With this release of VMware Fusion we’re now approaching what virtualization should be. Check out these features:

• Improved Unity functionality so that you can run your Windows apps right on your Mac. Now includes Linux Unity support
• Mapping and mirroring folders between Windows and OS X, e.g. Pictures, Documents, etc.
• Vastly improved performance and less resource usage
• Full support for all major guest operating systems
• Keyboard and mouse keyboard mapping
• Automated snapshots for a “Time Machine”-like backup experience for virutal systems
• View Windows content with Leopard’s QuickView
• Dock and Status bar notifications for guest applications

Links

[ VMware Fusion | vmware.com ]

For some reason I’m actually quite excited about redoing my home domain using Windows Server 2008. Stuff to do:

• Figure out what to use for my VMware server
• Figure out what to use for a Check Point box
• Get a hold of a legit copy of Server 2008
• Get my iMac (waiting for Apple announcements)

Home network goodness. Looking forward to SQL Server 2008 as well. Also going to be using ADAM/IAS to do authentication on the network. LDAP is cool.

Then on to Asterisk/VOIP and the all-in-one copier/fax/printer deal. Can’t wait to get going on the Asterisk stuff.

So, if anyone knows a good hookup for a copy of Server 2008, do let me know.

Something to refer people to who think Microsoft is innovating on the desktop.

[ A Gentoo Linux Compiz Demo ]

flickr.com

[ Link: Linux Mac Ads ]

You definitely need to see the second one. Great stuff.

Evidently the new version of VMware for OS X lets you run a virtual session right off of your bootcamp partition! Pretty cool stuff.

My buddy Craig has it working.

[ Link: Vista Running From OS X Bootcamp Partition Within OS X ]

It’s been a good ride, but ultimately it comes down to software availability; there just aren’t many good titles out there for OS X. Like with programming, for example — I’m getting into RoR coding pretty heavily now and I’d like to be able to use my favorite editor, HotDog Pro.

Plus, the only reason Windows gets hacked so much is because they have all the marketshare. So back to Windows I go (thank goodness). Anyone want to buy a MacBook Pro?

I’ve been trying to get Chris to the Mac for over a year now, and he’s put my latest attempt up on his site. I’ve received a number of emails commending me on my efforts, but a few pointed out something I’d not considered:

The guy is an absolute Windows icon. He can’t just up and defect like this. It would likely be extremely bad for business.

And when I say business, I mean the roughly $10K/month he makes from Google AdSense. Essentially, he’s been a known Windows expert since before 99.9% of people were on the Internet. He has a massive fan base. So no matter how cool OS X is he’s probably not going to switch due to the potential impact it may have on his income and Internet status.

And to be honest, I can’t say I blame him. I personally would still do it, but I can definitely see why he wouldn’t. Oh well…I’ll keep at it. When Leopard drops and makes Vista look silly, it’ll get a bit easier.

You might be saying no such thing exists, but I beg to differ. I’ve dumped XP as a Windows platform. I now use it only when something specifically requires it (which isn’t often).

I prefer to use Windows Server 2003 as a workstation instead. Why? Mostly because of raw socket limitations. I hate the fact that security software is hit or miss on XP. I simply lack the time to worry about whether or not XP will gimp up a given security tool.

So I’ve just built my latest Windows VMware image (for Outlook, Word and Visio) using Server 2003. Office 2007, by the way, is awesome. I very much like the ribbon concept, as well as the other more subtle improvements. And Office 2007 runs great on Server 2003, so this is a good thing.

It’s become very clear to me that XP is an OS designed for the masses. It’s edges have been rounded so that people don’t cut themselves, which is unfortunate since I was actually using them to get work done. Luckily for me there’s another Microsoft platform that runs Office, and until the next version of server comes out this is what I’ll be running as my Windows “desktop”.