Here is an idea that would give people the option to run Windows programs or Linux programs. There is no need for dual booting, emualtors or virtual machines.
Set up an LTSP server and install lots of applications on it. On the Windows workstations, install Cygwin/X (or have them run it from a Samba share). Configure it to run in Multi-Window mode on startup (startxwin.bat). Now install PuTTY and Plink. Create icons or batch files that use Plink to create an ssh session to the LTSP server and run applications from the Linux server on the local X server. This will allow people to run Linux applications and Windows applications simultaneously. They probably won't even know that it is a Linux application. I have partially tested this here at work. I haven't installed LTSP, but I do have a headless linux box under my desk. It works beautifully. There are still a few minor issues to sort out (like authentication and getting rid of the command prompt that opens up), but it looks very promising. Now if someone wants to run one of these applications at home they will have to install Linux :-) You could also have an etherboot floppy (or a boot EPROM in the ethernet cards) for each workstation. Then they can have a full KDE/Gnome/OtherDM desktop if they want. The other option is to run a full Linux Desktop on top of the Windows desktop. I have already documented this at http://clug.inode.co.nz/index.php/Cygwin. I have also just updated that doco with instructions for running Linux apps on your Windows desktop. Later David Kirk
