[TriLUG] OT: 64-bit computing advice

[Ryan Leathers]

Have you tried Win4lin ?

VMWare is great for lots of things - its been a big part of what we do
at Global Knowledge for the past 5 years or so.  VMWare would not be my
first choice to satisfy the requirements you've listed Brian.  I would
look to Win4lin first.

Select whatever hardware you think will run a stable Linux distro with
any native Linux apps you like.  Then add Win4lin to get a very thin
virtualization layer.  You'll be able to install WinXP or W2k from CD
right on top of your Linux system.  The performance is quite good
(better than QEMU for example) and you'll be able to use peripheral
devices and share files and such with ease.  I like Win4lin better than
anything else I've tried for a smooth Windows-in-Linux experience...
even more than free VMWare Server or Player for this type of use.

Ryan
  

On Tue, 2006-08-29 at 08:52 -0400, Brian Henning wrote:
> Hiya Gang,
>    My dad is asking me for advice on upgrading his P-III 750MHz Win98 
> desktop which is gradually grinding to a halt.  It seems that the 
> marketplace is really trying to shove 64-bit desktop computing down our 
> throats (anyone seen an Athlon XP for sale lately?  Or a quality mobo to 
> put it on?).  I don't have any direct experience with 64-bit chips, but 
> it seems like I've heard a lot of horror stories about unsupported 
> hardware, as well as further DRM encumberances in the Windows platform. 
>   Unfortunately in this case, Windows is a requirement.  I'm sure Dad 
> would be interested in switching to Linux, but he uses a handful of 
> Windows-only apps.  Which brings me to my question of which is better:
> 
> 1 - Jumping headlong into 64-bit computing and the 64-bit edition of 
> Windows XP;
> 2 - 64-bit platform running 32-bit XP (which I have heard runs like 
> garbage, but only from one person)
> 3 - 64-bit platform running 64-bit Linux with 32-bit Windows XP under 
> VMWare.
> 4 - Trying desperately to find quality 32-bit hardware for 32-bit Windows.
> 
> (See, I mentioned Linux, so it's not completely inappropriate for the 
> list! :-) )
> 
> All tips and advice are, as always, greatly appreciated.
> 
> Thanks!
> ~Brian
> -- 
> ----------------
> Brian A. Henning
> strutmasters.com
> 336.597.2397x238
> ----------------