running windows via kvm module -- any experiences?

[Eric Dunbar]

> On Tue, 2007-01-30 at 18:06 -0500, Matt Price wrote:
> > Hi there,
> >
> > My girlfriend is buying a new computer a month or two from now and I'm
> > hoping to convince her to let me install ubuntu feisty on it, and set up
> > a windows VM using the new KVM module and rdesktop.  The idea of the VM
> > is to let her use software she feels she 'really needs' -- right now,
> > this is MS Office, endnote and Dreamweaver (I'd like to make all 3
> > disappear, but that's another, longer-term project).
> >
> > Her main objection right now is that the person trying to convince her
> > is a known linux ideologue who spends hours at a time hacking on his
> > machine, and that she has no interest whatsoever in hacking -- she just
> > wants her computer to work for her in a fully transparent way.
> >
> > So I am looking for stories from people who have done this successfully,
> > and if possible some web postings that explain how easy it is to do, who
> > transparently it works, and how happy customers are when they get a look
> > at the superior OS which is GNUlinux (or ubuntu, or gentoo, or debian,
> > or whatever).  cross-posting to the 3 communities I sort of belong to
> > (ubuntu, debian, toronto lug), sorry if you get multiple copies.
> >
> > Thanks loads!  Looking forward to lots of success stories,
> >
> > Matt

Being married to someone who hates the look and feel of Ubuntu as much
as she does Windows (Ubuntu (Gnome) looks exactly like Windows to
her... and, to me for the most part as well), I'd say you're best off
leaving her computer alone (I'm starting to sound like a counselor,
not a computer geek).

You're definitely best off leaving her computer as HER computer. She's
got _work_ to do and since she can do it MORE effectively on Windows
(yuck, I can't believe I said that) than she can on Ubuntu (EndNote is
a very useful app) there's no reason for her to run Linux!

If you need access to Linux on that machine, you're best off running
it as a virtual machine under Virtual PC 2004 (now FREE) or VMware (if
you can get it to work). This allows you to get your geek fix whilst
keeping her happy as well (remember: it's not _your_ computer).