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Front-ends: Whats the best direction to take?
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hnugz:
Here is that program to change your bootscreen:

http://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/
headkaze:
I recommend GameEx, although MameWah is definately cool FE. Both are well supported and frequently updated. IMO For a faster processor I would go for GameEx + XP (It requires .NET Framework 1.1), and for a slower PC I would go for MameWah (In your case your PC will run GameEx happily). GameEx is a little easier to configure, although there will probably be a config program for the new versions of MameWah soon. So try them both and see what suits you.

Also, on the GameEx site, there is a program that can remove the bootup/login screens and launch a FE directly. It's called Instant Sheller and it will work with any FE.
youki:
With your machine, you can use all Front Ends.

Depends on what you expect of your FE. 

- Do you want very nice and complexe layout or just a background jpg
- Multiple emulator supports.
- Filter, Favorites...
- etc..

All front ends have strong point and weak point.

Personnally i don't like GameEx. Not because it is a bad FE (i think it is really good). But for me it is too much windows media center like. And it requires .NET  , i have the feeling it is heavy just for a FE.

MameWah is one of the first and it is a very good FE.  And Minwah (the creator) is very reactive and helps. Lot of tools have been developped to help  to configure the FE.

You can try mine too , AtomicFE . The engine of my FE , is honnestly one of the more powerfull. Unfortunaly , i don't have enough time to concentrate on development on configuration tools and documentations to make this power usable by a newbie.
Therefore for Basic Things, he is very easy to configure.

A new version should arrive soon, but you can try the current one. There a set of nice layouts on my web site.






spacecowboy:
Thanks everyone for your replies.
The question is really about what makes the better environment for mame.
If Windows is now becoming the better environment over DOS then I will explore that avenue.  Im just looking for people's opinions as to what they think is best so I can save time.  Im not bothered which way but if Windows gives a better return given the spec of my PC I'll try it first.  My only concern with Windows is to do with booting up - how long etc, and switching off - can I shut the power off without powering Windows down or from an option in the emulator? 
hnugz:
A clean install of windows on a mobo without a bunch of extra peripherals should boot up fairly quickly as long as you have a fairly recent pc, maybe 20-30 seconds max.

Here is a neat little mame bootscreen:  http://www.wincustomize.com/Skins.aspx?LibID=32&view=1&sortby=4&sortdir=DESC&p=1&advanced=0&searchtxt=mame

As far as shutting down, check out this page: http://aumha.org/win5/a/shutcut.php

At the bottom there is way to have your pc shutdown by clicking the power button instead of doing the start-->shutdown steps.
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