Which Operating System(s) do you run?

[Jedi Master]

One thing I CAN say is I know many people that have had networking issues with Home. I don't mean they were trying to use it in a business environment, that would be a waste of time. I mean standard home networking stuff that wouldn't work right.
Also, I know from experience that Home and Pro machines don't like to talk to each other on a network! You have to handhold them to get them to give you even the most minor functionality.

[KODIAK]

Yep! Have recently experienced similar issues myself. Darren uses XPpro upstairs, and is connected to the net via LAN connection through my computer downstairs. The usual set-up with the floppy disk gets things going. But as time goes on, he'll begin to experience difficulties regaining connection after any reset he may perform.

[Hudson]

You may not even have to pay for VMWare at the rate they are going:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/03 ... goes_free/

[KODIAK]

Do me a favour guys, and someone explain the exact nature of VMWare. It sounds interesting . . .

[daofcmacg]

That is so true Jedi...home and pro are more like sibling rivals than kissing cousins (nasty I know).

DA

[Hammer]

vmware allows you to run a virtual (i.e. simulated) machine of an operating system on the native operating system that actually runs on your hardware. so it is like another computer within your computer - but it runs all via the vmware software and not on your hardware itself.

Hudson might have a more understandable explanation.

[KODIAK]

No mate, that probably about does it - lemme see now, just the same way as we've seen say . . an old AMIGA classic game played on a PC, you're saying that instead of doing that with games, we're actually doing it with an OS instead? So, I could run a Linux set-up on (but isolated from) my own WinXP home OS. Then do all the wonderful things that Linux can but WinXP-H can't, or won't do easily. Right?

[Hammer]

yes! pretty good example, same principal.

[KODIAK]

Thanx mate. Would it then be a viable suggestion to say I could learn some Linux safely, by use of the vmware stuff application?

[Hammer]

yes - you could also try cygwin or colinux as well, but they are going to be more difficult to set up.

[Hudson]

From this here http://arstechnica.com/reviews/apps/vm.ars/1 comes a plain english description, "Virtual machine software can fool an operating system into thinking it's running on its own hardware, when in reality it's simply mooching off unused CPU cycles and RAM."

There is a difference between virtualization and emulation. They have similar effects, but from a technical aspect they approach it differently. Best to do some reading to figure out the difference. A United States Marine trying to explain what's in his head on such a technical topic is likely to bore, confuse, and/or make heads explode.

But again, if you read the page above, I think you will get a good idea of how it works. And yes, you can use VMWare to get a good taste of Linux without royally screwing up your Windows system. Might use a little disc space up, but otherwise all will be good

[KODIAK]

I'll d/l a free version of Linux and maybe have a play around later then.

[Hudson]

All versions of Linux are free

Which one are you thinking of? I have some in mind that might be good for a run for a first timer, but I am more curious to see what you choose on your own without outside input.

[KODIAK]

None in particular as yet - would probably have to have a scour round at what's available, however, I would certainly welcome input from anyone who has experience of such, and in particular a reason why I ought to try it, seeing as I am a nooby!

[Hammer]

a good place to start would be the free beta of the vmware server (in the other thread) and then download a pre-built virtual machine/os...

[KODIAK]

Okay then, let's give that a go, see what happens. Let you know in a day or two.