3 ms·

I had to solve this problem when I built a new high-end desktop aimed at gaming a while back. As it happens, Windows 10 is actually pretty great from a basic U

by nilkn 11y ago

I had to solve this problem when I built a new high-end desktop aimed at gaming a while back. As it happens, Windows 10 is actually pretty great from a basic UX point of view. In many ways I find it better than OS X now in this regard, which I didn't think I'd ever say. But the lack of Unix underpinnings was a big loss. My solution was to run Debian in Virtualbox. I set it up with xfce as the default window manager, since it tends to run really well in a VM. But in truth I almost always use xmonad, which runs even better in a VM. For me at least, this has been a nearly perfect solution. I imagine the same would work on a Surface Book.

untog 11y ago
My solution was to run Debian in Virtualbox I think that's what I'd do. I don't have a problem running Sublime etc. in Windows, so I figure I'd only need command line access to the Linux box, so even windowing isn't a problem. But still, my Macbook Pro is only about a year old. As much as I want to justify that upgrade...
- thachmai 11y ago
  A great thing about Macbook Pro is their high resell value. I plan to sell my 2014 MBP when I get this. I'd lose around 20-30% for one year of utilisation, good enough for me.
ane 11y ago
With the addition of virtual desktops to Windows 10 you can keep the full-screen Virtualbox in another desktop. Switching between OSs just by pressing Ctrl+Super-Right/Left is fun.
- shermanyo 11y ago
  "With the addition of virtual desktops..." I heard they're adding SSH soon too. May get a usable workstation out of windows one of these days... /ducks
yareally 11y ago
Hyper-v runs debian fine if you rather avoid virtual box. Also there's cygwin for anything that doesn't require a vm (scripting). I'd always run a dev environment as a vm to simulate a production environment. However, if I'm just writing bash scripts or anything that doesn't require installing a db/web server/etc cygwin is adequate enough.

by nilkn 11y ago

untog 11y ago

My solution was to run Debian in Virtualbox I think that's what I'd do. I don't have a problem running Sublime etc. in Windows, so I figure I'd only need command line access to the Linux box, so even windowing isn't a problem. But still, my Macbook Pro is only about a year old. As much as I want to justify that upgrade...

thachmai 11y ago
A great thing about Macbook Pro is their high resell value. I plan to sell my 2014 MBP when I get this. I'd lose around 20-30% for one year of utilisation, good enough for me.

ane 11y ago

With the addition of virtual desktops to Windows 10 you can keep the full-screen Virtualbox in another desktop. Switching between OSs just by pressing Ctrl+Super-Right/Left is fun.

shermanyo 11y ago
"With the addition of virtual desktops..." I heard they're adding SSH soon too. May get a usable workstation out of windows one of these days... /ducks

yareally 11y ago

Hyper-v runs debian fine if you rather avoid virtual box. Also there's cygwin for anything that doesn't require a vm (scripting). I'd always run a dev environment as a vm to simulate a production environment. However, if I'm just writing bash scripts or anything that doesn't require installing a db/web server/etc cygwin is adequate enough.