On Friday 03 September 2010 06:04:59 Steve G. wrote: > My 4+ year old Macbook is dying a slow death, and I am contemplating > getting a new laptop and would like your advice. Here are the parameters: > > > - My environment is Linux, Ubuntu for the last 2-3 years, and I would > like to have it available to me on the laptop if I can. I have little > use for either Mac OS-X or Windows as far as actually making much use of > the software, beyond vary basic usage (iTunes, VLC, etc.). Linux is a > different story. > > > - I have several reasons to buy a Windows 7 machine. First, I have a > Magellan GPS that only works with Windows. Second, some bank accounts > require it to fully function. Third, I can get a lot more computer for > the money with Wintel than with Apple. Last, Ubuntu Laptops with the > latest hardware may or may not work. > > > - So, I am thinking about getting a 64x, core i3 laptop from Toshiba or > Dell. These are available with 13-15" screen, 250-350GB HD (I think IDE, > some are Sata but more expensive), 3-4GB RAM. In theory, at least, these > can be virtualized, and I should be able to run either vmware, xen, > virtual box or whatever client MS provides for free. One can get core i3 > for around $500 > > So here are my questions: > > 1. Does anyone know if Win7 includes a virtualization program that would > allow me to run Linux under it? How efficient is it - will I be able to put > it on full screen, forget I am running Windows, and use my preferred > environment? >
I don't know if it "includes" anything like that, but you can always install something like the open-source VirtualBox: http://www.virtualbox.org/ I've been using VirtualBox happily on top of Linux. There's also VMware which isn't free or gratis and other solutions. > 2. Any recommendations for something that is fully compatible with Linux, > in case I get an alternative and can get rid of the windows part? > I bought this Acer laptop: http://www.shlomifish.org/meta/FAQ/#computers-specs "Acer Aspire 5738DZG" and it works perfectly fine with Mandriva Linux 2010.1 (most everything I've tried there works, with a few minor glitches), though it's a relatively old model - Dual Core. Regards, Shlomi Fish -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Shlomi Fish http://www.shlomifish.org/ Optimising Code for Speed - http://shlom.in/optimise God considered inflicting XSLT as the tenth plague of Egypt, but then decided against it because he thought it would be too evil. Please reply to list if it's a mailing list post - http://shlom.in/reply . _______________________________________________ Linux-il mailing list Linux-il@cs.huji.ac.il http://mailman.cs.huji.ac.il/mailman/listinfo/linux-il
