This was also brought up before - I believe 1UP was in on that discussion, but I don't think he was worried about the roms, the conversation just turned to something that brought him in a ton - if you can' t find it before I log on again, I'll see if I can find it
I don't have a clue as to getting around roms you don't own, but getting around it anywhere else seems to involve "I'm going to send money for Disc burning materials, and to have them sent back....whatever's on the discs when I get them back is not my responsibility"
THAT seems VERY shaky to me Someone else will be able to chime in on this, I'm sure
Also, installing the MAME emulator on the machine has 1UP (or someone in that thead) in a quandry, and what's been (kinda) worked out is that we can distribute MAME freely, but not profit off of it, so you'd have to set up an install disc (like your Windows OS discs) to self install exactly how you want it to (folders set up properly, exe in the right place, etc) which would actually be exactly how you would have set it up before you sent it out ANYWAY, and set up the rom stuff (since you can't distribute roms with MAME) in the same fashion - as self-install discs that automatically install to the roms, snaps, artwork etc folder - whatever you choose to include.
In re-reading the contract I modified from Doug, I didn't check his original to see if he also has in there that the machine will be delivered with MAME installed, but I realized today that my modified version has that on there - I've got to change that.
What you're essentially doing is selling the cabinet, and throwing in any software required (not charging). What you could do is when you deliver and setup the thing, you could then sit there and walk them through installation of the discs. While not sounding fun, I don't see a way around that, unless giving them the discs, walking away, and telling them later after they've FUBAR the installation that now you're gonna charge 'em to "fix it".
Oh, and I'm pretty sure there's some stuff in any FE you use that would require you to read all the readme's and perhaps get some permissions and whatnot.
Like I said, I'll link that thread here later if you don' t find it and link it first.
All this stuff is why I'm only gonna do a Jakk's bartop for family. Other folks - I'll take the time to figure this out when I sell one.
Family's different - they expect to be able to call you at 3 a.m. and for you to RUSH !!! RIGHT OVER!!! OMG IT'S BROKE I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT TYPE C:\FORMAT DID I BREAK IT YOU CAN FIX IT FOR FREE RIGHT?
Those other folks will either think long and hard before calling you when they're looking at a MINIMUM $70 "tech service" or at least they'll have screwed it up enough to make it worth your time
