UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

hello everyone,

new here on unix, don't know a lot about it but I have an engineer that will install all.

so what do you think about using unix for an internet cafe?

are programs like msn instant messenger available for unix?

thank you for any help

I am a novice at the moment but wait...

What's your engineer installing? Linux?

AIM for Linux

IRC for various Unix distros

Maybe there's others people can already vouch for... might also help if you describe what exactly an Internet cafe is.

an internet cafe is a place where people go to use a computer.

I don't know anything about linux/unix just that I want to use it as it is free and requires no licensing.

does msn messenger work on this platform?

what about microsoft office, or any program similar that can open .doc files?

thank you for your time.

i havent played with any linux distros in ages but isnt it only free for non commercial use?

and yes they do make aim/irc/icq for unix/linux. they even make internet explorer for unix/linux.

i dont know about MSN tho.

I don't know about only for non-commercial use ... I think the only stipulation is you can't sell copies to others. Look up StarOffice in a search engine - it's similar to Microsoft Office, except it's for Linux.

Where are you thinking of setting up this internet cafe'? What age range are you looking to bring in? What usage are you looking to get from your PCs? I started an Internet Cafe' and it took a u-turn and became a cyber areana faster than I knew it. My customers were all kids 18 - and the crowd 18 - 25 also wanted to game. In this situation I needed MS WIN boxes, and used the linux boxes as servers.

Agreed. Most customers of Internet Cafes will be more comforable with interfacing Windows systems. You can use UNIX/LINUX in the back office for file storage, firewalls, routing, running your hosting site, etc. but your customers will, more than likely, prefer an Windows-based access.

I have used Internet Cafes in Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Brazil, and, of course, the US. Even in Cambodia they are windows-based for the customer. HOWEVER, the back-office services are often UNIX/LINUX based.