So after more discussion, Ubuntu was chosen because of the CNC software (EMC2). Its *native* distro is ubuntu, and Ben didn't want to have to deal with the "well, this distro says x and that distro says the same thing is y". Although I don't know how much time he's saving overall as he wants to code a new front end that includes a gcode editor. (It is modular, and comes with 3 interfaces, and he's using the "best" of the three, but none of them are quite what he needs.)

He's already seen the 3d printer stuff, but for what our business is, the CNC router is what we're after. When I picked him up this morning, he was dealing with HAL files so he could make his logitech fake ps2 controller work to move the mill.

I think the original thought was "this will be relatively easy since this distro is used all the time for livecd systems." And yeah, it pretty much comes down to "Well, it's a more or less mainstream linux distro that will support the things I want to do without too much pain."

Isn't that how most linux distros are chosen?

or because they've got a 54% estimated failure rate?

Yeah, it's mostly borked, but it's working, and those issues aren't necessarily an issue. Sound and bluetooth aren't being used, and the box isn't even being hooked to a network (much to its chagrin, as it keeps asking for web pages, etc. as help files). As long as it works, it's what's gonna stay on that machine.

ha-ha. this was the generic 'you' of people who are required to run windows as part of their work or home environment, not the specific 'you' of people on slashdot.

oh, and part of why we're spoiled is we're mac people now. No more Windows (except in a parallels window). No more having to choose configuration options to make something look... good enough.

So, as long as you don't actually want to use the damned thing to do whatever it is you do, it works fine. Isn't that the usual argument for windows?

lol; if you saw the "linux box", you'd understand why it's only using a thumb drive. A, it's meant to operate in the workshop, where there will be vibration and perhaps power fluctuation so we wanted a solid-state drive (no head crash, etc), and 2, it was built as cheaply as possible. Well, computer partswise.

The box is a microATX mobo with a SD card reader in it (which runs the OS). The usb ports are connected with the cable to the mobo (where we xfer files). There is no container for it (yet, Ben's going to mill one). There's a controller connected to it, and a power supply. Everything right now has a nice sheen of sawdust, as it's just to the left of the "mill" if you watch the video.

I parsed that as "You're more likely to kill someone on a cell phone than someone drinking 2 beers."

Which is probably true.