Back in 15 May 2006 the WSJ did an artical on a novice user switching to Linux. The results wern't that positive. He was very complamentray of Fedora and tried to make it work, but in the end he had to buy windows again to do what he wanted. That sysyem that he was working on was a Sony and had some compatibility issues with Linux.
I agree with the author on his conclusion, but I would add this. The amount of setup I ususally have to do to a linux system to get it what I call "fully working" (i.e. totem works with WMA, playes DVDs, flash, quicktime etc) is a large investment of time and would be a very steep learning curve for people who have never done it before.
The only gaming cafe I've ever seen stay open for more then two years in Chicago is at Old Orchard Mall . I believe that is in Evanston. You may want to think of:
1. who are your customers?
2. what do they want?
3. where are they?
4. how do they get to you?
1. Your customers are generally (without doing a external survey) 12 - 26 y.o. males with extra income.
2. They want to go "out" ( as in out of the house) to some place local and either play mmporg games or shoot em ups.
3. relatively rich neighborhoods Naperville, schaumburg, Kennelworth, Wheeling , Wilmette, Oak Park
4. being in a mall with buss transportation or even better Metra/"L" seems to be a mainstay for kids who will plunk their allowance into your pocket.
Also,
Most of the gaming cafes that I've seen (only 3) have been relatively dark with reflective windows. So that customers inside can be as dorky as they want in private.
The machines that I seen at the gaming cafe are no joke at least $2000. err a "friend of mine" has gone to one because the video card was bad ass and the connection rocks. He had a big WoW raid and I wanted to turn the resolution up and not be lagged to death. It was far beyond what he could afford at the time.
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I agree with the author on his conclusion, but I would add this. The amount of setup I ususally have to do to a linux system to get it what I call "fully working" (i.e. totem works with WMA, playes DVDs, flash, quicktime etc) is a large investment of time and would be a very steep learning curve for people who have never done it before.
link to artical: http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB11472713661 0348924-Et3a0yO82d_xJdMWN_y8xKXLl7c_20060521.html? mod=blogs
The only gaming cafe I've ever seen stay open for more then two years in Chicago is at Old Orchard Mall . I believe that is in Evanston. You may want to think of: 1. who are your customers? 2. what do they want? 3. where are they? 4. how do they get to you? 1. Your customers are generally (without doing a external survey) 12 - 26 y.o. males with extra income. 2. They want to go "out" ( as in out of the house) to some place local and either play mmporg games or shoot em ups. 3. relatively rich neighborhoods Naperville, schaumburg, Kennelworth, Wheeling , Wilmette, Oak Park 4. being in a mall with buss transportation or even better Metra/"L" seems to be a mainstay for kids who will plunk their allowance into your pocket. Also, Most of the gaming cafes that I've seen (only 3) have been relatively dark with reflective windows. So that customers inside can be as dorky as they want in private. The machines that I seen at the gaming cafe are no joke at least $2000. err a "friend of mine" has gone to one because the video card was bad ass and the connection rocks. He had a big WoW raid and I wanted to turn the resolution up and not be lagged to death. It was far beyond what he could afford at the time.