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LinuXbox Boots
ducker writes: "Finally Xbox is ready for some real fun! Linux can be booted now ... just check out http://www.xbox-scene.com - Linux boots into a network-enabled state, running a web server and telnet, which allows you to log into the box from another machine. It can be booted either from flash memory, or (more easily) from a CD inserted into the machine. (The Xbox still needs to have a modchip fitted to allow it to run unsigned code)."
(The Xbox still needs to have a modchip fitted to allow it to run unsigned code)
And if Microsoft's political engineering team has their way, you'll need one to run an "untrusted" OS on any machine! The joy!
So are they going to get the $200,000 (or whatever it was) that was put up a couple of months ago to the first person to get Linux running on the XBox? (The story was run here on Slashdot, but thanks to Slashdot's incredibly shitty search system, I can't find it)
It'd be nice to see if whoever it was sticks to their word.
mogorific carpentry experiments
Though I have a hunch I'm going to regret asking this question I'm doing it anyway. Please don't see this as flamebait or as a provocation - I'd genuinely like to know:
What's the point of the effort? Yes I've seen the 'You're in control of Your box' screenshot, but how many users conceptually think of themselves as restricted in their use of an X-box - or any other gaming console for that matter - apart from the occasional Slashdot'er?
I can hardly see people moaning about not being able to use a desktop environment on what is supposed to be a gaming device. Either these people already have a desktop computer or they don't need one in the first place.
Have I missed the bleeding obvious or what?
Sorry for being a dumb*ss.
naah sig schmig
"I hope that ppl will not buy MS's stuff just because it runs linux."
You mean I should give up my mouse and keyboard, as it's got MS on it?
Also consider the fact that by buying an Xbox and no games, you are probably costing MS about $200..
This is simple business.
This is stupid business. Selling at a loss only makes sense if the purchaser can't use the product
without a recuring cost. Nobody is forcing people to keep buying games for the xbox, so it's s stupid business model.
any halfway decent businessperson would have designed the XBox in the way it is.
Perhaps, but not for the reasons you give. Any halfway decent business person would have made profitability a design requirement for their product. If they hadn't insisted on using PC components in their system, then they could have made some money. ex: Sony & Nintendo. It arguably could have been a good idea to sell at a loss to catch up in the market share game, and then adopt a more sensable model, but obviously that was dumb too, since there are 10 times as many PS2s sold then xboxes.
Second, the nice comment about "free software and ideas" is great but please move out of America or Canada if you are currently subscribing to this impossible reality.
That's funny. I make a good living writing open source software, and I have no need for the government to feed me. It doesn't seem that impossible to me. In many situations, Open Source just makes more sense. If you are looking to make money form a product, it is generally a good idea to let the customer USE the product. This is why operating systems, libraries and utilites should be Open Source. Of course that doesn't work if you want to make money by leaching off of 3rd party developers profits, but nobody is forcing you to adopt that business model. It is questionable how well that business model actually works without a monopoly anyway. Most companies can't get away with it, which microsoft is finding out as they bleed money throught their xbox division.
There is more then one way to make money, and change is only bad it you're the one that is left obsolete after the change. Don't buy into the propaganda of established businesses that are afraid of a changing market. If you're not part of their little group, then they're against you too; even if you spout the same crap that they do.