VMware

[reicherb]

Has anybody used the VMware software that allows you to run operating systems in windows? They have versions that run on NT and Linux. If anybody has used it what do you think?

http://www.vmware.com

 

[Praetor]

It's actually pretty darned cool. I've used it to actually log on to my Windows98SE side a number of times. (I triple boot Win2k-98SE-Linux) I've also loaded virtual images, which is the best thing to do, of dos/win3.1 and a linux session or two.

Speedwise, it's not that bad. About what you'd expect in emulation. I'm running a P3/500 256 mb RAM, Win2k, and the speed is acceptable but nowhere near as fast as it is when I boot natively. Beggers can't be choosers though.

 

[LocutusX]

My roommate used to run Mandrake Linux 7 on his P2-350/192mb and he'd load up VMware, on which he had running Windows 2000 Server and he'd do all sorts of stuff... including watching DivX movies! I was pretty impressed.

Only thing he couldnt quite get working was file sharing... but there have probably been numerous revisions of the program since then. Also there's a new one called "Win4Lin" or something. Supposed to be similar. Anyways I think I can say that if your comptuer specs are good enough, you can do a full install of Linux on your system (no dual boot) and still be able to do all the Windowsey stuff (except for games) if you use these VMware like programs. And games are no big deal, you can get Linux versions of many of them now. Of course you won't catch me moving completely to Linux anytime soon, I have everything working perfectly under Win2K.