WOMP! is a tiny bootable Live CD (13-30 MB depending on the flavour you choose) that instantly transforms any computer into a DVD/VCD/CD/MP3 player. Similar distros include Movix 2 andGeeXBoX.
There are 4 variations of WOMP, from a basic package with just media players, to ones with optional text-based or graphical web browsing should you need it.
For the longest time, I’ve had an ancient Pentium II/300 collecting dust. Its only real advantage was its 24x DVD-ROM drive which I’ve been unable to remove and put in a better computer due to its custom bezel. It was originally a Windows 98 computer, and I swapped its original video card for an ATI All-in-Wonder, in hopes of using it as a DVD/VCD player to hook up to the TV. As you might guess, ATI’s proprietary driver software prevented me from using it in this way. Whenever I had anything hooked up to the video card’s composite output, the drivers would disable them if I was trying to watch a DVD. I guess the assumption is that I was trying to record the DVD, rather than trying to enjoy it on a larger screen. Guilty until proven innocent? Thank you, corporate America.
Anyway, whenever Windows is the problem, Linux is the answer.
After trying several other micro distributions that we’re multimedia specific, I tried WOMP!, and I was watching season 1 of “Law & Order” within minutes. Boot the disk, take it out, insert a DVD, and press the “Play DVD” button. It’s that simple. I made some tweaks to the default settings (audio level, DMA) but WOMP worked fine out of the starting gate. It used the outputs on my vintage ATI card with no problems.
You may not be able to convince your friends to dump Windows permanently, but with this solutionWOMP! Multimedia Microlinux 0.6 beta 3
WOMP! is a tiny bootable Live CD (13-30 MB depending on the flavour you choose) that instantly transforms any computer into a DVD/VCD/CD/MP3 player. Similar distros include Movix 2 and GeeXBoX.
There are 4 variations of WOMP, from a basic package with just media players, to ones with optional text-based or graphical web browsing should you need it.
For the longest time, I’ve had an ancient Pentium II/300 collecting dust. Its only real advantage was its 24x DVD-ROM drive which I’ve been unable to remove and put in a better computer due to its custom bezel. It was originally a Windows 98 computer, and I swapped its original video card for an ATI All-in-Wonder, in hopes of using it as a DVD/VCD player to hook up to the TV. As you might guess, ATI’s proprietary driver software prevented me from using it in this way. Whenever I had anything hooked up to the video card’s composite output, the drivers would disable them if I was trying to watch a DVD. I guess the assumption is that I was trying to record the DVD, rather than trying to enjoy it on a larger screen. Guilty until proven innocent? Thank you, corporate America.
Anyway, whenever Windows is the problem, Linux is the answer.
After trying several other micro distributions that we’re multimedia specific, I tried WOMP!, and I was watching season 1 of “Law & Order” within minutes. Boot the disk, take it out, insert a DVD, and press the “Play DVD” button. It’s that simple. I made some tweaks to the default settings (audio level, DMA) but WOMP worked fine out of the starting gate. It used the outputs on my vintage ATI card with no problems.
You may not be able to convince your friends to dump Windows permanently, but with this solution they might be able to enjoy Linux’s multimedia capabilities, without removing Windows, on a computer too old or too slow to run XP. The minimal CD .ISO says it requires 64MB RAM, but even the comprehensive CD (with includes Mozilla Firebird [now called Firefox]) which is rated for 256MB RAM will still run perfectly on only 64MB (though the browser will be disabled).
If you’re having trouble getting MPlayer or Xine or work, or just enjoy carrying around useful discs like Knoppix and DSL, you might want to add this distro to your collection. It doesn’t harness the full power of MPlayer as some other multimedia live CDs do (example: Movix 2) but it works well. they might be able to enjoy Linux’s multimedia capabilities, without removing Windows, on a computer too old or too slow to run XP. The minimal CD .ISO says it requires 64MB RAM, but even the comprehensive CD (with includes Mozilla Firebird [now called Firefox]) which is rated for 256MB RAM will still run perfectly on only 64MB (though the browser will be disabled).
If you’re having trouble getting MPlayer or Xine or work, or just enjoy carrying around useful discs like Knoppix and DSL, you might want to add this distro to your collection. It doesn’t harness the full power of MPlayer as some other multimedia live CDs do (example: Movix 2) but it works well.
WOMP!
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