Lindows

[nickdotjava]

Anyone here tried Lindows OS with Java?  If you have, how well does it work?  How well does the OS work in general?

[jbanes]

It should work like any other Linux system. Lindows is simply a distro with some cool auto-update stuff.

[nickdotjava]

So is Walmart's $200 PC worth it?  Or is it better to just get a second hard-drive and install Lindows on the same box as Windows?

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[jbanes]

I suppose that depends on your definition of "worth it". I've looked at Lindows with some interest, but many of those WalMart machines are *very* underpowered. If you want a permanent Lindows test machine, I guess go for it. Otherwise, creating a partition and installing Lindows may be cheaper.

Anyone else have any comments on this?

[princec]

What're the specs of the Wal-mart $200 PC?

Cas

[nickdotjava]

Hmmm...  The $200 one doesn't seem to be listed anymore.  Right now, the cheapest they have is $248:

AMD 1.1 GHz Duron processor with 3DNow! technology
200 MHz frontside bus
128 MB SDRAM, expandable to 1 GB
133 MHz memory speed
20 GB Ultra-DMA hard drive, 5400 rpm (total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment)
52x CD-ROM drive
Integrated video with up to 32 MB shared video memory
Integrated AC '97 audio
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet connection
56 Kbps V.92 modem
ATX mid-tower case (17.5"D x 7.5"W x 15"H)
Available drive bays: two 5.25-inch external, two 3.5-inch external
Available slots: 1 PCI
High-speed serial port
Parallel port
2 USB 1.1 ports
Game port
104-key keyboard
2-button mouse with wheel
Audio port (line-in, line-out, mic-in)
Stereo speakers
1-year warranty, return to Microtel


The next one for $258 is:

AMD 1.1 GHz Duron processor with 3DNow! technology
200 MHz frontside bus
128 MB SDRAM, expandable to 1 GB
133 MHz memory speed
20 GB Ultra-DMA hard drive, 5400 rpm (total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment)
3.5-inch floppy disk drive
52x CD-ROM drive
Integrated video with up to 8 MB shared video memory
Integrated AC '97 audio
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet connection
56 Kbps V.92 modem
ATX mid-tower case (17.5"D x 7.5"W x 15"H)
Available drive bays: two 5.25-inch external, two 3.5-inch external
Available slots: 1 PCI
High-speed serial port
Parallel port
2 USB 1.1 ports
Game port
104-key keyboard
2-button mouse with wheel
Audio port (line-in, line-out, mic-in)
Stereo speakers
1-year warranty, return to Microtel

For more info, go to http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product_listing.gsp?cat=96356&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A41937%3A86796%3A96356.  Walmart has a whole range of them.  Right now, I guess I'll go with just getting a 40 Gig hard disk (for like $40 or so?) and then installing Lindows on it.  On a side note, will it be possible to play AlienFlux on Lindows?  Then there'll at least be one good game on it.

And is a 2-button wheel mouse considered standard nowadays?

[nlmueng]

Have two

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2138700&cat=86796&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A41937%3A86796
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2233757&cat=3951&type=19&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951

   * AMD Duron 1.1 GHz processor with 3DNow! technology
   * 200 MHz frontside bus
   * 128 MB SDRAM, expandable to 1 GB
   * 133 MHz memory speed
   * 10 GB Ultra-ATA 100 hard drive, 5400 rpm (total accessible capacity varies depending on operating environment)
   * 52x CD-ROM drive
   * Integrated video with up to 8 MB shared video memory
   * Integrated AC '97 audio
   * Integrated 10/100 Ethernet connection
   * Mid ATX tower case (17.5"D x 7.5"W x 15"H)
   * Available external drive bays: two 5.25-inch, one 3.5-inch internal
   * 2 available PCI slots
   * Serial port
   * Parallel port
   * Two USB 1.1 ports
   * 104-key keyboard
   * 2-button mouse with wheel
   * Audio port (line-in, line-out, mic-in)
   * Stereo speakers
   * 1-year warranty, return to manufacturer

[princec]

Hm, it might run on Lindows, but it really depends on them having Java pre-installed or easily installable by total novices, and it will probably also depend on OpenGL drivers being preconfigured and working.

It might be a tight squeeze into an 8Mb card as well. TBH that really is cheapass - it's only, like, a couple of dollars to double the power of the card at OEM rates.

Cas

[nickdotjava]

What does TBH stand for?

[elias]

To Be Honest - I'd guess.

- elias

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[princec]

Yes, sorry

I think we're going to try and cut a deal with Lindows to get AF demo shipped with their next distro.

Come to think of it, we should get it shipped with all the major linux distros. There are just hardly any games available for linux are there? We will be a mighty fish in a tiny pond.

Cas

[nickdotjava]

Go Cas!  That's one of the reasons I'm still on M$ Windows.  The games aren't made for the other systems.  However, Sun's new group may help change that.  The other is IDE's.  And with the availability of games on other OS's, maybe there'll be some IDEs other than EMACS.

Cas, start the revolution!

[princec]

StarOffice, Opera 7, Eclipse. Sorted. (Yes, eclipse is available for linux)

Cas

[nickdotjava]

Hmmm....  Maybe I'll get around to trying Eclipse out.  What I need for linux is a JCreator clone.  

[bedelf]

I doubt you would go back to JCreator after using eclipse for a few days. I liked JCreator though, I was using that before I tried eclipse.