FreeBSD Ported to XBox 194
NetFiber writes "FreeBSD has been ported to the XBox. "Over the last 2 weeks, I have been working on a port of FreeBSD for the XBox. The port is fully functional. The framebuffer is fully supported, same goes for sound and USB devices (such as an USB keyboard). Only ethernet is missing, currently." The FreeBSD on XBox website is here, downloads included." Update: 07/27 14:50 GMT by T : Rink Springer writes with a request that you use the primary mirror instead.
Two guys, ages 19 and 21 (Score:4, Interesting)
One thing I used to have a lot of time to think about was how much time I was wasting, having forced myself into a very uncomfortable place. It's quite heartening to see these kids doing great work, even if it is just for themselves as a hobby (even moreso, in my opinion).
I'm not sure that the thing is useful, but it's definitely a cool hack.
Is anyone offering them a job yet?
Re:Er... why? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Er... why? (Score:2, Interesting)
Thats why. Also, throw in a bigger hard drive and you have a great backup server or file server.
Just don't try hosting any slashdot stories. Even a cluster [slashdot.org] of these things couldn't handle that.
Re:Er... why? (Score:3, Interesting)
However, the xbox originally sold for $399 and now retails for $150. Who knows if they're still loosing money on these, but I'd guess they still are subsidizing the software/online business by taking a loss on the hardware.
Re:Ethernet missing? (Score:2, Interesting)
No shit this driver fails, it is supposed to support NVidia nforce2 chipset with AMD processors. Not the (also nvidia) network chip in the xbox. The ethernet chip is probably quite similar to the nforce chip, but the rest of the hardware isn't ...
The best bet might be to port the linux forcedeth drivers. They're the only OSS drivers for the chip.
Re:It may not be a hoax... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Two guys, ages 19 and 21 (Score:1, Interesting)
My best wishes to the fellows who made the Xbox patchset for FreeBSD. I hope you prosper in life, you are the seeds of the future. Please continue with your development, as your efforts are appreciated. What most people don't realise is productivity is more worthwhile than arguing over which OS is better. Godspeed.
Thanks,
Fellow doing well without degree
Ask yourself this question : (Score:4, Interesting)
Linguistic note... (Score:3, Interesting)
Interesting that the submitter choose "an" rather than "a" before USB. This implies he pronounces USB "usby" rather than "yoo-ess-bee". I've never heard that before. Anyone else? Do I sound square pronouncing each letter of USB?
Re:Linguistic note... (Score:3, Interesting)
pegr: Interesting that the submitter choose "an" rather than "a" before USB. This implies he pronounces USB "usby" rather than "yoo-ess-bee". I've never heard that before. Anyone else? Do I sound square pronouncing each letter of USB?
88NoSoup4U88: Isn't the rule that once a word starts with a vowel, you have to use 'an' : It doesn't have anything to do with how you pronounce it, does it ? [/non native english speaker]
AC: I for one pronounce USB "usbi", but then again im finnish...
Ah! So does this more likely mean that the submitter is not a native English speaker? Not to make you uncomfortable, NetFiber, but are you a native English speaker?
For anyone not otherwise aware, it is always how the word is pronounced, not spelled.
Sorry to wander so far off-topic, but I find this observation to be fascinating.
Re:It may not be a hoax... (Score:3, Interesting)
Sheesh, even Stallman of all FSF people does understand that! Surely any random FSF fanboy should?