NY Lotto uses Linux

[MaindotC]

I was at my <expletive> job at the gas station and a contractor from the NY Lotto was installing a new machine. I saw it boot up, and lo and behold I see penguins! The system seems to be manufactured (or at least supported) by GTECH (http://www.gtech.com/). I managed to see on the documentation that it was a G1200 but I couldn't find that model on GTECH's site. Here are some pics:
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6288/img00023200911011603.th.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/img00023200911011603.jpg/) http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7630/img00024200911011605.th.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/i/img00024200911011605.jpg/) http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7961/img00025200911011606.th.jpg (http://img267.imageshack.us/i/img00025200911011606.jpg/)

I also couldn't find a link on their site to where they host the redistribution of their source code and distro so I wonder if they are following the GPL. Just thought it was cool. May be coming to a gas station near you soon!

[clonne4crw]

Haha. A LOT of things use Linux, we just don't notice it.:popcorn:

[kyle99]

Yeah, I was at my local Rosauers (grocery store) and they had ubuntu running on the tv on the wall. They were using VLC to play video ads :P

[amingv]

NC machines use Linux, too.
When I had to do customer service in the supermarket I worked, knowing the lottery was a Linux machine is the one thing that kept me sane.

It's funny to note that the prepaid cellphone card selling machine (which used XP) was permanently out of service.

(CATS Ticket selling machines using XP was a huge mistake, too)

[Mr. Picklesworth]

I also couldn't find a link on their site to where they host the redistribution of their source code and distro so I wonder if they are following the GPL. Just thought it was cool. May be coming to a gas station near you soon!

Just because they are using Linux does not mean that they have made changes to GPLed programs. Yes, we are at the stage now where one can actually just use the software as shipped :)

[The Funkbomb]

You know those kiosk machines in bars where you can slip a buck in and play some games? I'm fairly sure it runs linux too. It's been a few years since I saw the techie boot one (it's gotta be linux :D ). Not sure what distro.

Linux is all around us running stuff non-computer people don't even think about.

[MaindotC]

So what about the clause of the GPL that says you have to make your distribution publically available? Aren't they supposed to have a link on their site somewhere?

Edit: Picklesworth beat me to it. Damn you picklesworth!

[elizabeth]

You know those kiosk machines in bars where you can slip a buck in and play some games? I'm fairly sure it runs linux too. It's been a few years since I saw the techie boot one (it's gotta be linux :D ). Not sure what distro.

I learned about this when a friend interviewed with the company that makes them since they were looking for Linux people. Now one of my favorite parlor tricks at LUG meetings/LoCo events that end up in a restaurant that has one is to reboot it so everyone can see the Linux boot-up screen :)

[xuCGC002]

I saw Knoppix running on a TV inside a Tully's coffee shop. It played ads.

[Viva]

I was at my <expletive> job at the gas station and a contractor from the NY Lotto was installing a new machine. I saw it boot up, and lo and behold I see penguins! The system seems to be manufactured (or at least supported) by GTECH (http://www.gtech.com/). I managed to see on the documentation that it was a G1200 but I couldn't find that model on GTECH's site. Here are some pics:
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6288/img00023200911011603.th.jpg (http://img101.imageshack.us/i/img00023200911011603.jpg/) http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7630/img00024200911011605.th.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/i/img00024200911011605.jpg/) http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7961/img00025200911011606.th.jpg (http://img267.imageshack.us/i/img00025200911011606.jpg/)

I also couldn't find a link on their site to where they host the redistribution of their source code and distro so I wonder if they are following the GPL. Just thought it was cool. May be coming to a gas station near you soon!

They don't have to publish their modifications if they're not distributing a GPLed software.

[MaindotC]

I learned about this when a friend interviewed with the company that makes them since they were looking for Linux people.

That's a good point - I could just browse linkedin for resumes that state they've used some form of *nix when at a particular company lol