Bart on Linux, "I didn't try them myself, but I read the install instructions and they look pretty straightforward".
So, was there a part in the instructions that said WCG on Boinc works, it's straightforward?

Ok,
If there was no other way to run CEP2 I would do it,
or make one of my machines a linux box, thought about it
for some years now. But...since a win version is coming
out, I can play video games, go to school and think about
pulling weeds instead (and crunch many worthwhile projects
while I wait to POUNCE on some workunits)

First off, using VM ware slows the entire system down, so anyone using it may be able to run CEP2 but will be doing less work for WCG! The overhead is Windows + VM + Linux.
So I dont think it is sound advice to encourage people to crunch less, especially at this stage.
Secondly, VM ware is not for Windows novices never mind Linux newbies. VM ware comes with its own set of problems, and newbie Linux users don't need to deal with VM issues and Windows issues when trying to use Linux.
People that can run linux and want to, already run it, and not too many use VM ware.
Those that don't run linux, do not run it for a reason; they prefer another operating system.
If you must encourage newcomers to try Linux, encourage a fresh install of a recommended version that allows for the easy installation of Boinc and is known to be successful at running WCG.

While I am no Linux expert, I have used several versions including Ubuntu, Redhat, Susie and even BSD. Installation was always the easy bit. The problem is installing programs and drivers (it's a long way from windows and macs). I agree that for GUI fans, bashing at a command interface is like trying to decipher an unknown language.

Well, I'm a Linux and VMWare n00b myself and I'm no king of the command line either. When I need it, google is my best friend. But how deep you want to go into VMWare and Linux is for everyone themselves to determine, but the basics are plain simple as I described in my first "over-zealot" message in this thread ;) I do understand peoples fear for Linux, I've been there. But now I tried it, I see my fear wasn't based on reality. Now you can start filling peoples hearts with fear for geeky Linux again, but I think this is good for nothing and holds no water. All I'm trying to do is offer a temporary solution by showing people that really want to start crunching CEP2 while there's no Win-app yet that certain things, like installing K-/X-/Ubuntu on VMWare and Boinc is just as easy as installing Windows, things only work a little different. Of course I'm not talking about installing Gentoo from scratch here. And to those that, don't want to give it a go I have only one advice: Don't do it...

And as far as the efficiency of crunching on VMware concerned, it may slow down a little bit, but really not that much (as long as you have enough and assign it enough memory in the settings with the oh-so-easy slidebar). Otherwise I wouldn't be doing it, and certainly wouldn't be advocating it. And in a VMWare/Linux configuration there are no drivers to install, at least not over here. And if people who give a VMWare/Linux configuration a try are not happy with it, they're free to remove all of it from their machine again and continue the way they were crunching before. When there's a CEP2 app for Windows, I'll stop crunching this way anyway (but not stop looking into Linux).

And the WUBI thing again, it's going to create a dual-boot system, so you can't use it from inside Windows, so when WUBI is running, you can't use your Windows on that machine. For many people this will be not an option. Then people maybe better consider using andLiniux, but I already found out it only runs on x86 processors.

But to take away the burden of the installation of Linux and Boinc, I am willing to create a VMWare image with Boinc pre-installed, but I wouldn't know where to host it. So, any volunteers?

Bart

I think you need some reading comprehension help. What is negative about WCG in what I said? I was criticizing the notion that there is some sort of development "schedule", as though it were a Microsoft product. The economics are different when you are giving the service away free to whomever wants it. Of course the developers will be overloaded in that case.