Posted on 12/09/2007 5:50:51 AM PST by Halfmanhalfamazing
Sometimes, several unrelated changes come to a head at the same time, with a result no one could have predicted. The PC market is at such a tipping point right now and the result will be millions of Linux-powered PCs in users' hands.
The first change was the continued maturation of desktop Linux. Today, no one can argue with a straight face that people can't get their work done on Linux-powered PCs. Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, MEPIS, OpenSUSE, Xandros, Linspire Mint, the list goes on and on of desktop Linuxes that PC owner can use without knowing a thing about Linux's technical side. People can argue that Vista or Mac OS X is better, but when Michael Dell runs Ubuntu Linux on one of his own home systems, it can't be said that Linux isn't a real choice for anyone's desktop.
(Excerpt) Read more at desktoplinux.com ...
I have Ubuntu on a small partition on my laptop. I have some low-end Window apps running on it from using Wine to install. But a couple higher-end apps won’t run. I know Quicken 6 will with some effort at installation, but don’t have time to get it done until after the holidays.
This is the sole reason I haven’t migrated completely from XP. The apps I really want are a problem.
ML/NJ
How true. If there was a Linux version of Photoshop, I'd be gone. As it is, both our internet boxes run Ubuntu/Firefox and are fine.
Quicken is one of my concerns, but I’ve read online it can be done. I use Corel Paintshop Pro, and I haven’t found yet where it can be migrated. Also, I tried Family Tree Maker, and while it installed, some DLLs weren’t available at boot and I wasn’t comfortable with it. While there are Linux compatible genealogy apps available, I’d be missing FTM’s access to CD data which I really need.
So, I’ll likely continue with a dual-boot PC. But I have to enlarge the small Linux partition I have, first.
Linux has been just around the corner for a decade
You can download the server product for free, or download a demo copy of VMWare Workstation (not a free product) from the VMWare web site.
Mark
ping
My online inquiries indicated Wine was simply a free version of VMWare, but that VMWare would properly install more applications. I believe it was VMWare that had approved installs of Quicken.
I’m waiting until after the holidays. Then I’ll buy a partition manager to change my partition sizes, and begin looking at some of these applications. Right now, my Linux partition is quite small (7.4GbZ) so I don’t want to go too far in installing stuff.
I like Linux. It’s a lot faster than XP. I’m just taking my time :)
So were flat screen TV's. ;)
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
VMWare is a full hardware emulator; within which you can run almost any x86 PC operating system, including DOS or Windows. It costs money to license, and it costs money to upgrade your hardware, especially with more memory, sufficiently to run it well. It doesn't provide high end graphics support as needed by gamers, but otherwise it will run the latest Windows XP software with few limits. It's a PC within a PC.
WINE is an entirely different product, different design and different set of people. It provides Windows like calls on a native Linux boot. It runs all the Windows stuff you don't care about -- the easy and older stuff. But serious gamers, serious Quicken users and serious Photoshop users will find it inadequate to their needs. You don't use a licensed Windows install within WINE. It's Linux pretending, mostly, to be Windows.
I have all three kinds of systems in front of me that can run recent versions of Quicken: (1) a dual boot Windows XP and Linux box, (2) VMWare on a big, fast PC, and (3) a separate PC that I only boot into Windows. I actually end up using the Quicken on that separate PC, because it's more convenient than dual booting or using VMWare.
I've never actually worked with or used WINE, but it was my impression that it was an environment for allowing native Windows applications to run under Linux.
VMWare is a virtualization system that allows you to run an operating system in a virtual machine. That VM actually virtualizes the hardware of a PC. You can watch the POST, and even go into the BIOS and make changes, just like on a "real" PC. In effect, when you start up VMWare, you'll be booting a PC with (in your case) Windows XP. Because of that, you should find that you can run just about any software as long as it doesn't make hardware specific calls that the VM can't deal with. Like I said, you can download a free demo, if you like. I couldn't live without VMWare Workstation. I use it all the time.
Mark
Thanks to both of you for your knowledge and advice. I registered and downloaded all the files available for VMWare Server and will copy them to CD.
But your further explaination of it’s use substantiated my understanding from their site. It’s a virtual running of two Os’s and will thus require more memory and system resources. On my Turion 64 laptop with 512Mb RAM, I just don’t see the value. And being retired and on a limited budget, I’m not about to upgrade my RAM (both sockets are used for the 512Mb, so I’d have to buy two 512Mb chips) unless I have to. I think what I’ll do is, after the 1st of the year, get a partition manager then set a larger partition for Linux and run dual-boot.
My online sessions and ordinary PC use will be Linux and necessary stuff like Corel or Quicken will be Windows. I’m not into gaming so that isn’t an issue.
The only issue with Linux so far (beyond what I’ve noted) is in networking. And I doubt that’s Linux. I have this laptop networked with another PC in the basement, Which runs Windows 2000, and which I use for copying records/tapes to CDs. I use Network Magic for networking these two PC’s because it’s easy to work with (although I used to have a Novell CNA license). With NetMagic, I can’t get the Linux partition recognized when booted. I’m sure it’s a NetMagic issue, but haven’t taken the time to investigate.
That’s the other issue I’ll have to address after the holidays.
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