RE: Linux ready for prime time? was RE: NY Times Reports "LittleBlue "- IBM to Offer Smaller Version OfIts Mainframe Computer

-----Original Message-----
From: James Rich [mailto:james@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 2:47 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Linux ready for prime time? was RE: NY Times Reports
"LittleBlue "- IBM to Offer Smaller Version OfIts Mainframe Computer


On Thu, 27 Apr 2006, Richter,Steve wrote:

>> I am curious what shortcomings concern you with the Linux desktop, Steve?
>
> I loaded Suse Linux 10.0 as a guest OS in the no charge MSFT Virtual 
> Server. What is the point of having to choose between desktop shells and 
> internet browsers?   There is a MSFT provided VM additions for Linux 
> that has to be installed in the Linux guest in order for the guest to be 
> "enlightened" as to its status as a guest of Virtual Server.  A real 
> hassle loading that software in Linux. Is MSFT making this intentionally 
> difficult or is there no "windows setup" equivalent in Linux?  To 
> install VM additions for Linux I actually have to recompile the Linux 
> kernel! So far that is not happening and the error messages are not 
> helpful.  Just my experience. Linux must be better than what I am seeing 
> of it.

>It sounds to me like Microsoft's Virtual Server doesn't work very well. 
>Any virtual host that requires modifications of the guest OS is a poor 
>host at best. 

the sense I am getting of this is MSFT is using its heft to encourage all OSes 
to stop assuming there is nothing between it and the hardware. The term I heard 
in a channel 9 video was the OS was "enlightened" when it did certain low level 
things in a way that could be virtualized well.   The VM additions have to be 
loaded for guest MSFT OSes also.

> VMware allows you to install any guest OS for the same 
> hardware platform and it requires no special configuration of the guest 
> OS.

I had always wanted to run VMware. $200 was too expensive.

>Perhaps you are blaming Microsoft's problem on linux? There may be
>shortcomings in linux's
>(or any) desktop capabilities, but someone else's crappy virtual
>server is not one of them.

crappy!?  Is there a no fuss installer in Linux that runs as easy as windows 
setup does? apartment get or whatever is a lot of trouble for the uninitiated.

-Steve