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Flipping the Linux switch: Switching, literally, with Ulteo Virtual Desktop
We are a little bit disturbed. Not in a "We just watched a David Lynch movie" sort of way, but still, it is a little unnerving to think that our last post on Ulteo hinted at a world domination plot... and now it seems that goal is within their reach.It is also a little unsettling to eat our words. We read about Ulteo's Virtual Desktop and its claims to run Linux apps quickly and smoothly under Windows. And we thought, "Yeah, right." We've used embedded Linux on Windows before. It works in a pinch, but it's not terribly responsive. It's also a little disorienting to be working in Linux, and then need to manually perform some key combination or mouse gesture to get to a Windows application.
Like andLinux, Ulteo's Virtual Desktop (often referred to with the rather misfortunate name UlteoVD) runs off a coLinux base. There is no virtualization software involved. But we'd especially recommend UlteoVD for those pondering whether a Linux switch could work for them, for a number of reasons.
We'd recommend UlteoVD first to people who are currently using or could see themselves using their previous services. Ulteo started by offering OpenOffice.org in a browser, coupled with syncing services. Nice, for sure. They then offered an installable Ulteo disk, which felt a lot like Ubuntu in many ways, with the noticeable difference of automatic updates (as in, no user interaction) and syncing with the browser based services.
If you are into those previously listed offerings, that's great. We'd venture to say, though, those aren't the most appealing ways to ease into Linux or learn about Linux applications. Usually applications in browsers are slow, and jumping headfirst into a new operating system install (especially one clearly marked "beta") is (understandably) terror-inducing.
This is a great middle-of-the-road approach. Once UlteoVD is installed, you have access to essentially all the programs you'd find on most popular Linux distros. You also have simultaneous access to your Windows applications, and Desktop and My Documents files. UlteoVD lets you see if the Linux environment and applications are right for you without needing to dual boot, or even reboot.
UlteoVD is a large download, and does take up quite a bit of disk space (approximately 4 gb). It is easy to install, though there were some agonizingly long waits at certain stages of the installation. We'd advise anyone installing (especially on older, or underpowered machines) to be really patient with the install, and the first launch of the virtual desktop. The first dig at the desktop took an inordinately long time to actually launch. Subsequent virtual desktop launches aren't nearly as lengthy. Launching applications from the virtual desktop is just as fast (or faster) than launching a native Windows app.
We noticed as UlteoVD was launching that it did a few potentially scary things. We lost our network connection, for instance. We assume that it was because UlteoVD was accessing the network, and we were a little nervous that we wouldn't be able to access the internet except through the Linux application side of things.
This isn't the case. We were just as able to fire up IE as we were the UlteoVD-installed instance of Firefox. Not particularly sure how often we'd have need to do that, but it all worked smoothly.
One of the reasons we think UlteoVD would be a great choice for potential switchers is the reasonably familiar interface. It's not quite as sparse as some of the "Kicker" options on andLinux, and but still manages to stay out of the way. The menu options are presented in a way that's similar to a standard KDE desktop install on Linux, and we feel that the layout and file navigation options that Ulteo has given the virtual desktop not only makes things easier on the Windows-integration side of things, but should quell some of the butterflies that occur when a new user logs into the Linux /home directory for the first time.
We were curious about how updates were handled and how packages could be added. It seems as though it might be a bit trickier to install a more off-the-beaten-path sort of program from the Ulteo repositories, but it is quite easy to install their generic desktop and game applications, as well as language support.
Ulteo also gave us the option of trying their default (stable), edge, or testing repositories. We tried both stable and edge with no catastrophic events. We did have UlteoVD crash once, and promptly relaunch. Considering that is still a beta, and that we were having issues with a native Windows photo editing application at the time, it wasn't particularly surprising.
Ulteo also gave us the option of trying their default (stable), edge, or testing repositories. We tried both stable and edge with no catastrophic events. We did have UlteoVD crash once, and promptly relaunch. Considering that is still a beta, and that we were having issues with a native Windows photo editing application at the time, it wasn't particularly surprising.
Seriously, though, this is the best news of all for those of you wondering if Linux might be something to explore further. You get to play with the Linux applications and see if they suit your needs without having to worry about system support in a larger sense. Because of the way UlteoVD is set up to run, it's less likely you'll have the peculiar hiccups that might arise on a new Linux install. With this sort of scenario, you'll become familiar with the overall way the Linux applications work, instead of getting lost in configuration minutiae.
We were really tickled we could use Amarok on Windows XP now without the fun of compiling and tweaking for limited results. (We love to tweak with Linux, but somehow Windows seems to kill the joy in it.)
We were really tickled we could use Amarok on Windows XP now without the fun of compiling and tweaking for limited results. (We love to tweak with Linux, but somehow Windows seems to kill the joy in it.)
UlteoVD is available as a beta for both Windows XP and Vista 32-bit releases. We strongly recommend it for people thinking of trying out Linux, as well as those who prefer Linux and its native applications who can't always use a Linux machine.
Comments
17
Subscribe to commentsArtInventMay 21st 2008 1:32AM
What really seems to kill this is that can't install any other Linux apps. I find the apps *included* with a standard distro to be pretty limited and uncompelling. After OpenOffice and Firefox and maybe Amarok, I mean, what is there? Plus these and most FOSS apps like Gimp, Blender, Audacity, Inkscape, etc etc. issue native Windows ports anyway. The joy of linux apps to me is being able to pick from thousands of apps, install with a click, compare, uninstall the losers, try another etc. And Amarok 2 and the entire KDE itself will supposedly be ported to Windows in the near future. I guess I would much prefer to recommend a person try out Ubuntu with Wubi, or run a full virtual machine with VirtualBox etc. so they can install whatever apps they want.
MikeBravoMay 20th 2008 9:44PM
I think I would like to give it a try, but what would it take to uninstall Ulteo if I did not like it?
What does Ulteo do better than Wubi?
KaneskalterMay 20th 2008 11:50PM
Wubi does have the size advantage but Ulteo doesn't make you exit Windows. Without a full understanding of it, it looks to me like the opposite of Wine, running Linux apps on Windows instead of vice versa.
In other words, if you don't want to download a 4 gb file and don't mind exiting Windows for your Linux apps, get Wubi. If you don't want to reboot frequently, and run perhaps Amarok and WoW at the same time, Ulteo looks like your choice.
Now, if only Virtualbox implemented seamless mode in Windows, we would be set.
MysteriusMay 20th 2008 9:34PM
You're using Norton?
Not to diss it in any way, but I was surprised.
Kristin ShoemakerMay 20th 2008 9:41PM
Heh, my husband is using Norton (as there isn't a Windows install residing on my computer). We're working on it. :)
I'm actually hoping having Ulteo on there will encourage a dual boot, at least.
RexMay 21st 2008 4:20AM
dear Kristin, can i request something? can you please add a "flipping-the-linux-switch" tag? I really love these series, and would be glad to follow it regularly
Kristin ShoemakerMay 21st 2008 7:06AM
Hey Rex,
Thanks for the kind words! Try adding this to your aggregator:
http://www.downloadsquad.com/tag/linux-switch/rss.xml
Thanks again!
mgMay 21st 2008 6:51AM
How does it compare to andLinux? Which XServer is used? I guess i cannot install it side-by-side. Please, more tech spech next time!
Kristin ShoemakerMay 21st 2008 7:18AM
Due to the nature of how Ulteo launches (you have to physically click the shortcut to make it work) it would be possible to have both UlteoVD and andLinux on the same machine.
Launching/using them at the same time? I'd imagine it'd cause some problems, perhaps not with conflicts between the two programs or Windows necessarily, but with the load on the machine. Since it's my husband's machine, it's much older, and the power supply makes this noise that sends our dogs running for cover when things get rolling, I didn't want to push it too hard.
I will admit I don't have the deepest understanding of how the coLinux kernel/adaptation works, but it would seem it doesn't use X in the traditional sense at all. It does seem that what it uses is closer to the more "traditional" graphical interface/X arrangement -- no Compiz, etc.
LoodacMay 21st 2008 10:51AM
Well, its easier for reader to go to their website and find that info, than for blogger to write every detail about it...
leftystratMay 24th 2008 11:41PM
I realize I'm not the demographic that this is targeted to, but installing linux on top of Windows seems like building a townhouse on top of a condemned skyscraper. It's going to fall down - it's only a matter of when.
One of the virtualization solutions MAY be better suited to this effort. I've had success with VMplayer. In fact, I run Windows in a virtual machine under linux. Linux will remain stable; Windows will eventually need to be `refreshed'.
VMplayer, Qemu, VirtualBox and others will all run linux. You can even download prebuilt linux distributions for virtual machines (vmware.com) that `play' in VMplayer.
Just some suggestions.
-lefty
DavidMay 22nd 2008 8:50PM
Nice article! I've used linux since 96' and have always wondered when linux apps could run the way you have described them running with UlteoVD. I tried downloading it the day it was released but it seemed the servers were very busy at that time. I had almost given up on the idea until I came across this blog. I've tried Wubi and as far as I'm concerned you might as well dual-boot. I will definitely download and install on my Windows computer when I get off work. Thanks for the insight and keep up the good work.
Kristin ShoemakerMay 22nd 2008 7:14PM
Yeah, when I downloaded it, it was a decidedly slow connection. I used mirror 2, hoping it would be slightly faster than the first mirror on the list, but it still took a several hours. It's about the size of a standard liveCD download, which on a good day only take about 2 hours on our DSL connection.
I imagine things have gotten faster, as the initial "download it now!" rush abates.
John ZbeskoMay 22nd 2008 5:38PM
How do UlteoVD and andLinux compare to using Cygwin? I currently use Cygwin to run a terminal and execute line commands. I've been unable to get the x-windows environment to work properly.
Kristin ShoemakerMay 22nd 2008 7:10PM
It's honestly been a really long time since I've used Cygwin on Windows, so I imagine that there have been changes and improvements... (I think my last attempt with it was about four years ago).
At that time it was pretty slow and tricky to work with. The coLinux adaptation has a very different feel. It's responsive, and runs less as an isolated window running an OS, and more like an overlay with the kicker integrated into the Windows task bar.
You can do some terminal work, too, which is kinda cool (UlteoVD has Konsole access).
David A. TigueMay 22nd 2008 9:01PM
I got home and downloaded UlteoVD ( i don't like that name)
and it was only 503mb. So it wsa a little bit smaller than I thought ( I was expecting 700mb) and I used mirror 2 and it only took me about 10 min. It took forever to install and is still a little slow when running more resource consuming apps such as Amarok but for the most part alot better than running a full linux distro through virtualization software.
StomfiMay 22nd 2008 11:20PM
Unfortunately UlteoVD only works on XP and Vista, and there are a huge number of machines in offices running NT or Win2K.
So when I'm forced to use Windows, luckily not so much these days, I install SUN's Virtual Box and create a VM with something nice and light like OpenGEU. Installing the extensions gives me access to shared folders and even the Netbios Workgroup if I need to go that far.
I enjoy being able to use the wonderful extended development environment that is free with Linux, especially for creating the AMP part of a stack. Using the shared folder as http root, it runs as WAMP on the host and LAMP inside the VM.
The ability to use a browser and do email inside a Virtual Box, makes it the most secure firewall imaginable, so one can even set up a VM of Windows inside Windows for this purpose.
Maybe this is good reason to use Firefox inside UteoVD.