OK I really don't know much about this so please don't get to technical but does any combination exist where you can run internet cafe software on ARM set box computers?
Will Windows Mint run on ARM machines? If so will Windows internet cafe software run on Windows Mint?
They would basically be surfing machines but also need to support Skype, browser games and YouTube watching.
Anyone know if the Chinese have developed something like this already?
I would like to use something like this for internet cafes.
Yes Linux Mint is also called Windows Mint at times since it seems to be trying to emulate Windows, same thing.
One of the reasons to switch is for free software. If you run Windows for a business your supposed to pay a LARGE annual fee to Microsoft. That is after you buy the software which cost as much as the computers I use. Of course I live in a smaller town in the Philippines their are around 20 internet cafes here and NONE use legal software you cant compete if you do. But its just a matter of time till someone tries to enforce the law and I would like to be able to still compete then.
Another reason is electricity use. My largest monthly expense BY FAR is electricity. I pay about 18 cents a KW/H and the quality is so poor it forces you to use way more than you should and it is unreliable. With ARM computers I could cut my electric costs by AT LEAST 3/4. Not only that but if my electric usage were low enough I could consider putting in a battery backup system for my computers.
Also if totally automated I can set up systems in remote areas all you need is a wifi connection.
For surfing standard computers no longer make sense. Its just a matter of time till someone comes up with the software for this. I have been playing with his idea for over a year and am convinced it is the future for 2nd and third world areas and possibly others.
Also I haven't been in the US in 5 years, here you cant sue unless someone causes you real damage or defamation. I seriously doubt you could sue for advice.
I do appreciate that someone at least answered though thanks :)
This once again would prove to be a linux situation. If you could scrap together one box with a little extra horsepower (even a cheap amd would do the job) you can run something called linux terminal server.
In a word it would allow you to run multiple sessions out of one box and use thin clients (very much like the dell ones listed above).
Each of your thin clients could then pxe boot from the server into a full os which can be customized any way you like.
This really does seem very business related. Im sure you can find yourself a linux guru who would be willing to help you for not much money, although I say the same thing as kai and I'm not responsible if things go wrong.
But the ARM machines cost less than thin clients, use 3-7 watts of power and most have 2 Gig of RAM. Also the new ones have decent graphics and can be used for light gaming.
I think you may be wrong about not paying an annual fee for XP in an internet cafe too.
Looks like the RK3288 is getting reasonable in price now those are nice.