Splashtop: Linux for Windows users

[Chiefcrowe]

I just heard about this.. has anyone tried it yet? i'm looking forward to messing with it as soon as i have a spare machine to install it on.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/splashtop-linux-for-windows-users/8379

 

[lxskllr]

Neat idea. I pretty much run Linux exclusively on my portable machines, but that would be handy for quick access to magic wifi on a Windows box :^)

 

[Chiefcrowe]

I just tried this and it's quite cool. boots up in around 10 seconds, not bad at all!
not sure where it installs itself but it didn't have to create another partition.

 

[lxskllr]

It seems to work like Ubuntu's wubi, where it creates a virtual disk for the installation. I haven't tried it myself though.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

So it is in a hidden folder/file within the windows partition?

 

[lxskllr]

A quick search isn't showing how Splashtop works, but here's Wikipedia on wubi. I'd expect Splashtop to be very similar...

Wubi adds an entry to the Windows boot menu which allows the user to run Linux. Ubuntu is installed within a file in the Windows file system (c:\ubuntu\disks\root.disk), as opposed to being installed within its own partition. This file is seen by Linux as a real hard disk.[1] Wubi also creates a swap file in the Windows file system (c:\ubuntu\disks\swap.disk), in addition to the memory of the host machine. This file is seen by Ubuntu as additional RAM.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wubi_(Ubuntu_installer)

 

[MustISO]

Pretty neat. Would be a good way to surf without worrying about viruses.

 

[pcgeek11]

Asus has it built in on some of their motherboards on firmware. I have one and it boots in about 5 seconds... Not a Windows replacement but great for antivirus / malware purposes.