Sabayon plus OS X (VMFusion)

[Red7]

I'm looking for a new computer, and have been seriously looking the MacBook Pro. I know that with bootcamp you can set up Linux distros fairly easy, and that's a plus. And i also have heard that Sabayon works quite well, which is an even bigger plus. However, my big question is VMWare Fusion. I know there are several posts about this, and several things floating around the internet, but nothing seems conclusive. I would love to be able to run Sabayon side be side with Leopard. I know that VMWare works well with Linux, but to what extent? Can i use everything (major programs, Compiz-Fusion, media programs, some games) or am i stuck just with word processing and surfing the web. If anyone had figured anything out, that would be great. Also if i missed any posts that actually explain this, my apologies.

Red

[wolfden]

moved to correct forum

[Red7]

Ah, thank you. Didn't notice that there was that one, so I chose the intall forum (closest thing). Sorry about the mix up.

[Red7]

I have considered other computers, besides the Mac, but I really do like OS X. Most of my friends have it and as does my family. But i also love Sabayon. Partitioning the hard disk doesn't appear to have problems, so that drew me in more, and having two of my favorite OS's on one machine was a great aspect. I was just wondering how well Sabayon runs in a virtual machine (I'm might be getting a mac, OS X is obviously going to be the host). I understand that multiple programs that allow you to use a virtual machine run well on OS X, but how does Sabayon run as a guest? That's what I'm trying to find out.

Maybe i should have stated that more clearly before...

Anything from yes/no, great/terrible, to long explanations would be great.

Red

[WarraWarra]

Hope this helps>

Graphics in emulator:
In virtualbox quite well, the graphics is obviously compromised IE you can not play Quake4 say on virtualbox or possibly vmware but the rest runs fine.
Compile times is a bit slower as you are sharing resources with host OS / of the PC laptop.

Convenience:
Basically it boils down to how much you need to do in it , I use it every day and it works fine but I do not play serious games on it so for me it is fine but gives me the time to mess with what I need and still continue in Linux or Windows and do there what I need.

VMware is nice because it can get direct access to say a usb or internal hd and only use a partition or the whole hd while the host OS is running from it / can be dangerous but sometimes you need to do things. Virtualbox only get access to hd via usb and not one the host is running on.

Games:
For games I go into 1 OS only mode be it linux or windows and switch the fans to full speed. Most games uses 1 core only or completely and the second core lies well almost asleep where the video card is important and that decides what happens to the game. So get a decent video card in whatever your getting.

Decide:
If you are getting Apple good go for it just keep in mind the video card on the laptop and what you might need or get something more graphics / video card powerful for more intense video jobs IE: Imac or Desktop if you can otherwise if you need to move the thing around a lot IE travel overseas with it get a laptop.

Pro's / con's:
97% of the time a laptop actually stands on a desktop table and having it on your lap in the house is nice until it burns your legs LOL MEDIC ! or becomes uncomfortable as it needs air to flow around it yes beneath as well so will need laptop cooling fan / pad , highly recommended.

Only real advantage you have with a laptop is the electricity coming into it is not so much affected by ups and downs / black-out's and brown-out's so it does not eat up your motherboard. Any Desktop / Imac you need UPS with AVR / automatic voltage regulator and your stuff will last. $70 extra for AVR/UPS

Travel:
Imac 20" core 2 extreme using http://www.ilugger.com/ bag traveled around the world via airports and on ships with me no problem just a bit big and sometimes has to go in front in closet of airplane. 24" not allowed as carry on baguage.

Desktop is a bit more of a pain to fly with. Both counts as 1 piece of hand luguage so some airplanes nothing else or per piece price = ouch.

Laptop / desktop / Imac all ends up weighing the same in total weight on you hands to carry , cables , discs , other junk you need.

[Red7]

Wow, thanks man, this is more then i could ever ask for. Best explanation. I do move around a bit, even if it's just around my house (and school, work, travel, etc.), and the freedom of a laptop is nice. I don't do a lot of gaming, but i do play a couple, so a decent graphics card is good for me (anything but this intel chip that i have now!). Mostly, the most graphical intense stuff i do is make simple home movies (one of the reasons i want OS X) or play around with GIMP (one of the reasons i want to keep Sabayon). There are others reasons besides. Anyway, the Macbook Pro sounds like a good choice for me, but Dell is supposedly coming out with a whole bunch of new laptops this fall, so i might give up my OS X dreams for a Dell... Will make the final choice around Nov, still doing research...

Thanks again for the info!

Red.