hello everyone,
new here on unix, don't know a lot about it but I have an engineer that will install all.
so what do you think about using unix for an internet cafe?
are programs like msn instant messenger available for unix?
thank you for any help
I am a novice at the moment but wait...
What's your engineer installing? Linux?
Maybe there's others people can already vouch for... might also help if you describe what exactly an Internet cafe is.
an internet cafe is a place where people go to use a computer.
I don't know anything about linux/unix just that I want to use it as it is free and requires no licensing.
does msn messenger work on this platform?
what about microsoft office, or any program similar that can open .doc files?
thank you for your time.
i havent played with any linux distros in ages but isnt it only free for non commercial use?
and yes they do make aim/irc/icq for unix/linux. they even make internet explorer for unix/linux.
i dont know about MSN tho.
I don't know about only for non-commercial use ... I think the only stipulation is you can't sell copies to others. Look up StarOffice in a search engine - it's similar to Microsoft Office, except it's for Linux.
Where are you thinking of setting up this internet cafe'? What age range are you looking to bring in? What usage are you looking to get from your PCs? I started an Internet Cafe' and it took a u-turn and became a cyber areana faster than I knew it. My customers were all kids 18 - and the crowd 18 - 25 also wanted to game. In this situation I needed MS WIN boxes, and used the linux boxes as servers.
Agreed. Most customers of Internet Cafes will be more comforable with interfacing Windows systems. You can use UNIX/LINUX in the back office for file storage, firewalls, routing, running your hosting site, etc. but your customers will, more than likely, prefer an Windows-based access.
I have used Internet Cafes in Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Brazil, and, of course, the US. Even in Cambodia they are windows-based for the customer. HOWEVER, the back-office services are often UNIX/LINUX based.
it's cheaper for me to install linux on all machines than purchase windows licenses.
the cafe is in the dominican republic, I've been open for a year and a half, the time has come now to purchase windows licenses and it's too expensive.
time to switch to linux!
Well, we have two lycoris gaming systems for the nix fans. The system is running counter-strike & UT2003 and we have StarOffice also. So, I guess if you have your heart set on it. Linux will work fine for what you need and if you have the know how... You can get almost any software to run on it.
So you answer is YES, any software you need to run will run on selected versions of linux.
i wouldnt be so bold as to say any.
as you will find out. alot of games (kinda a primary reason for useing an internet cafe these days) wont run on anything but microsoft windows.
if your target client is not interested in entertainment and more for being productive and doing work then i would say go for the cheaper solution as it will do what you need.
but if you are geared toward entertainment/games just general fun then go w/ MS windows.
its a sad truth but ms does have the gameing community on lock down for the most part.
Thanks for your help,
I will go full power ahead and make mine the first internet cafe in the DR with linux system.
cheers
Opt,
I can say that linux is starting to catch up, but a couple years behind. My friend can get almost any Win98 game to run on his linux box and with WineX and VMware he can get cames like Counter-Strike & Warlords Battlecry 1 & 2 to run.
VMWARE: that lets you run a "virtual os" inside yoru current os right? i havent looked at that software befor but that is what i thought it does.
wouldnt you still need a license to run windows in the vmware env.
in all honesty i dont see game makers really trying to capture the linux market anytime soon. (i wish they would) but outside of dedicated servers i dont see it happening. MS is the platform for gameing. has been for years.
Either way. tayoz: good luck w/ your venture.