03.16.08
andLinux
For quite some time now I've been a regular user of Cooperative Linux (coLinux), which I think is best described on its website:
Cooperative Linux is the first working free and open source method for optimally running Linux on Microsoft Windows natively. More generally, Cooperative Linux (short-named coLinux) is a port of the Linux kernel that allows it to run cooperatively alongside another operating system on a single machine. For instance, it allows one to freely run Linux on Windows 2000/XP, without using a commercial PC virtualization software such as VMware, in a way which is much more optimal than using any general purpose PC virtualization software
I've been using it for quote some time but I've never bothered to spend the time to take it beyond a console (mind you I see on their website that it'll run Knoppix Japanese Edition with a full GUI). A few months ago andLinux came to my attention. andLinux uses coLinux at it's core and then integrates the Xming server, allowing you to easily run Windows and XWindows applications side by side, both running natively. I think this is absolutely amazing, and something that is definitely needed. My laptop currently have notepad and firefox open on the Windows side and XFCE panel, firefox and Gnome Terminal (with apt-get install build-essential) open on the Linux side. It brings quite a bit of power and flexibility to the table.
I recently went from Ubuntu back to Windows on my laptop because I purchased a Vonage V-Phone. andLinux allows me to easily and conveniently maintain my favourite Linux apps along side my favourite Windows applications. If you've never used it, I highly recommend jumping over to the website and checking it out.
