Can I use a parallel OS?

Hi! I finally bought my new notebook and the first thing I really did was reading the guides on this forum. They are really useful and I thank all of you.

The next step I'd like to take is install a distribution of Linux that could run parallel to the Win XP that was pre-installed on my notebook. Is this possible?

My aim is to somehow startup a "lighter", speedier OS instead of Windows when I do easy, non-tech tasks such as notes-taking at classes, recording teacher's speech, and other basic and fast "Office" stuff... also in order to speed up the computer and especially to maximize it's battery capacity when moving around.

Which Linux would you suggest?

 

well, I don't think you'll really be able to maximize battery life any better with Linux. windows has much simpler ways to undervolt your CPU. if you REALLY want to feel a boost in speed, Gentoo or Arch are the way to go. they optimize everything in your system for whatever processor you have (i686).

Xubuntu would probably be the easiest to install, though. http://www.xubuntu.com/

 

Most users find their battery life diminished when running under Linux. I lose about 25% more power through Linux, because ATi havent written powerplay for Linux yet, so my GPU always runs at full speed.

 

it definitely depends upon your hardware. I have my intel 915 integrated graphics and battery time is almost the exact same as before I started undervolting in windows.

 

If you have fglrx drivers on your system go into your terminal and use this command to put your video card into power save.

Code:

aticonfig --set-powerstate 1

 

Ah brilliant! You learn something everyday! I'll see how that goes.

 

Hey, thanks for all your advice.
Well, I'll try installing xUbuntu then and later try the more complex ones.

I'd like to ask which would be the best combination for installing separate OS.
Two OS on two partitions?
Can you then select which OS to run when you switch on the computer?

Second question: is it possible to install Mac OS X as well (just to learn a bit... recently it seems to be gaining popularity and I don't want to be the last person on earth using it )?

 

Strictly speaking, you CAN install OS X on a normal PC, but it is very hard to do and has serious hardware compatibility issues. OS X is made for a few very select hardware configurations.

To install two OSs, install Windows first on a partition, then run the Linux install afterwards (the Linux boot loaders allow you to boot both operating systems, whereas Windows will replace it with a loader that only shows Windows OSs). The new Linux install should go on a separate partition, and a separate swap partition of about 1GB in size is recommended.

 

It's illegal to install OS X on non-Apple hardware.

 

Yes it is.

 

Oh, I didn't know that... (seems like Apple is trying to replace Microsoft by every means)

 

M$ is keeping up on the evil meter. Go look down a few threads and see what they're trying to do to Linux and Open Source.

 

Gotta love companies. They changed a civil matter into a criminal matter in the hearts and minds of consumers.

Technically, it's against the license to use OSX on non-Apple hardware. What the license says is along the lines of making it illegal to use non-Chevy tools to work on your Chevy. Which is pretty much a stupid thing to state. I don't know why this stuff is apparently different with computers and electronics to most people.

 

I think this deserves a little more verbiage. Here is how I understand it:

There is no standalone version of OS X for the PC from Apple. All of the installs on current Intel Macs are OEM versions, so using them on another PC is a violation of their End-User License Agreement (EULA), which would make your continuing use of the software illegal.

The usual method which you hear about of installing OS X on a PC involves downloading a modified version of OS X and installing it. This is pretty obviously illegal -- it's a commercial product, you didn't pay for it, yet you have a copy.

If you buy OS X legally, reimplement all of the parts which need to be changed to work on PCs, and then install it, that's probably legal. You're just using some software which you purchased along with some other software which you wrote. That is also very, very, very hard, so good luck with that.

 

I think, rather than non-Chevy tools being used on your Chevy, it's more along the lines of trying to put a Ford engine into a Chevy truck, which is very difficult to do. The tools can be used for both just like utilities and most software can be used on both, just not the "engine" itself.