter too much.

Wade

[BASSOFeeSH]

I've never read anything bad about USB support in Win98.  Perhaps you're thinking about Win95?

[wee beastie]

The most recent OS I've used is win98SE so I can't comment on the newer ones.

However, I have never had problems with USB using win98SE

[Merce]

Nice, must have been my imagination, 98SE it is.

A rare example of a good things happening from a bad memory.

Now I just have to find a front end and I'll be good to go.  Thanks all.

[eightbit]

If you have a network, XP pro is a really attractive choice for an OS.  If your box is fast enough and you have enough ram. It has basic terminal services built in, so making changes to it or updateing it is simple from another computer without ever hooking up or dragging out a keyboard on it.

For a simple stand alone controller as your proposing 98SE is probably the best choice. All the USB problems were resolved in the SE version, you shouldn't have trouble with that.

There are also frontends that can more or less hide the fact that you are running on a PC. They are also frontends that will allow you to play more than just mame. I haven't run out of games to play in mame yet so I've done very little with other emulators.

[Spectrum]

Just an FYI,

If you need remote functionality with 98/ME/2K you can use VNC.  http://www.realvnc.com  for the download.  I think they have the docs etc there.  If not just google "vnc" and you can check out the AT&T website from it's original development.  From what I've seen it works much better in a POSIX environment than in Windows.  It's because Mickeysoft won't give the devs all the info they need... suprise suprise.  Anyway /rant off.  It's freeware and a really slick little app.

Robert

[eightbit]

They use VNC where I work and they like it alot.

[cdbrown]

I use VNC at work, means I don't have to walk around to various PC's to check what's happening, just call up the name of the PC enter the password and I'm in.  It's fun playing around with the screen while their working, especially if they're in a different room.  Minimise programs, type stuff, they freak out sometimes thinking they have a virus.

Anyway getting back to original topic, 98SE definitely if you want to use dual USB trackballs and Analog+.

Cheers
-cdbrown

[Darkstalker]

VNC is a good remote control program, but the only drawback is it's VERY CPU intensive when compared to other remote apps like PCAnywhere.  But VNC is free, so that's a big plus...heh

As for OS, I would recommend Win2k or XP, since 95/98/98SE all have problems with memory management in systems with more than 128MB of RAM due to the kernel.  On some older systems this would cause additional blue-screens, or it would needlessly use virtual memory...

[Jakobud]

To all you guys running Win98....haven't you ever noticed that the longer you leave Win98 running without a reboot, the slower and more sluggish it gets?

People need to be running Win2000 instead of 98. 2000 doesn't cache everything like 98 does so you will get MUCH better performance out of it.

[eightbit]

To all you guys running Win98....haven't you ever noticed that the longer you leave Win98 running without a reboot, the slower and more sluggish it gets?

People need to be running Win2000 instead of 98. 2000 doesn't cache everything like 98 does so you will get MUCH better performance out of it.

Run win98se for older computers or if you want multiple mice support using analog+.

Use WinXP for compatabilty with the newest hardware and the best use of resources plus unrivaled remote capabilities with the pro version.