forums.xandros.com

[JohnGBS]

Hello, I am wondering if anyone can help me (besides a shrink ) I have resently moved from a microsoft/redhat desktop to Xandros2.0 for all my family's needs (though I have yet to convince my wife of this) Is there any educational games etc. available either through the network or via Debian. that will replace the Doreen kindersly software that has now become redundant (like it wasn't already). my kids are between 3 and 7
any help would be appriciated

Regards

John
_________________
Smile it makes the day go Faster

[Chrisw]

have you tryed installing them under wine/crossover or winex/transgaming? Most kids games aren't very graphicaly intense and the basic DirectX stuff in winex/transgaming will often work.

[mike80808]

I've found that some of the kids games work OK under Crossover. What you'll find is that for some reason they all want the CD to be in the drive, and this screws up Xandros automounting the drives in XFM and in Crossover, as they're different during the install.

Anyway, you typically pop in the kid CD, Xandros detects it is a Windows disk and fires up Crossover to install it. Go ahead and install it once. Don't install the extra crud like Acrobat or demos of other software or registration stuff. Just the program from the CD.

It will install them on your menus and put an icon on your desktop, which you'll want to delete (the icon that is). You'll want to never use the menus anyway, either.

Then,when you want to run that game again, you'll pop it in, but usually they ask if you want to "install" (which you already did), or to go straight to "play" the game. That's the option you want to pick after the initial install.

This has been my experience on a completely Windows-free system. On a dual-boot, you might be able to install the program under Windows, and then actually run it (double-click on the EXE file) under Xandros and Crossover Office. But, I can't help you there, since I don't dual-boot.

Some kids games I know work with this method:

• Jump Start (several of them)
  
• The Learning Company (several of them)
  

In addition, I've found that my 4yo loves several of the flash games available on the net. Often, you can save the 'swf' file, set it up as an icon with a shortcut to it to let them play without having to visit a website. He particularly likes an 'air hockey' one. But his favorite is 'Pingu Throw', aka 'whack-a-penguin'

We found the air hockey game at http://www.topflashgames.com/.

As for Linux software available from Xandros Networks, go to the 'Shop' section and register (it's not like Xandros doesn't already have your info if you purchased it from them) and install TuxRacer and TuxKart, both also popular with my son. However, his all-time favorite is FrozenBubble.

And there's also KBattleship and another favorite of his, for some reason, kolf (an on-screen goofy golf program for KDE).

For older kids there's a really cool planetarium program. But your biggest bang for your buck is likely to be Flash games from the Internet. However, you'll likely want to make a local copy of the game file itself so that when your kid plays the game, they don't have to have access to the Internet, and you can somewhat give them a protected area to use "their" computer.

My son, for example, has learned to type his name at the login screen (I use my administrator privileges to set their passwords to the empty string, so none is required for them to login).

That should give you some ideas... Have fun!
_________________
Thanks for all the fishes, Xandros.

[JohnGBS]

Thank's Mike,
A great help, it's through the kids stuff I will convert my wife over to Linux/ Xandros...my background is unix for work (HP/AIX) and MS for home ...so this is all kind of new to me. Much appricated for the advise...now to get to grips with gcc


John
_________________
Smile it makes the day go Faster

[redrum]

If you are looking for kid's games, this might be the place to check:

http://www.happypenguin.org/test/list?start=11&s_title=&s_author=&s_company=&s_description=&s_requirements=&s_category=kids&s_rating_op=eq&s_rating=any&s_rating_nr=on&s_license=any&s_sound=any&s_source=any&s_x11=any&s_console=any&s_3d=any&s_multiplayer=any&s_network=any&submit=Search&.cgifields=s_rating_nr

Hope this helps.
_________________


Beware of the man who would deny you access to information,
for in his heart he dreams himself your master.

[glancyryan]

Check out this website. This PDF file has a ton of resources.

http://www.lugod.org/presentations/kidslinux/kidslinux.pdf
&
http://www.linuxchildren.com/

[gnuuser]

using the search function on xandros networks type in the type of educational software you are looking for and read the descriptions carefully
_________________
the only stupid question there is is the question that is not asked!

registered Linux user number 505431

[EarthBoundMisfit]

wow, thread resurrection..
_________________
Registered Linux User #404122
"Microsoft has encountered a critical system error and must now shut down. Better get Bill Gate$ on the phone for this one......."

[Anny11]

Hey John ,
have you find educational games for your kid but i think they are too young because addiction of games is not good for kids health.