Challenge for Developers or Gurus

ninjabob7 · 11-28-2005, 08:21 PM

Here's a challenge. You have probably seen or at least read about those new media laptops that boot into a special DVD mode. In this mode, it takes about 3 seconds to boot, and provides DVD playback only. Why not make a linux distro that does the same thing?
The basic features would be:

Fast bootup
Only the packages required to load and play a DVD
KDE or GNOME would not be needed, just a light WM

Bonus points awarded:

Run off a live cd (in a separate drive)
Run off a mini cd
Load into RAM (like Puppy Linux) so you could use the same drive

You could either start from scratch or modify an existing distro such as Puppy. Is anyone willing to try this?

cuiq · 11-30-2005, 09:39 AM

This might be a problem, and the problem in one word is "DeCSS".

However you could create your own private liveCD for this use. (I have using ibuild)

and...there are some media liveCD's built this way but they will play only unencrypted dvd's, those are.

Mediainlinux
Demudi
Dyne:bolic

If I'm wrong I'm sure someone will correct me.

Peace V

shevegen · 11-30-2005, 11:48 AM

I believe fast-bootup mode is entirely separate from the DeCSS issue, because there are DVDs that are not encrypted. Would it be possible to have an ultra fast bootup Linux Distro available?
Like LinuxOnDope or SpeedaLinux .. hehe very creative name i just picked btw

XavierP · 11-30-2005, 03:54 PM

Moved: This thread is more suitable in Linux-Distributions and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

ciotog · 12-01-2005, 01:21 AM

You know, Quickplay on HP and Compaq notebooks is actually run off a linux partition, with a 2.4 kernel and mplayer...

The source is available from hp.com, just search for SP29985.

Here's what's included:

Code:

kernel:
linux-2.4.26.tar.bz2

driver:
alsa-driver-1.0.5.tar.bz2

others:
atk-1.2.4.tar.gz         glib-2.2.0.tar.bz2               jpegsrc.v6b.tar.gz          ncurses-5.3.tar.gz
bash-2.05a.tar.gz        glibc-2.3.1.tar.gz               kbd-1.08.tar.bz2            pango-1.2.4.tar.gz
binutils-2.13.2.tar.bz2  glibc-linuxthreads-2.3.1.tar.gz  libcap_1.10.orig.tar.gz     sed-4.0.8.tar.gz
e2fsprogs-1.32.tar.gz    grep-2.5.tar.bz2                 libpng-1.2.7.tar.bz2        sh-utils-2.0.tar.gz
fileutils-4.1.tar.gz     grub-0.94.tar.gz                 libtermcap-2.0.8-4.src.rpm  syslinux-2.08.tar.gz
freetype-2.1.9.tar.bz2   gtk+-2.2.4.tar.gz                libtiff-3.5.7-2.tar.gz.tar  sysvinit-2.84.tar.gz
gawk-3.1.1.tar.gz        gzip-1.2.4a.tar.gz               libtool_1.5.6.orig.tar.gz   tar-1.13.tar.gz
gawk-3.1.tar.gz.tar      imlib.tgz                        modutils-2.4.22.tar.bz2     util-linux-2.11y.tar.bz2

I guess there are some closed-source components as well.