Wasting $$ on OS for cabinets?

[Dervacumen]

Even XP Home upgrades cost $90-$100 USD.  Seems like a lot of extra cash if I want to build several cabinets that are limited to either a specific genre and/or monitor type.
How's the MAME linux stuff going?  I tried looking into this but maybe I just couldn't find the right info.

The best front end, for example?  What are people using?

[thennomeking]

If I am not mistaken you can just run the games off of a cd/jumpdrive using AdvancedMAME.  I do not think you even need a harddrive for it, though I am probably wrong about that. 

As for MAME linux, Ive had luck with Gentoo in the past.  It was four years ago however.

[MonMotha]

Debian and Ubuntu are popular these days, and fairly easy to deal with.  There are so-called "LiveCD" versions if you want to try them out before installing.

As for MAME, xmame works decently.  At least most of what I've done with it has worked.  It's based off the regular MAME source but draws to various Linux options (X11, svgalib, SDL, or OpenGL).

Make sure you use supported hardware for things.  In particular, getting ATi graphics hardware working with Linux is a pain (especially compared to nVidia) if you want hardware 3d acceleration for other purposes, and you also need to make sure you have a supported sound card (most are).  nVidia and Intel devices have full hardware accleration support for 3d and 2d, while most ATi devices have full 2d and somewhat limited 3d (even using ATi's horrible driver).  Getting full 3d with nVidia will require some extra configuration beyond the initial install to get the vendor's drivers installed, just like with Windows.  You'll have full 2d out of the box, though.

Any USB HID device should work, as will PS2 keyboards and mice.  Be aware that if you need a custom tool to program something like a keyboard encoder, it probably won't be available for Linux.

There is a standard library for talking "raw" to USB devices called libusb (also used on Windows via the libusb-win32 flavor for many things) in case you need it, but unless you're a C programmer that won't interest you.

[Havok]

Windows 98 works great with all the tools and front ends out there, and can be obtained relatively cheap via feebay:

Win 98 + License

[ahofle]

There is a linux distro made for MAME cabinets, but I'm not sure of the status of the project.  Check this thread:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56385.0

[_Iz-]

As for MAME, xmame works decently. 

I don't believe xmame has been updated in quite awhile. SDLmame is being actively maintained and is a much better bet.

[Guaranos]

FreeDOS is good on older hardware, if you don't need USB for anything.  And it's free, hence the name.

[spystyle]

Even XP Home upgrades cost $90-$100 USD...

BUYING an OS?

That's the craziest thing I have ever heard in my entire life!

saint's note - rest of post (referring to TinyXP) removed until someone can tell me if this is piracy or not. No piracy please.

[NIVO]

agreed with saint here. Look, distributing XP in any form is deemed illegal as tinyXP was once a regular ole copy of XP. You may strip down your OWN copy of XP from its original form to create a custom version as you like to use personally(see microsoft TOS on if you need separate license PER useage of OS). To do this, you can go out on the web, and find the tools necessary and do it at your leisure. But again any ILLEGAL DISCUSSION of how to obtain stripped down copies readily available will not be discussed here.

Clarification is still needed, but you see where we stand on this. Game On.

[spystyle]

I'm pretty sure if you own a factory copy of the OS, you can download a stripped version of that OS, and we all own XP.

Even if it is a "gray area", if you own an XP license then you own an XP license...

Oh well, sorry if I rocked the boat. But still, buying an OS is the craziest thing I have every heard of, especially here. Anyone smart enough to build an arcade machine is more than smart enough to acquire an OS.

Cheers,
Craig

[Tilzs]

I'd be willing to bet that the majority of people who have mame machines have enough copyright violations already that adding one more on the account of Microsoft isn't a big concern to them.

[spystyle]

+1

[wIrEs]

I am running Gentoo + FLUXBOX + XMAME + MAMED (cabinet front end)... testing mode right now, i am planning on creating my first arcade box project running a linux pc

everything is working on my pc right now, the only concern i have right now is the control panel, not sure how i'll be able to find button numbers. I am sure i will have many more obstacles as i work my way threw this project.

screenshot from the original creator of MAMED.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~phulshof/pictures/mamed.jpg

i dont know if MAMED is still supported though, the site is up and downloads are available though.

[Arbee]

Just curious, why are you using XMAME now?  were you simply not aware that it's a dead product and SDLMAME is the correct current MAME for Linux?  Or is there some issue with SDLMAME that makes it unsuitable for your setup?  I do try to help

[wIrEs]

SDLMAME isnt available for Gentoo yet but i am sure it's easy to create an ebuild for it, i just haven't try since i can build XMAME with SDL support, i run xmame.SDL.

[Arbee]

SDLMAME is so easy to build from source that even life-long Mac users succeed regularly.  I'm just saying :-)

[wIrEs]

found SDLMAME Gentoo ebuild in gentoo forums