Linux help needed

[AlanS17]

Ok I wanted a good stable front-end in a good stable environment so I downloaded Mandrake Linux and installed it on my PC. I fired it up with KDE... now what??? I don't know my way around so well in Linux, but I'm a quick learner. I'm totally familiar with DOS so command lines don't scare me. I just need a bit of direction. I downloaded AdvanceMAME and AdvanceMENU. Are there more highly recommended MAME programs? If I could get this to work in an arcade cabinet that would be perfect, but I'm open to switching it out for VGA if I have to.

That brings me to another point... how would I configure Linux to run on an arcade cabinet??? Please write back soon. I could use any help, tips, pointers, web links, etc...

[SirPoonga]

If you did a full install there are HOWTOs in in /usr/doc.  If not head over to linux.org and check out the docs there.

Also, if you want help on a command at the prompt type "man command".  Most commands have man pages.

Another good way to get answers for almost any question is search deja.com.

linuxburg.com  (tucows) is a great resource for free programs.

Read through the FAQs for xmame.  http://x.mame.net/
Otherwise ask questions at mameworld.net for mame related questions.

Oh wait, you said advancemame.  Check out their docs.  http://advancemame.sourceforge.net/doc.html

[Howard_Casto]

Ok I wanted a good stable front-end in a good stable environment so I downloaded Mandrake Linux and installed it on my PC. I fired it up with KDE... now what??? I don't know my way around so well in Linux, but I'm a quick learner. I'm totally familiar with DOS so command lines don't scare me. I just need a bit of direction. I downloaded AdvanceMAME and AdvanceMENU. Are there more highly recommended MAME programs? If I could get this to work in an arcade cabinet that would be perfect, but I'm open to switching it out for VGA if I have to.

That brings me to another point... how would I configure Linux to run on an arcade cabinet??? Please write back soon. I could use any help, tips, pointers, web links, etc...

Ok now mind you this is just opinion, but if you don't know your way around linux enough to navigate and what-not then your not going to have much success with setting it up on a arcade machine.  Also you have another major problem.  You have 1 official port of mame on linux and maybe 3 front-ends only one of which is half-way comp with an arcade cab.  

Mind you Linux is great, but it makes a terrible gaming platform.  I talked to a friend of mine that is such a linux freak he only had linux on his home computer at one point.  I asked him about the emulator situation in linux and even he didn't reccomend it.  He said despite the freed resources, linux often has trouble handling graphics and it ends up beign just as slow.  Also there are next to no ulitites for linux emulators and it's even harder to setup a dedicated system.  As for stability just go with xp.

I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm just saying if you were looking for a "better" setup, you can't get much better than your favorite flavor of windows in terms of options and ease of setup.

[SirPoonga]

I'll agree with HC, if you need something NOW and don;t have the patience stick with windows for an arcade machine.  Even do, you may still just want to use windows for your arcade cabinet.

But if you just want to do this to learn linux that's great.  You learn more if you find a project you want to use linux with.  Many people just decide they want to use linux, just to see what it is.  They install it, look at it for a few days and then go, eh it was ok.  But if oyu have a purpose for it then you can learn more aobut what it.

I ran linux for a semester in college.  I actually had a use for it.  My OpenGL course was taught in the unix envornment.  That way I could do my work at my house.  I did dual boot because I wanted to play network games too.  

[Howard_Casto]

Yeah, It's definately a good learning experience.  I'm actually going to make a mugen cab pretty soon and I thought I would do it in linux just for the heck of it.  But I don't expect to get any useable results from it, and unfortuantely that's the kind of attitude you have to have when your setting up a linux-based application.  You have to realize that even if you work really hard you may never get it exactly how you want it.  If you can understand that then I say go for it.  

[AlanS17]

Well thanks for all the advice. I'm certainly taking it all into consideration. I'm already building an XP cabinet so I want to try something different now. (By the way, if anybody is interested or needs help, I got an XP machine working on an arcade monitor using software instead of hardware.)

If it turns out to be more work than it's worth then I already have a working solution to fall back on. I've already looked through linux.org and they really do have some great tutorials. I think I should be able to get this to work with a bit of effort and linux.org, but we'll see. Thanks, though, for everything!!

[Lilwolf]

At's not that bad... its getting better and better with wine and wineX basically supporting every new great game when they come out.  HUGE list of working games (but still no EQ...sigh)

But the trouble with linux.  Its VERY stable when you know what your doing... and that takes some time.

I have a linux box at home..... and I can use it... but when I need anything other then the basic, time to ask my boss to help.  They system admin crap is...well... crap...  Update your ip... 5 different txt files on 3 different areas... know where they are and it's easy... if you don't.... well.... start reading....and reading....and reading....