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    Quickplay equivalent

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by aloof, Sep 11, 2006.

  1. aloof

    aloof Notebook Enthusiast

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    Are there any versions of linux that are specifically designed to be a media player, similar to HP's Quickplay or Toshiba's Express media player? Something that can boot quickly and will keep power usage to a minimum?
     
    aloof, Sep 11, 2006
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  2. pbdavey

    pbdavey Notebook Consultant

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    This is something I've always wanted to mess with a little. Take a look at it and see what you think. http://geexbox.org/en/index.html Of course the key to any linux install when it comes to boot time is services, so you'll want to keep your rc.init pretty slim. I'm not sure if it comes with any ACPI support so if you are looking notebook power options, I don't know what to say. Adding ACPI packages to your GeexBox shouldn't be too bad, but I don't know how comfortable you'd be with that.
     
    pbdavey, Sep 12, 2006
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  3. rockharder

    rockharder Notebook Evangelist

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    I also have been looking for that solution. So far geexbox just give me the hint, not solution yet.

    I just don't know if geexbox replace QP partition, will it boot or not? Basically, HP's QP key try to find the last partition to boot.
     
    rockharder, Sep 12, 2006
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  4. pbdavey

    pbdavey Notebook Consultant

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    My guess is that once you create the Geexbox configuration that suites you, you'd need to convert the QP to ext3, install the geexbox on that ext3 and add Geexbox to your GRUB (or other bootloader). The trick really is the geexbox configuration and creation of the install CD. You'll probably have to get pretty good at using `chroot`.
     
    pbdavey, Sep 13, 2006
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  5. amnesiac345

    amnesiac345 Notebook Enthusiast

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    amnesiac345, Sep 13, 2006
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  6. arevee

    arevee Notebook Evangelist

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    huh? can someone explain this stuff in plain english please?? I am brand spankin' new to linux but I want to be able to do this on my sony SZ laptop as a dual boot! HELP! :confused:
     
    arevee, Sep 14, 2006
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  7. pbdavey

    pbdavey Notebook Consultant

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    Basically it's making a partition for GeexBox, then installing a custom configuration (I assume you want ACPI support which GeexBox does not have by default apparently) to that partition and adding GeexBox to your bootloader.

    This talks about custom configuration:
    http://www.geexbox.org/en/doc.html
    http://www.geexbox.org/wiki/index.php/Adding_a_new_package
    http://www.geexbox.org/wiki/index.php/Adding_a_new_program

    This talks about installation:
    http://www.geexbox.org/wiki/index.php/Installation
     
    pbdavey, Sep 14, 2006
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  8. amnesiac345

    amnesiac345 Notebook Enthusiast

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    @arevee

    check the link i gave on the post above. i think its pretty easy. already done it last night with no problems at all. geexbox is cool..but i've only tested the mp3/images and some divx and they all played without any problems. but as pdavey said..they still dont have any ACPI support.
     
    amnesiac345, Sep 14, 2006
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  9. arevee

    arevee Notebook Evangelist

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    thanks so much guys! I will try it this weekend. BTW, what is ACPI?
     
    arevee, Sep 15, 2006
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  10. pbdavey

    pbdavey Notebook Consultant

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    ACPI is Advanced Configuration & Power Interface. It's basically the interface that software uses to throttle hardware settings to consume less power.
     
    pbdavey, Sep 15, 2006
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