TC1100 Project

Today I have undertaken a huge task. I am going to setup an old TC1100 to run of 3 different operating systems. Yes it will be alot of fun is what I thought at first too. So here's the story.
A co-worker of mine asked me today to put Ubuntu, Windows 98 SE, and windows XP onto a TC1100 by HP/Compaq. Now first off these are little tablet PCs. I can only imagine that after working on one for more than an hour it would get really dull. So what I did was crabbed an external Keyboard and mouse. But then to my suprise realized (not that it was much of a suprise) that this unit has no CD drive... So I had to rumage around for an external CD drive which was quite the task. We're talking 10 boxes until I finally found it. Then I had to set out a game plan. I figured the easiest way to execute this was to Install Ubuntu first then have virtual box running 2 instances one of Windows 98SE and one of Windows XP.

So step one [Install Ubuntu]
Setup was pretty easy. It already had a version of windows XP installed so i just clicked Guided use entire disk and continued to click foward until it finally started installing. Now it took awhile most likely because it's running off an external CD drive... Which if any of you have ever used probably already know can be a massive bitch to work with. This whole step took about an hour to complete.

Step two [Install Virtual Box]
Go to System>Administration>Synaptic Package Manager
Click Search then Type:Virtual Box
Right click on the Virtual Box Listing and click Mark For Installation
Click Apply
Then go to Applications>System Tools>Virtual Box
Click Add set the size of you HDD I did two a 10GB and a 4GB
Then click New
First I installed Windows XP
Then after that was finished I installed Windows 98SE on the 4GB drive

Step three [Test]
Here's where it got complicated I had to actually forfit the entire project due to lack of system resources. Turns out Ubuntu Will Work Fine but any of the other operating systems just FAIL miserably. Even when not going through Virtual Box they lagged and generated system error. All in all I guess a TC1100 is just a crappy machine built for jack end users who do nothing more than eat tacos and surf the web (I always picture people who surf the web eating tacos)

But the important thing is... IT CAN BE DONE!!!!

The Future In Business Computers

OK so messing around with Ubuntu and recent headlines about off site data storage made me come up with an idea. I'm sure this has already been implemented in some situations but it makes a lot of sense for more companies to start doing this. As anybody who works in a cubical type environment knows their machine is usually tucked away somewhere near their feet, and when they log on to the network all their files for the most part are either on a server somewhere in a closet tucked away from normal access or saved directly on that machine the user has. But in the event that a hurricane comes through what do you do? Well some companies have resorted to backing up files on a remote server (probably somewhere in the mountains) to ensure data loss is prevented. But why? This process costs a lot of money and in reality since it goes through FTP is often very very slow. Here's my resolution. Large companies should have a remote server facility in which multiple instances of Windows XP, 2000, or whatever operating system is used at the company running on large servers. The user at the company then logs into his machine which is actually just one of those instances.

An example?
OK as you are all aware I work for a computer company. Well lets face it I need records of a lot of my data that I produce here when I am at home (Mainly so I can work with no pay) but also to ensure that I am getting everything done on time. I also don't trust our companies servers. I mean we lose power... A LOT!!! So what do I do? Well I have Ubuntu Linux at home running a really cool program called Virtual Box. So when I get into work I remote to my computer (Which is actually pretty decent speed, and I do all my work on my virtual machine. On my machine at home I have excellent security, a good backup program, and lets face it I never lose power to my computer (It's running off solar power). So all in all I think with today's technology and data backup issues this should be something that is explored a little more.