The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 5
January 7, 2009 by AshPringle
Filed under Gear
The plan: Ring in the new year by switching over to Linux for a week, documenting each day of the transition.
Day 5, A torrid affair with Windows virtualization!
Other days: Day One, Day Two, Day Three, Day Four, Day Six, Day Seven
On day four I let Linux think it was in control by cleverly allowing it to verbally abuse and gas pedal me for the entire day, firmly establishing my dominance over the foolish operating system. (”Stupid operating system! You think you’re getting the better of me by stomping on my crotch and calling me deeply hurtful names, but little do you know this is all part of my master plan!… Oh god the pain is unimaginably horrible.”)
Although the tactics I made use of last day led to my resounding and indisputable success, today I’d like to try executing some strategies that result in at least a little bit less excruciating groin-pain (a truly bold move in operating system configuration, I know.) So join me today as I try to sneak around Linux and cheat on it in its very own house, in my torrid affair with Windows virtualization!
Before I begin I must extinguish any doubt in my mind that this is anything but a ridiculously fantastic plan. As such, I must convince myself that emulating a Windows operating system in Linux, when I have a perfectly functional, loving, tender, beautiful, and committed Windows PC literally right next to me, isn’t an inherently ridiculous idea.
A dramatic re-enactment of Linux calmly guiding me through the process of wireless adapter driver installation.
To prepare the process of wiping my guilt-ridden mind of these thoughts, in order that I may go through with this dirty, adulterous deed, I begin my Patented Psych-Up Method of Self-Deception(TM), which is a process that involves punching myself in the face repeatedly as hard as I can while sobbing uncontrollably.
And… success! I still can’t shake the feeling that emulating Windows in Linux is kind of like buying an AIBO electronic dog to replace Sparkles, my actual real dog that can already run Winamp just fine. Also, my face kind of hurts. But other than those two problems it seems my patented method has succeeded and my guilty thoughts have been purged from me. I am free to act in as much of an amoral manner as I please!
But pulling this off isn’t going to be easy; it was hard enough hiding my Linuxy indiscretions from my Windows PC, but now I have to hide the virtual affair I’m having with Windows from the very Linux that is hosting virtual Windows, while still hiding real Linux from real Windows. And on top of all that, Derryck got Sheila to make Rolanda break up with Bobby, and now Bobby and Derryck are going to settle it with a drag-race through the old abandoned reservoir! Drama!
So, the first step in my clandestine scheme is to get Wine set up. I chose Wine mainly because its site is more appealing looking than VMware’s, which has all the sleek design features and well-considered organization of an expired domain name, and also because I am an inveterate alcoholic (I don’t have a problem. I jush… I jush like virtualizing! I can schtop when… whenever I wanna… Wheresh the toilet?)
According to the site’s instructions I will have to download Wine, which apparently involves using an application downloader, called Software Sources, that is built in to Linux.
I’m glad Wine has brought my attention to the Software Sources application, because it helps to widen my understanding of how Ubuntu is set up: First there is the Add/Remove Applications program, which is designed to allow you to Add and Remove Applications.
Second, there is the Synaptic Package Manager, which allows you to Manage Packages (in a manner that is uniquely synaptic, apparently) or Applications as some might call them, by allowing you to Add and Remove them.
Finally there is Software Sources, which, if Wine’s installation instructions are any indication, provides Sources of Software, filling a glaring gap in Ubuntu Linux by allowing you to Add and Remove Applications.
Aw, hey there, Linux. You're looking awfully RUFF from all this virtualization! Haha, I am hilarious. Wait, no, don't gas pedal me again! I'LL DO ANYTHING.
With my mind expanded by a better understanding of the inner operations of Linux I continue with my covert operation. I follow the instructions closely, which take an interesting approach to instructional flow by telling me at the very end that I should first use Add/Remove Applications to install Wine before I go about installing Wine. I guess I should have seen that coming?
I now realize that the Wine installation guide has tricked me, and that Software Sources is just for installing the update-frameworks for applications. Too bad, because I like redundancy almost as much as I like redundancy.
Once I finish severely flogging myself with an old shoe and recover from the deep sense of self-loathing and disappointment that overcame me when I made the redundancy joke, I update Wine. It goes smoothly, and I get to loading up my first Windows program.
I decide on using Winamp, which is the only mp3 player that is so very Windows that it has an abridged version of “Windows” in its name. A word of warning to any programs that think that you can compete with Winamp in this regard: If you want to be a Windows program, but do not have “Win” in your name, then you had better stop fronting, sir, because Winamp has the real Windows rep.
I quietly slip an Isaac Hayes CD into the tray, light up some candles, and open up Winamp. To my surprise it loads perfectly, and begins to sing me some smooth R&B classics. I did it! I got away with it and Linux is none the wiser!
Emboldened by my deception of Linux I try to get a bit farther with Windows. It can play music, but can it get graphic? I decide to test my luck and load up Spelunky, my latest video games addiction. I download the program and run the .exe, and it teases me by giving me a glimpse of the intro screen. I feel a rush of adrenaline as I realize I’m getting away with my unethical plan again, but then disaster strikes. The game rats me out, and my whole screen turns black, leaving me unable to alt-tab out. And I didn’t even get a chance to try sticking my gaming controller into the USB slot!
I’ve been caught red-handed! I’m trapped in a black screen with a Windows application in the background wearing nothing but a loading screen, and when Linux finds out its going to kill me! Given my situation I do the only reasonable thing: I panic, run around in circles screaming and sobbing, hit the power button on my computer, then sit in the shower with my clothes on, trying to wash away the stink of my shame. Later, when Linux asks me what happened, I deny everything and cry myself to sleep on the couch.
My moral indiscretions were fun while they lasted, but like so many things they couldn’t last forever. I got away with running some programs behind Linux’s back, but I paid for my inconsiderate actions in so many ways.
Winamp, which I thought was the perfect crime, doesn’t always run perfectly and crashes at times; oh paradise, I thought I had found you! Also, many video-based Windows programs refuse to run as well, presumably because they’ve gotten wind of my reputation as a playboy-heartbreaker extraordinaire. Prudes…
In the end I learned my lesson: it’s everyone’s dream to be with two operating systems at once, but it’s always too good to be true. Eventually one of them will find out about your indiscretions and threaten to cut important parts of you off with a well-timed crash, and then you’ll get a virus from a Windows application and end up with more groin pain than the old battleaxe you’ve been stuck with could ever give you.
In the end I don’t really mind that Windows applications don’t run perfectly with Wine; I’ve never had a problem with using multiple operating systems, since each has its own strengths, so it seems kind of silly to try to make Linux into Windows. The temptation of virtual Windows was strong for a little while, but I’ve still got my dedicated Windows machine waiting for me in my room, willing to run just about any program I want. Plus if I left it, it would get half of my stuff. (Damn you prenuptials!)
And that concludes my fifth day! Stay tuned for my next day, when I test my copy of Linux on another computer! (Because I have Linux on an external harddrive!)
Other days: Day One, Day Two, Day Three, Day Four, Day Six, Day Seven
Stumble It!
The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 2 | zMogo Tech Stuff on Wed, 7th Jan 2009 5:57 pm
[...] The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 5 [...]
The New Year Linux Resolution: Day Four | zMogo Tech Stuff on Wed, 7th Jan 2009 5:59 pm
[...] The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 5 [...]
Astron on Wed, 7th Jan 2009 8:18 pm
Er… you, sort of, know that VM-Ware and Wine are two entirely different things? With VM-Ware you can actually run “virtual computer” aka “…machine” — which means you assign some disk space to a file into which you can install Windows (provided you have a Windows installation disk) with VM-Ware. This means that every normal application can run there, but usually runs slower than if run on a real computer.
Wine, otoh, lets you natively run Windows applications under Linux and provides only (fake) Windows libraries. This means that applications usually run at the same speed as under Windows (or faster — in case the fake Windows libraries function better than the real ones), but Wine only supports a subset of Windows applications.
Try to guess on Wed, 7th Jan 2009 8:24 pm
Oh, and speaking of games: you should have tried one of the (rather rare) Linux games, Sauerbraten, for instance.
Eric on Wed, 7th Jan 2009 10:43 pm
….then you’ll get a virus from a Windows application and end up with more groin pain…
Not exactly. The scope of what any Windows program can do through Wine is limited to messing with your pretend Windows drives – so Windows viruses will not be catastrophic to your system, only the umm.. 4? Linux viruses that are out there.
To get to your C drive click on:
Places -> Home Folder -> .wine -> drive_c
To get .wine to show up you’ll have to press Ctrl+H at your home folder.
There are definitely limitations to what Wine can do – though it’s getting better and better as time goes on. Just don’t go deleting Windows until you’re sure what you need will run on Linux (or that there’s an equivalent out there)
.
conholster on Wed, 7th Jan 2009 11:45 pm
Nice article. If you wanna do some real virtualization I recomend Virtualbox. It’s really easy to use + the latest version even supports 3d acceleration, so you’ll be able to play some games.
Jayakumar on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 3:50 am
You should have tried virtualbox which is one of the best VM software for linux.. What you tried is just a windows emulator and not virtualization software
phonixor on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 8:06 am
wine is not a virtual windows… it tries to implement a windows compatible API… … you will have much more succes with emulating the real windows in a virtual machine…
if you want to run windows in a virtual machine you should use vmware, or one of its alternatives, qemu for instance…
i think you can both add them by add/remove, which is a nice interface of synapsis, as you concluded. But synapsys isnt linux… this is just the debian package manager (ubuntu is based on debian). other distro’s use differend package managers… which makes the world more colorful and anoying..
also there are nice sites there to find alternative programs for linux… MSoffice->openoffice Winamp+WindowsMediaPlayer->VLC .. etc..
Vincent on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 9:52 am
I could echo the comments about Wine not being virtualization like VirtualBox, but I won’t.
Ha, got it? I secretly mentioned it anyway!
Anyway, here’s some handy shortcuts to save you when you get stuck:
* Ctrl+Alt+Backspace – this closes everything graphical, causing it to restart, thus bringing you back at the login screen.
* Ctrl+Alt+Esc – not sure if this also works in Ubuntu (if not there’s a panel plugin that will do this), but if it does, it will turn your cursor into a cross with which you can click on misbehaving applications to give them some serious ass-kicking and close them down.
Loved the part about redundancy
Vincent on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 9:54 am
Loved the part about redundancy
Matthijs on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 12:06 pm
For games and running them using wine, I recommend Play on Linux, some games need some tweaking to get it working, and play on linux takes care of that.
http://www.playonlinux.com/en/download.html
Alan C on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 3:17 pm
Loved the article – amusing and nice to know that there are more folks like me out there.
I have played with and used various Linux progs over the last 3-4 years. Some have been total dogs – the sort of thing only a geek would love. The current crop of Xandros, Sabayon, Ubuntu etc are MUCH better but ALL insist on the command lines – and life’s too short. Linux will never be as easy as Windows. Even tasks such as downloading and installing applications can be a pita.
Linux does have strengths and these are very good indeed. I will continue to use both. As OpenOffice develops this will become even easier. However, losing the geek image and mentality is going to take time. Some of the postings here have been very arrogant and superior – encouragement rather than snide comments would serve better to encourage people who, after all, have shown a willingness to try.
Many thanks all….
Andrea R on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 4:38 pm
How about spending a couple of years on Linux and just then posting something really good?
UNIX takes a while to master and to enjoy the “journey” you don’t really need anyone to read about it.
Anyway your attitude is the right one too succeed: incremental challenges and experimentation. Good luck.
christooss on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 5:29 pm
Greatest Linux tryout ever writen
I’ve been caught red-handed! I’m trapped in a black screen with a Windows application in the background wearing nothing but a loading screen, and when Linux finds out its going to kill me!
Priceless
Henaway on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 9:55 pm
@Alan C – are you serious about downloading and installing apps on linux being hard?
Let’s see … download Firefox (something even Windows users do). Go to mozilla.com. Oh look!
* Download Firefox – Free 3.0.5 for Linux i686 English (US) (8.7MB)
Click the big box.
Save file to desktop.
Double click the download.
Archive Manager opens.
Extract to desktop.
Open new folder on desktop.
Double click on “firefox”
Firefox opens.
Only difference with windows? More clicks through an installer than clicking “extract, open folder, executable” in linux.
Want to delete your install on linux? Delete the folder.
On Windows? Control panel … add/remove programs … wait 10 minutes … click Mozilla Firefox … click Remove … click through the uninstaller … hope like heck Windows actually did remove it … go and delete the install directory that wasn’t deleted by the uninstaller … go clean out the registry while you’re at it, so other programs quit trying to launch it when it’s gone.
Wow, thanks Windows, for making things easier for me!
Heck, if the app you’re looking for offers a .deb, you launch it just like a Windows EXE and it installs. Even most .rpm’s will install on Debian/Ubuntu based distros without a hiccup.
Program installation and removal on linux is FAR easier than any version of Windows. Unless you’re sadistic and run Gentoo or Linux from Scratch. Then you’re just asking for it. But newcomers to linux wouldn’t touch either.
=========================================
Love the writing style of this piece. Quite disappointed that a little more effort into understanding what he’s doing isn’t happening. To think wine is virtualized Windows is ridiculous. Didn’t you read the description of the program before you installed it? *sigh*
The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 6 | zMogo Tech Stuff on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 10:36 pm
[...] 6 | zMogo Tech Stuff on The New Year Linux Resolution: Switching to Linux for a Weekchristooss on The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 5Andrea R on The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 5Alan C on The New Year Linux Resolution: Day [...]
slampig on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 10:37 pm
Haha, this is a great read. Keep it up
The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 3 | zMogo Tech Stuff on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 11:41 pm
[...] on The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 6The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 6 | zMogo Tech Stuff on The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 5The New Year Linux Resolution: Day 6 | zMogo Tech Stuff on The New Year Linux Resolution: Switching [...]
wolfen69 on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 11:44 pm
as far as day 1 went, i think it was a bit unusual to install ubuntu to an external drive. to get a real “feel” for ubuntu, you would have been better served pulling out your windows drive and popping in another one. that way you could have done a real install which most likely would have been painless. just select “use whole drive” and you’re golden.
and yeah, if you want to use windows apps, just use windows. but i have found very nice replacement apps in linux and do not miss windows one bit. winamp? no thanks. amarok or vlc work beautifully.
AshPringle on Thu, 8th Jan 2009 11:48 pm
Thanks for all the comments everyone!
Thanks for pointing out the distinction between wine and vmware. I basically just knew they all did windowsy stuff, which was enough for me
@Vincent: I’m glad you didn’t echo everyone else. We wouldn’t want to get redundantly redundant!
@Vincent: I’m glad you didn’t echo everyone else. We wouldn’t want to get redundantly redundant!
My sixth day is up. Here’s the link!
http://www.zmogo.com/gear/the-new-year-linux-resolution-day-6/
Alan C on Sun, 11th Jan 2009 2:24 pm
Henaway
Thanks for the reply – but I must maintain my position. Not all Linux software installs well. Openoffice 3 was a dream; ndiswrapper, and others I have encountered are not. Of course, this may be due to the Xandros3 version I use being a pain rather than the application.
Read Day 7 tonight – this has been a GREAT read and very much approaching my experience. However, I love Ubuntu and will be swapping from Xandros as soon as time permits.
As AshPringle says, 100% linux is probably still not possible for many (including me). However, at the present rate of improvement this may not remain the case for long. Power to the Penguin
Alan C
Theo on Mon, 12th Jan 2009 9:42 am
If you want a Linux Winamp-ish app, try XMMS.
AshPringle on Tue, 13th Jan 2009 1:15 pm
@Alan C: I’m glad to hear you liked it
I am also enjoying ubuntu a great deal, and I hope it only gets better over time.
I’m going to extend this series, and will be doing weekly articles, beginning Friday. So stay tuned if you are interested!