Linux on an XBOX for CarPC - Page 4

SnyperBob · 05-14-2006, 06:15 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by noob

Please teach us all how to run Windows for less than linux ohhhh great one.

Didn't we already answer your questions days ago. Read the thread again...

Quote:

Ok so you make a gps driver, piece of cake. Im sure there is serial to usb drivers on debian. Now you have 2 numbers in your computer, latatude and longitude. Easy as you say. The trick is doing something with them.

How do you get maps?
How do you render maps quickly and efficently?
How do you make routes?
How do the routes know where one ways are?
How do you know where addresses are on the maps?
How does it determine when you are off course?
How does it determine where POIs are?
How do you make the interface pretty?
How do you make the speech engine?
How do you do all this on an xbox where the developer support community is pretty small?

Thats at least 1,000 hours of coding/testing there. If time were worth $15 an hour that project costs $15,000 dollars.

Its not easy making that software. And its even harder to port one from windows to the xbox. And the demand is slim to nil - xbox is going out of style and the only people that want xbox gps software is 20-30 mp3car people like you who aren't willing to work at a part time job an extra 8 hours to get superior hardware.

Once again, your post is veering further away from the topic being discussed.

Back on topic: Does anyone know what else is feasible, and already been done on an XBox. We already ruled out that even tho Windows can be run/installed, the low system memory makes it very impractical.

Can anyone confirm the touchscreen driver comment - or do you have a link to more info on that School? Funny, people can get GPS running on a Nintendo DS, but not the XB.

Uh Uh Uh, You didn't say the magic word !

EDIT: Looks like the PSP is going to have GPS soon too. lawl

S2K12 · 05-14-2006, 06:43 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

How would a 10 year old console system

10 years? yer what?

SnyperBob · 05-14-2006, 07:09 AM

What? Ok - yes, it's a 5 year old system, but still that's damn old in the realm of electronics.

SnyperBob · 05-14-2006, 07:51 AM

I can't find any info on installing/configuring a touchscreen on an XB. I used to own a modded XBox, and sold it when I learned it couldn't do as much as a carputer. If it is possible to run a touchscreen, that'd be huge.

How do you add a touchscreen? Would you install it the same way as a touchpad/joystick? A simple 'modprobe xpad' loads the driver, run the 'jscal' program to calibrate the screen??

Xynergy · 05-14-2006, 10:16 AM

My question was answered a long long time ago...
You guys can take this post anywhere you want now!

SnyperBob · 05-14-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Xynergy

My question was answered a long long time ago...
You guys can take this post anywhere you want now!

lol - so are you going to get an XBox then, or what?

oldskoolvwlover · 05-14-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

Didn't we already answer your questions days ago. Read the thread again...

Once again, your post is veering further away from the topic being discussed.

I was responding to YOUR "questions." As far as answering the question about windows.... where did someone say it was cheaper to run windows than linux (besides you). Like I said, Windows is NOT free, software for windows is NOT free..... do the freakin math it can't be cheaper.

Now if you are loading pirated software maybe it is cheaper, but that would be wrong. Also if you wanna go that route, anything can be cheap if you steal enough of the stuff to build it/run it/install it. Doing that would be the ONLY way to get a Windows carputer CHEAPER than a Linux carputer.

Tidder · 05-14-2006, 12:01 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

Tidder - did you ever get the warranty replacement for that Epia 800?

It's still in process...

Ok, here's the deal. You can get a touchscreen working on xbox linux. The problem is, why?? It's so damn slow, it wouldn't be worth throwing linux on it. It takes FOREVER to boot, and programs run SO SLOW. Firefox seems like it takes minutes to first run. If you got one of those DreamX boxes with double the ram and a 1.4ghz celeron, maybe that would be better, but the stock 733mhz and 64mb ram can't do ****. Let it die. Forget about linux on the xbox.

Now, on a different note...
If the powers that be could make a touchscreen work with XBMC, the world would be an awesome place to be. I would definitely ditch the CarPC for an XBMC touchscreen xbox.

Tidder · 05-14-2006, 12:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by oldskoolvwlover

I was responding to YOUR "questions." As far as answering the question about windows.... where did someone say it was cheaper to run windows than linux (besides you). Like I said, Windows is NOT free, software for windows is NOT free..... do the freakin math it can't be cheaper.

Now if you are loading pirated software maybe it is cheaper, but that would be wrong. Also if you wanna go that route, anything can be cheap if you steal enough of the stuff to build it/run it/install it. Doing that would be the ONLY way to get a Windows carputer CHEAPER than a Linux carputer.

Well, I don't quite know about that...

Take me for example. It would be cheaper for me to go the windows route instead of linux, cause I don't know how to make linux output the special timings for my PSone Screen. Also, you need to quit thinking in terms of money. My time right now is worth $65/hr. If I spend 6 hours trying to configure linux compared to 2 hours with windows, I've saved time which = saving money for me. Plus, nothing I own works with linux other than my mobo/processor and hdd. Ok maybe vid card. My GPS does not, my iGuidance does not, my bluetooth usb dongle does not... I've tried. So I'd have to buy more hardware to get linux running in my car.

I'd really love to make the switch to linux, debian is probably by far my favorite OS compared to anything except Mac OS 10, but that comparison can't really be made, they're brothers.

Anyway, if you're talking money only, linux is cheaper, but considering all the time I'd put in, definitely not cost effective for me.

oldskoolvwlover · 05-14-2006, 07:52 PM

yes that is for you, but we are talking about someone starting from scratch... that would mean they could start out with software and hardware that is linux compatible. Someone who has not setup a Carputer yet.... so either way they will be spending time learning. The Linux OS is CHEAPER for that person, I am not trying to get you to switch from Windows to Linux, this thread is still in the Linux forums right?????

Let me put it to you this way..... this is a Hobby, not a job, I don't care what your time is worth. When you output less cash you save money, this is something you do in your FREE time. We were not discussing the cost of having someone install a linux carpc vs a windows carpc. The fun is in working on your car and figuring out how to get things to work, not saying "if I was doing this for a customer I would be getting paid $XX an hour."

Maybe you look at this hobby as something different than I do.... regardless I understand why it would be an obvious waste for someone like you to switch over now. Bob was the one that came out saying it is cheaper to run a Windows box, I still want him to explain where he is finding all this free windows OS and software.

avengerki · 05-14-2006, 09:02 PM

Tidder & oldskool drop it. If you are refering to money in straight up parts required to build a system from scratch yes the xbox comes slightly ahead in cheapness. The way I see it with the xbox depending on how you go you still need to upgrade the HD (you get one for your pc too), someway to mod it(can be free or up to $200), xbox of course ($150 new, you can by some small comparable pc's for the same price), and then the screen/s(still have to do this with the pc route although you can also not go with a screen), install the os(linux free, windows xp shop around and if your a student then the lowest is like $80 I think), power supply (inverters still cost money and you can find some of the cheaper dc-dc power supplies for the same price). Thats just for the basic carputer system and in my book it comes out as a wash, it might not be the fastest system out there or have all the goodies but its still a carputer. The pc way will allow you to add more over time as you get the money, not necessarily true with an xbox.

Now back onto the feasability of linux on a xbox used as a carpc and drop the price bs.
*(Prices may be inflated or deflated all based on memory and no research)

Xynergy · 05-14-2006, 09:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by SnyperBob

lol - so are you going to get an XBox then, or what?

I haven't decided yet, I don't know where I want with it yet. I know the benefits of each system. I will either go with a modded xbox w/o Linux and the regular dashboard or build a mini xp computer with a touchscreen.

Thanks for all the help!

oldskoolvwlover · 05-15-2006, 12:43 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by avengerki

Tidder & oldskool drop it. If you are refering to money in straight up parts required to build a system from scratch yes the xbox comes slightly ahead in cheapness. The way I see it with the xbox depending on how you go you still need to upgrade the HD (you get one for your pc too), someway to mod it(can be free or up to $200), xbox of course ($150 new, you can by some small comparable pc's for the same price), and then the screen/s(still have to do this with the pc route although you can also not go with a screen), install the os(linux free, windows xp shop around and if your a student then the lowest is like $80 I think), power supply (inverters still cost money and you can find some of the cheaper dc-dc power supplies for the same price). Thats just for the basic carputer system and in my book it comes out as a wash, it might not be the fastest system out there or have all the goodies but its still a carputer. The pc way will allow you to add more over time as you get the money, not necessarily true with an xbox.

Now back onto the feasability of linux on a xbox used as a carpc and drop the price bs.
*(Prices may be inflated or deflated all based on memory and no research)

d00d seriously READ... wasn't even between me and him. SnyberBob said a page or 2 ago it was cheaper to run Windows..... regardless of your hardware (even a caputer) windows Software COSTS more. I wasn't even talking about hardware at this point with tiggler, Bob said windows was a cheaper OS to run..... this is not true, GPS is what 100 without OS or anything else. Pick your linux distro = free, find the software you want = free, getting everything to work on linux may take a lil time do to the lack of real help of people even attempting it. Note this is in the linux forums and everyone was talking about running windows.

Tidder · 05-15-2006, 01:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by oldskoolvwlover

yes that is for you, but we are talking about someone starting from scratch... that would mean they could start out with software and hardware that is linux compatible. Someone who has not setup a Carputer yet.... so either way they will be spending time learning. The Linux OS is CHEAPER for that person, I am not trying to get you to switch from Windows to Linux, this thread is still in the Linux forums right?????

Let me put it to you this way..... this is a Hobby, not a job, I don't care what your time is worth. When you output less cash you save money, this is something you do in your FREE time. We were not discussing the cost of having someone install a linux carpc vs a windows carpc. The fun is in working on your car and figuring out how to get things to work, not saying "if I was doing this for a customer I would be getting paid $XX an hour."

Maybe you look at this hobby as something different than I do.... regardless I understand why it would be an obvious waste for someone like you to switch over now. Bob was the one that came out saying it is cheaper to run a Windows box, I still want him to explain where he is finding all this free windows OS and software.

Yeah, that makes sense. If I were to start from scratch, and knew a damn thing about linux, it'd probably be cheaper.

Only reason I brought up time = money is I run my own business. So "free time" really doesn't exist for me right now, there's always money to be made. So for me, time spent on hobbies is money lost.

And plus I'm a lazy bastard.

Quote: Originally Posted by oldskoolvwlover

...wasn't even talking about hardware at this point with tiggler...

Tiggler... hehe.

Tidder · 05-15-2006, 01:44 PM

I just had a thought. Are there any touchscreens out there that don't use special drivers? Any that will work like a USB mouse? I'm just thinking, if such a thing exists, it would work with XBMC. Yeah, calibration would probably be off and all that ****e, but I was just wondering.