ot: laptop? vista? vmware? crazy?

kraz wrote on 9/25/2007, 1:47 PM
I have a laptop that I use for regular business (I am a Vegas advanced amatuer/hobbiest- although I do some work for business.)

I may soon be in the market for a new laptop.

I like my Vegas machine lean and clean.
My biz/work machine - mail / files /junk is NOT

I just got the idea that I would try to get a good enough /fast enough machine to run each different environment in a diff vmware - VM.

so my laptop can also be my mobile video work computer.

-I also thought - even though I am not using Vista currently on any machine - that maybe I could use Vista -and get 4gb ram just so I can then have each virtual machine have 2gb Ram when it runs. (I am happy to have each VM as XP.

Any thoughts on this idea?
on running a "speedy"? pc in a VM. On a laptop.
video issues on a VM.
Vista as the parent PC?

I don't need to have both VM running at the same time but rather be able to switch as needed.

and all for $2500


would love to hear your thoughts.
Allen

Comments

Jay M wrote on 9/25/2007, 3:41 PM
One of our editors here is doing something like you suggest. He is running all XP, the system is for his editing software, lean and clean as you put it. The VM is for MS office, internet, email, and the other junk. He has only had it set up for a couple weeks. I haven't asked how it's working for him.

My boss uses MANY VMs on both his Mac laptop and work PC. The same VM can go on either the Mac or the PC. He is very pleased with his use of VMs. He has been using VMware for over a year. He does not do any audio or video work.

I tried VMware on my laptop for a few days and it crashed several time and felt a bit instable. I did a system restore and have no interest in trying it again. For me maintaining Virtual machines is almost as much work as maintaing multiple computers. I don't think it's worth the effort.

On my work computer the OS install is 2 1/2 years old, every program I use has seen at least one update, and I have installed all kinds of things audio video related to test. The system is still very stable.

Vegas has always been a very stable program. I don't think you need to baby it like you might with some other programs- such as any that start with the letter A.

The only thing I see as crazy is using Vista. ok, not crazy- I just think you are better off, for compatability reasons with audio video applications, on XP for at least another year. As far as I know Vista doesn't give us any productivity benefits over XP yet.

~Jay
kraz wrote on 9/25/2007, 10:34 PM
Thanks for your input -

I already use VM in many situations and like it -
my specific issues here were

anyone out there use Vegas inside a VM for real work?
I just use it so far for testing new versions/products

-Firepower of laptops
- Using Vista specifically because it will give me more access to memory and let me have larger memory access on my VMs
- using an XP VM inside Vista- will it act like XP in terms of no vegas problems or will I inherit the Vista /Vegas issues
- Video issues in VM with Vegas - because it uses a virtual video card

Thanks
Allen
Kennymusicman wrote on 9/26/2007, 4:54 AM
One thing that springs to mind - is it depends on the VM client. VirtualPC, for example, has a soft limit of "video" graphics memory to just 8mb. That makes video editing a little ....tricky.

As for other VM clients, I can't speak for them - but I would look into that part. Whilst RAM is happily coordinated, the video memory is often forgotten.

As for an XP VM running in Vista - it should not inherit the "vista glitches" that you may encounter, as it should be running effectively as an isolated item. With processors and PC's in general being more geared for VM working, then there is a good chance that you could work as you desire. If the VM client also detects your audio and video hardware as proper hardware, rather than a generic soft port, then you could be in business. If not, then it would likely struggle a little running through the port every time.

Only ideas - don't quote me on any of it...

Ken