Roy Schestowitz wrote:
> AOL has the power to crash Win2k virtual machines
> ,----[ Quote ]
> | Now, I hear the chorus typing their hate e-mails... "Why would
> | anyone run the AOL client inside linux"? Simple: for me it's just
> | another tool to avoid network congestion. When you connect to AOL
> | over broadband you setup a VPN to the "AOL cloud" and your AOLc
> | lient allows navigating from an AOL IP address, thus often helping
> | bypass local backbone bottlenecks and other nuisances.
> `----
This does make sense. AOL is trying to make assumptions about the
modem device, and seems to be trying to install it's own modem drivers.
I'm surprised that Win4Lin didn't just declare an external modem via
serial UART or a "smart modem".
Fortunately, Linux users don't need to install AOL client. They can
use GAIM to chat via AIM, they can use Thunderbird or one of the other
pop e-mail clients to get e-mail, and they can use the web browser to
access the web sites.
Hopefully, AOL will just eliminate the need for VMs altogether, and
just offer services directly to Linux users. Of course, most Linux
systems have all of the facilities of an ISP built into the workstation
if desired. Most people still prefer to have a third party e-mail
service accessible from a POP client.
> http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36090
>
> I wonder if hypervisor-hostile code can one day be used to intercept access
> to Vista Basic and Home edition, which of course forbid the use of VM's (the
> EULA says so, conveniently enough, as means of stifling competition and
> bringing more upgrade cash to Microsoft).
One can't blame Microsoft for trying to get a few extra bucks from
Linux users who want to use Windows as a VM. After all, the more users
that use Linux as the primary operating system, the smaller the number
of sales to OEMs over the next 4-7 years.
On the other hand, OEMs may already be demanding more control over
Vista Business and Ultimate edition. In fact, they may be getting
ultimate with the provision that the OEM has full control over the
configuration, marketing, and labelling of all products, including the
ability to advertize the Linux AND Windows capabilities on the same
computer at the same time.
This may have been one of the reasons that Microsoft has made their
offer to Novell. This gives Microsoft control over the image, and
still enables them to collect a cash premium for "Windows on Linux"
systems.
Microsoft had originally planned to have Xen support built into Vista
that would enable Vista to run Linux as the Xen client. Unfortunately,
the project didn't go very well, and at this point, Linux still the
only primary "Host" for Xen systems.
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