When I built a new PC some 3 years ago I decided to just stick with Linux and after much experimentation my distribution of choice was Ubuntu. Once in a while however, I found that I needed access to a Windows machine for something that couldn’t be accomplished in Linux or through Wine. So I downloaded VirtualBox and installed Windows within the VM and used it whenever needed. This surely was way faster than dual-booting since I was most often in the OS my choice and was loathed enough to deal with Windows that having it operate at a sub-optimal rate through the VM was fine by me.

After a small detour with a Mac Mini for about a year and the release of the new 27″ 2009 iMac I decided to fully convert over to the Mac environment. If anyone knows me they know that I seldom settle for the base minimum, so I went all out and got the quad-core i7 version of the iMac running at 2.8 Ghz with the base 4GB of RAM. Apart from the processing power, the screen size with a resolution of 2560×1440 has been an absolute boon in productivity. I can now have relatively large application windows and not having to constantly switch between them.

At work, I use Linux as my main development platform and I wanted to have it available at home as well and having used VirtualBox in the past decided to go that route again on the Mac. After everything was installed, I found that the Linux operating with the VM was perfectly happy, but the host Mac was sluggish though nearly 98% of the CPU was idle. I then ended up resorting to suspend the VM when I wanted to go use the Mac and resuming when I returned to Linux.

Needless to say this isn’t really an ideal working environment and when Parallels 5 for Mac became available through a MacUpdate bundle, I decided to jump and buy it to see how well itwould perform. Within VirtualBox the installation of Linux is very similar to a native PC, however with Parallels, I pointed it at the Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx ISO and it not only detected that it was a Linux image, it asked me for the hostname, username and password. I was curious as to why this information was being asked so imagine my total and utter surprise when the VM started and not long after the Linux installation was started for me with my provided information passed along.

Before long, the installation completed and I had a fully installed Ubuntu Linux in a VM. The most important part is that now running Linux in the VM has absolutely no adverse effect on the host Mac and the CPU is still largely idle during normal operations. For the price, bundle or not, Parallels is surely a very impressive software.

Cheers

]]> http://ashwinbihari.com/2010/05/08/mac-virtualization/feed 6 http://ashwinbihari.com/2007/03/26/ubuntu-edgy-eft http://ashwinbihari.com/2007/03/26/ubuntu-edgy-eft#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:05:44 +0000 Ashwin http://ashwinbihari.com/2007/03/26/ubuntu-edgy-eft/ I recently decided to upgrade my computer to be somewhat relevant to todays CPU speeds and, more importantly, storage space. So, this past weekend I sat down to put the new PC together and having done so decided to install both Linux and Windows XP on there. I chose the Ubuntu distribution, as I had used the older Ubuntu Breezy and had liked it.

I got the newest Ubuntu Edgy Eft installer CD and booted into it and was surprised to see that I got the full GNOME window with a usable Linux as opposed to the usual install screen. This is, by far, the smartest thing any Linux distribution can do. Edgy Eft is actually a Live Linux CD that allows you explore what Linux has to offer before choosing to install it. All my peripherals were detected and optimized. So, I could watch videos, listen to music, browse the web and check my mail; all without having actually installed Linux.

Needless to say, I installed Ubuntu and couldn’t be happier. My hats off to an absolutely awesome distribution and installation method!

Cheers

The Linux Equivalent Project aims to provide that service, though in it’s infancy, I see potential for this service.