Linux Distro for Virtual PC 2007?
#16
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: US CP, *wood Gold, Marriott gold, Hilton something
Posts: 1,458
If ubuntu runs slower than XP in VPC I'd call that very fishy.... Maybe Microsoft would make the argument that they can optimize VPC for windows b/c they know the code...but true virtualization on a dual core should be pretty much like native...
VMware has a free product and Parallels is like $50 for the windows version. I'm not suggesting that you need ubuntu badly enough to shell out $50 or anything. I think that you are probably right in that you won't get a whole lot out of ubuntu that you cannot do with vista (except the shell, which to me is invaluable )... but I'd be paranoid about why one OS runs faster than another, epically when ubuntu really should be smoking fast... on the other hand, surfing in ubuntu is considerably safer than XP and maybe marginally safer than Vista... so it does make a nice sandbox environment.
VMware has a free product and Parallels is like $50 for the windows version. I'm not suggesting that you need ubuntu badly enough to shell out $50 or anything. I think that you are probably right in that you won't get a whole lot out of ubuntu that you cannot do with vista (except the shell, which to me is invaluable )... but I'd be paranoid about why one OS runs faster than another, epically when ubuntu really should be smoking fast... on the other hand, surfing in ubuntu is considerably safer than XP and maybe marginally safer than Vista... so it does make a nice sandbox environment.
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
If ubuntu runs slower than XP in VPC I'd call that very fishy.... Maybe Microsoft would make the argument that they can optimize VPC for windows b/c they know the code...but true virtualization on a dual core should be pretty much like native...
VMware has a free product and Parallels is like $50 for the windows version. I'm not suggesting that you need ubuntu badly enough to shell out $50 or anything. I think that you are probably right in that you won't get a whole lot out of ubuntu that you cannot do with vista (except the shell, which to me is invaluable )... but I'd be paranoid about why one OS runs faster than another, epically when ubuntu really should be smoking fast... on the other hand, surfing in ubuntu is considerably safer than XP and maybe marginally safer than Vista... so it does make a nice sandbox environment.
VMware has a free product and Parallels is like $50 for the windows version. I'm not suggesting that you need ubuntu badly enough to shell out $50 or anything. I think that you are probably right in that you won't get a whole lot out of ubuntu that you cannot do with vista (except the shell, which to me is invaluable )... but I'd be paranoid about why one OS runs faster than another, epically when ubuntu really should be smoking fast... on the other hand, surfing in ubuntu is considerably safer than XP and maybe marginally safer than Vista... so it does make a nice sandbox environment.
One of the advantages of Virtual PC is that it isolated the rest of the computer from anything that can get through my firewall and various anti-malware software.
#18
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,303
When I looked at the VPC 2007 page, it doesn't even claim to support linux. That doesn't mean it doesn't work, but I'm not surprised it doesn't work optimally. Though I recall hearing something that VPC supported Linux at some point.
-David
-David
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
I want the Linux box to use an FTP and file server. However, I can't imagine using Linux as an alternative to Vista or XP or, even, Win2000.
#20
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: US CP, *wood Gold, Marriott gold, Hilton something
Posts: 1,458
For videos, check out VLC (www.videolan.org), it plays everything and you dont have to worry about codecs
#21
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: YYZ
Programs: Haven't been flying for a while... :(
Posts: 478
Thankfully, not everybody that uses Linux is looking for such an alternative. Software working together, doing what they do best. That's how it should be. Just as Mac OS and Windows seem to be best at desktops, Linux servers rock.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
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I've been monitoring some of the Vista newsgroups and you'd be suprised at the number of trolls who post over there saying something, like "Vista is for losers, Linux rocks!" (actually, usually "Linux rocks, dude!"). There's nothing wrong with choosing an OS simply because it's Not Microsoft, but Linux on the desktop is clearly not fungible with Vista (though I could see someone who needs only basic word processing, mail, web browsing and the like managing with a Linux box).
#23
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Commuting around the mid-atlantic and rust-belt on any number of RJs
Programs: TSA Random Selectee Platinum, * Gold, SPG/HH/MR mid-tier, and a tiny bag of pretzels.
Posts: 9,255
While I would not put Ubuntu onto a server platform, it's as good as it gets for the desktop. Do that, spend some time (or $50 to codeweavers) gettin wine to run office, and have at it.
#24
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExecPlat
Posts: 820
For linux distributions that have "supported" optimizations, see this webpage: http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy...03/566273.aspx. Although the stuff is written for Virtual Server, they can be used with VPC 2007 as well.
#25
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,686
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...t/default.mspx
Not sure what the VPC story is, but 2007 is very new so it could still have some issues.