[NTLUG:Discuss] asking for thoughts and guidance ... new desktop ...

[Kenneth Loafman]

I'm a big fan of VMware on Linux.

1) It runs very well under Linux and it actually seems to stabilize some
of the flakier Windows products since UNIX has better memory allocation
and protection schemes.  Errant writes won't damage the underlying Linux
system, or do stray accesses to the hardware.

2) I can actually run the MS Studio Dev Debugger for C++ without having
to reboot in between every session.  That's amazing.

3) I can use IE to check out the MS-only web sites that seem to be
popping up more and more frequently.

4) I can use Office to convert documents when someone sends me a
proprietary format document.

5) I can suspend and restart the session, leaving things in place for
the next time I want to work on them.

There's more, but that's the Big 5.

...Ken

Fred James wrote:
> 
> Couple of good questions raised here, and I shall attempt to respond
> 
> (1) Why modem if I have LAN? - in fact we have Cable.
>      (a) Backup connection.
> (2) Why SCSI hard drives?
>      (a) In the case of the file server, I was looking forward to full
> drives on IDE.
>          (  i) We always saying that "no one will ever need more
> than..." (say 512 K memory, for example, or a 100MB Harddrive).  It may
> be hard to think of filling up a couple of 80GB drives, but store some
> graphic files (photos and such), and it may surprise you.
> (3) Why a floppy?
>      (a) It is still a handy way to carry small files (< 1.44MB)
>      (b) Quick and dirty way to transfer files from a Linux box to that
> other OS, or the other way.
> (4) Why VMWare (or something like that) instead of dual boot?
>      (a) If the box is "also" running as a file server, wouldn't the
> file server be out of service while the box was booted as a MS machine?
> (5) Memory?  See point 2.a.i - same general idea, though I admit 512MB
> seems big.
> 
> Does any of that help to clarify the picture - I hope the discussion is
> still open.
> 
> Tom Woody wrote:
> 
> > Building the computer is the easy part...  Most any parts that you do get will be compatible with Linux.  While I applaud your "overload it" and use it for other stuff I think you are going a bit over the top.
> >
> > CPU: you are fine there...maybe look at an Athlon (you will save a lot of money, and get a lot more).
> > MEMORY: for a desktop machine, even one used as a server as well would be fine with 256MB, 512MB unless you had a large number of people using the machine, or a lot of services running (mail, DNS, web, DB, etc) you would be just tossing money.
> > HARD DRIVE: SCSI is throwing more money away even faster (ATA100 can keep up with any SCSI Drive unless like above - you are having a huge number of I/Os hit that machine), a lot of current boards come with the IDE RAID (0,1,0+1) they are all very good, and I have run multiple linux machines on them with no problems.  2x 60-80GB Drives RAID0 (Striping will get you more than you would need).
> > CD/CDRW: take your pick its a price thing at this point
> > Floppy: i would say why (haven't had a floppy drive for 2 years!)
> > Graphics: For awesome support get a MATROX graphics card (not the best for games - but doesn't sound like thats your ball of wax anyhow) great linux driver support
> > Sound: While I am not sure of the Support for the Newer SB cards (had some problems with a SB Live a while back - but havn't revisted it - my linux box has a SB AWE32 and it works great!)
> > Modem: Why?  You have a LAN it sounds like.
> > NIC: any nic works great
> > OS: Redhat is fine, SuSe is great also - a little more workstation centric, while Redhat is server centric - but both are good (I have one of each and love them both)
> > WM: Gnome is good, but for a person starting out with linux, it might be a little easier to use KDE, it feels a lot more like Windows - but again I switch between them both at a whim anyhow.
> > If you still need to keep Win95 around, have you though of just doing a dual boot system (With Grub in the latest releases its even easier) Install windows on a partition, then install Linux (Grub will find and setup your partition for Win95, and it will be in the bootloader when you need it)
> >
> >
> > On Wed, 13 Mar 2002 13:47:31 -0600
> > Fred James <fredjame at concentric.net> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>At last, my wife is consenting to be moved to Linux, but now I must ask
> >>for your thoughts and guidance, if you don't mind sharing.
> >>
> >>I first thought of having Dell or Compaq build it, but they flat don't
> >>do Linux installs on Desktops (only servers).  I would consider going to
> >>a Linux integrator, but I don't know any well enough to feel confident,
> >>either locally, or on the WEB - service and support would be a issue
> >>there.  I would consider building my own if I could get the guidance - I
> >>have cracked open a case or two to install/remove/replace
> >>components/memory, but I have never built one from scratch, and of
> >>course it would mean making sure I got Linux compatible parts.
> >>
> >>Here is a sketch of what I had in mind:
> >>CPU: maybe not the latest, but at least a PIII, and at least approaching
> >>1Ghz speed, thought I probably wouldn't turn my back on a P4.
> >>Memory: 512MB to 1GB
> >>Hard Drive: 100+GB - one or more drives, could go SCSI, wouldn't
> >>complain about a RAID.
> >>CD/DVD/CD-RW: all of those would be lovely, especially the CD-RW.
> >>Floppy: 1.44MB
> >>Sound/Video/Graphics: Not looking for a home entertainment center here,
> >>but would like some modicum of quality to handle the general stuff that
> >>comes down the WEB pipe.  The graphics we would be producing would be
> >>basically on the level of GIMP - no 3D or animated as yet.
> >>Modem: Internal
> >>NIC: 10/100Mbs
> >>OS: Linux (probably Red Hat, since that is what I am most familiar with
> >>- though I suppose I could be convinced to try something else).
> >>Desktop: GNOME
> >>Other stuff: VMWare (or something like it) - want to run Linux, but need
> >>to keep Win95 available for some legacy stuff that she doesn't want to
> >>loose just yet).
> >>
> >>Primary use will be her Desktop/Internet machine, but I am considering
> >>"over building" it (that explains some of the high numbers above) so it
> >>could also act as a file server for other machines on our LAN (behind
> >>the firewall).
> >>
> >>Sorry to be so long winded - just trying to anticipate questions - if
> >>there are more, please ask.
> >>
> >>Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
> >>
> >>
> >>--
> >>...make every program a filter...
> >>
> >>
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> >>
> >
> >
> 
> --
> ...make every program a filter...
> 
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