[linux-audio-user] dell latitude cpx, windows (barf!) xp and linux?

[Chris]

Hi,

I am very sorry about your loss... But I want you to know that we, the 
cyber community, are here for you during you time of need :0).

Yes, partiion magic 8 will be necessary.  I think that version 7 will do 
xp's ntfs, but not ext3.  Only 8 can do both.  If all you have is 7, then 
you can partition your drive, make an ext2 partion(s) and use tune2fs 
(within linux) to turn it into an ext3 partition if this is important to you.

You will take a performance hit with win4lin, but it is not too bad.  The 
major pitfall of win4lin is that it rebuilds a custom kernel for your 
system.  If you want to use your emulated windows, you must boot to that 
Kernel.  Of course, this does not stop you from compiling your own or 
keeping your original kernel separate, then modifying Lilo or grub to add 
an entry pointing to your original kernel as well... but you will still 
have to reboot to switch.  IDK, maybe the modified kernel has no bearing on 
what you intend to do with your machine.  My primary concern was that If I 
ever needed to build an new kernel or apply a patch, this may not be 
possible with the win4lin custom kernel.  I'm not 100% positive on this, 
but I think if you recompile a new kernel, you would have to reinstall 
win4lin to take advantage of that kernel update.  Also, last I checked, 
win4lin did not emulate NT style systems (like XP).

I use VMware (cuz the company paid for it).  The major advantage of VMware 
to me is that it bypasses all of this kernel nonsense.  It is run entirely 
as process on its own.  The performance hit is a little more noticeable 
than win4lin, however.  I have a 2ghz machine with 512 ram, and it pushes 
XP reasonably well.  Certainly well enough to use office 
applications.  There is also an opensource version of this as well, called 
Plex86.  I have not messed with it, by you may wish to check it 
out.  Another advantage of these emulators is that you can install *any* 
x86 platform OS -- not just win98.  So you could Have a Debian Host system 
with a redhat virtual system, a bsd virtual system and a windows XP virtual 
system!  Pretty snazzy.


***BUT***, if all you are going to use in windows is the office suite, you 
should seriously consider looking at http://www.codeweavers.com and their 
crossover office package.  Everything on it seems to run pretty well now, 
although there were some issues primarily with internet explorer 5.5... I 
think those are ironed out now though.  Using this software, you can run 
Office 97 or Office 2000 (not office XP).  You can also run Visio, Lotus 
programs, Outlook and a few other applications as well.  To top it off, you 
*don't* have to push a whole OS on your system, you *don't* have to reboot, 
and it only costs $40 US!  Of course, you have to pay for your own 
Micro$oft software.

If I am not mistaken, the latitude uses the i820 sound chip?  If this is 
true, make sure you use the alsa driver rather than the OSS.  It is *WAY* 
better, and does not crash.  My system with this card crashed the artsd at 
*least* twice in a work day.  After switching to Alsa, it was rock solid, 
and sounds a *LOT* better too.

Hope this was useful.

See you!

Chris



At 11:31 PM 4/5/2003 +0100, you wrote:
>hi all
>just wondering if anyone here is using a dell latitude cpx and if there
>are any issues installing linux on it?... or any known sound config issues?
>
>i am lamenting the sad demise of my thinkpad which blew a gasket last
>night :-(((. actually its going to be fine, its just the power socket
>has worked itself loose or blown a fuse (i.e. it boots fine from the
>battery which is by now very flat).
>
>so i had to get a new machine today... gasp! wasnt planning on that
>right away but as im writing a book, i've gotta keep working! the plan
>is to wait until my friend who knows how to repair the power socket is
>back from the USA.
>
>other issue i'm wondering about is installing linux alongside windows
>(barf!) xp... ughh... i swore i'd never use XP but its come pre
>installed. borg edition, yuck.... but i need it for work.
>so i'm thinking maybe with xp being so difficult, running lnx4win might
>be an idea, but would this be more demanding on system resources?
>i'd like to partition the drive but im not sure how to go about this on
>XP... yuk yuk yuk... win2k was easy enough though.... *sigh*....
>
>any ideas muchly appreciated :)
>
>bw & thanx
>m~
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