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Can't afford xp, should I try linux?
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RobotronNut:
i don't want to start an OS war, but my limited experience of linux has been very positive. i built an Athlon 64 file server and installed SUSE linux pro 9.2. the installation was quick and simple. the built-in drivers worked great; the only one i had to download was an nvidia gfx driver, which installed easily.

that was my first and only experience with linux, and i have not tried to run mame on it, nor have i changed hardware since the initial install. i was very intimate with unix in a past life, but haven't touched it in 10 yrs, and nothing in the linux install required any unix knowledge.

i paid money for my copy of SUSE linux, but subsequent versions have been released as freeware.
hanelyp:

--- Quote from: DarkBubble on July 30, 2006, 12:27:23 pm ---They've sent a case of install disks to the office, I've taken two, and have yet to try it out.  Any advantages over XP Pro at all?  I've never used Linux.

--- End quote ---
Presuming you have administrative priviledge, your control over linux is limited only by your skill and inclination.  Most linux distributions are more secure in default configuration.  On the down side, some of the major linux distributions are worse than XP about starting up umpteen programs you don't need on startup, and linux does take a bit of learning to make full use of.

http://www.knoppix.net/ is promising for trying linux without making a comitment.
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/ is a usable complete system with a total absence of bloat, 50MB image.
lokki:
I did not mean to incite an OS war either. Not really trying to argue to pros or cons of one OS vs another. Just which OS is better suited for an Arcade Cabinet.

Basically what i think you have the following alternatives.

XP/NT 2000 +  
Pros
Support for newer HW
Support for multiple frontends
Tons of emulators
Easy to configure
Con
Expensive

Linux

Pros
Free
HW support is getting better

Cons
Harder to configure
Not many front ends
Not many emulators

DOS

Pros
Really suitable for older HW (all those PIII and sub gig pIV that you can get for $20)
no shutdown (not really true but for most purposes it works)

A few front ends
Tons of old software that plays great on Cabinet

Cons
Hard (or impossble) to get support for newer HW.



rackoon:
My computer:   All used parts from EBay. Only hard drive and VGA card is new.
 My system will never see the internet. Strictly mame. Every thing will be installed through the CD drive.
 
  P4-2.66
 ECS mother board with on board audio
 ATA 100  60g  hardrive
 kingston ram 512MB 400MHz speed
 ultimarc VGAcard
 memorex cdw drive
 dotronix 27" RGB monitor
  Ipac4
 
  I build furniture out of logs in my spare time and I have built several homes before I went back to school to get my masters. My cocktail cab is half built. Its looking bad ass, diamond plate, 100 black light leds, flickering flame bulb behind logo, oak plywood, track ball on top of table for maximum swing, retro coin door, lots of midway parts, lots of custom art work.
 
  My problem is two fold
  #1 I bought all this stuff before my last kid and I went back to graduate school because I knew I would be dirt poor for the next two years ($1500 per credit ouch!). I'm still trying to save $20.00 more so I can get a GGG spinner when more come out. I never thought that OS would cost that much. All the computers I had in the past had an OS on them already.

#2 I don't know very much about computers. I surf the net and write papers for school on them and that's it. I know windows a bit because "Computers in the class room" was a prerequisite course to get into my masters program. Yet I still haven't burned a CD or downloaded music from the net.  Linux kind of scares me.

I did find windows 2000 for 40 bucks. Not bad. Could be an option yet I will have to wait several months. Crap I cant wait to finish school. Only one year and two weeks left. OOH YEA!
missioncontrol:
go with windows 2000...

That's what I've used and have had no problems with it. the one thing you will want to do immediately is get the service pack 4 update if you plan on hooking it up to the internet....
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