Hi Todd:
One option on Windows is to install Ubuntu in a mode that lets it run
nested as a guest in a window within the host operating system. This
is now one of the options on the (free) Ubuntu install CD. I've
actually not tried it, so I can't tell you how good it is, but my
guess is that it works in a way that is very similar to VMware of
Parallels on OS X.
But if you already have made the investment in OS X hardware, I really
would recommend standing your ground on this. The main arguments to
make, I believe, are the following:
1. Scientists really need to have ready access to unix-based
operating systems. OS X and Linux are two such variants, but the main
arguments in favor of each are the same. I'm flattered you liked my
website, but frankly I don't think its existence is a compelling
argument. (In fact, I made the thing originally as a publicly
accessible log/whine of my trials and tribulations in a do-it-yourself
sys admin environment. You could point out that if an idiot like me
can do this, anyone can.) You could probably get by with work-around
solutions on Windows, but why should you be forced to hobble yourself.
2. Your institutional bureaucrats should not, as a matter of
principle, dictate to you what your computer or other equipment needs
are. They are supposed to work for you, not vice-versa. As pointed
out, you probably only really need their IT support to give you
network access. You should be able to work with whatever operating
system your needs, tastes and ethics dictate. (The idea that the
institution would force you to use an operating system that has been
the subject of US Department of Justice litigation and would
simultaneously discourage you from using Linux, a Free Software
alternative, is particularly troubling).
Happy May Day. Time to raise the black flag and start slitting throats.
Bill
On May 1, 2009, at 7:40 AM, Link,Todd M wrote:
My home institution, in effort to cut costs, is making an effort to
push those of us on Macs onto PCs. Up till now they have been very
generous via a lease program for computer hardware, but that is
changing given the current economics. The institution currently
does not support Linux so we are limited to Mac and Windows OS.
We certainly make use of William Scotts crystallography on OS X
(thanks so much!) so our main argument is that we would have far
more support "out there" for crystallography on the Mac than we
would have for on Windows. But to be fair (and hopefully bolster
our argument) I should find out if that is true. I did not find an
equal web support page for Windows.
A volunteer survey will be distorted (probably by Mac fanboys like
me) so I am asking for peoples best guesstimate as to what % use of
Mac, Windows, or Linux is out there for data processing and model
building. Our core programs are coot, o, pymol, cns, and ccp4 but
we certainly make occasional use of other crystallography programs
out there (solve, epmr...)
Also what are the relative crystallography support for Mac vs.
Windows.
Thanks in advance.
Todd
--
Todd M. Link
Assistant Professor
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Univ. of Texas
(713) 834-6394
