I want to talk a little bit about visualization. What a wonderful idea it is. Having one system run inside another so you can use all the function and features of the guest operating system, using the resources of the host system. But lets not kid ourselves, does running a guest OS diminish both the host and the guest and encourage the status quo, let me explain.

What possible reason and motivation do program writers have to make Linux ports of their OS, when this technology is there as a 'get out of jail card'. If we wanted to use photoshop so bad, and we could afford to buy it, then logic dictates we can fess up the cash for a Windows licence and run it as a virtual machine (VM). Why should I run a VM? Way I see it I have two choices, accept those terms or reject them, and I chose to reject them.

I do have Windows as a VM, but I did it for fun and it actually serves no purpose whatsoever. In fact, I run a few operating systems as virtual machines, some for nostalgia, some to see what other distributions are up to, and some because I want to learn how to do things on an alternative OS.

I use Suns Virtualbox, it's so easy to set up and use a VM, and the interface is uncluttered and logical, best of all for all us tight wads, its free. They do two editions, an open source edition (OSE) and a normal edition. The OSE one is in the repositories of Ubuntu (and I am sure many other distro's) and the regular edition you can nab from the Virtualbox website. The only difference I can see is a 3D accelerated option (for Windows hosts anyway) which I have had mixed results with, and the non-OSE edition has code for USB host to guests connectivity.

Now, this is all fine and dandy, but it is a slippery slope. Pandering to your desires for Windows software in a non-Windows environment is crazy. There are viable, decent alternatives to most Windows software and having to run a virus checker in a VM is an experience! Yes, don't forget, although only the guest can screw up, you can catch virus's, it is Windows remember. You'll also need a retail licence version of Windows too.