The group, called the Xbox Linux Project, announced their initial success in booting SuSE Linux on the console, and described how they managed to run Gnome and KDE, KMail email software and StarOffice office suite on the Xbox. They also succeeded in running a Linux-based game,
Tux Racer, albeit at the hobbled rate of a frame per second. A standard USB keyboard and mouse provided the input.
The team's ultimate goal is to develop a flavor of Linux that anyone can load onto the Xbox without modifying the hardware -- in other words, get Linux running without violating any laws. The team is also working without the aid of the Xbox SDK, as using that would constitute a violation of the SDK developer agreement.
The Linux installation tutorial can be found at
http://xbox-linux.sourceforge.net/articles.php?aid=2002247064525.
