For those who'd like to "sandbox" their MS Apps:

[Sterling_Dragon]

There are (sigh) still a few applications for which there is not a viable open source replacement, and W.I.N.E. still does not allow ALL games to play, "out of the box." However, the need for XP, for gaming or otherwise, opens new dangers to the world of linux. VMware is an option, but they have begun to charge, for their software, even for end users, now (unless there is something I have missed). Fortunately, there is an alternative that is actually VERY useful, and COMPLETELY open source. Sun Microsystems has a virtualization app called "VirtualBox." It can be found here:

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Although they have not included all of the bells and whistles into Vbox that VMware has in their product, I have found it extremely simple (noob users will delight). Sun has provided a ".deb" installer, and Vbox actually uses fewer resources than VMware. I can't really gauge whether or not this is something that "should be" incorporated into Ultimate, but I can say that this is an application that has wondrous new opportunities, for those who seriously game, but don't have the "tweaking knowledge" to be able to make Linux run all their games, and alos for those of us that are OBLIGATED to use Winblows, but don't want it actually "in control" of their system.

It is easy enough to acquire and install; but then, again, so are most of the packages that come with Ultimate. I have actually removed some of the packages that come with Ultimate, as I find them redundant. This is one of the things I love about Ultimate: It is better to have it, and not need it, than to need it, and not have it.

Kudos to the Ultimate team for an endeavor of monumental success, and I hope this post is found to be helpful to Ultimate users and moderators, alike.

- Sterling Dragon

[pch.shot]

Virtual boxes still have a long way to go. You will not get 3D or pci support using Virtualbox. You will also only have use of one cpu core. They are not really designed for high end gaming. For word processing and surfing the net they are fine. If there are specific applications you use with MS, like Nero, they are fine. Try using this(which requires 3D using Virtualbox): http://www.karafun.com/karaokeplayer/ It won't even install because of the lack of 3D support.

[deate]

Just a quick question, how does this differ than the one listed in synaptic???

[pch.shot]

I imagine it is the same one, Deate.

[LeadFingers]

In the professional world there are a still a few applications that MUST be run under Windows in it's own partition. Autocad nothing else comes close,
Steinberg, Cubase and Nuendo nothing can touch them for studio work,
and of course, thanks to the hard work of M$, M$ Office has nothing that's truly compatible, close but not quite there yet. The gaming world is slowly beginning to realize the potential in the Linux market and these others will too, but probably not until M$ has run it's self completely into the ground.

[LeadFingers]

Well Nick:
That is real good to know, I have a brother that's been wanting to switch to Linux but has been holding out cause he needs M$ Office for business. When he found out he could WoW in Ultimate Edition he started getting serious about installing it, but now there's no reason for a duel boot. That just makes it a little sweeter.
Thanks