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Touchscreen Mod and VirtualBox vs VMware

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 – running time 21:08
This time on the show Jason Appelbaum joins with a touchscreen LCD mod that's a lot easier than one might think. Then Darren and Matt pit their desktop virtualization platforms, Virtual Box and VMware Workstation, against eachother over a game of Halo.

Segments

Touchscreen LCD

Adding a touch screen to a LCD is pretty straight forward and fairy inexpensive. There are a few different places to get the touch screen kit, we got ours from ebay for around 80 bucks + shipping. Dealextreme.com has a small selection of smaller touch screen kit perfect for netbooks, because they come with a controller made to connect internally instead of external usb. When buying a kit to make sure it comes with the matching controller to avoid any head aches.

02:55

Play

Desktop Virtualization: VirtualBox vs Workstation

When it comes to desktop virtualization Matt and I think very differently. While I agree that VMware's ESX and (free) ESXi solutions are killer, I can't seem to justify the price of target="_blank">VMware Workstation when Sun's Virtual Box is free, open source, full featured, super speedy and rock solid. Matt doesn't agree.

Matt wouldn't agree with my assessment, but he doesn't write the show notes so I'll just go ahead and link to this totally unbiased comparison.

13:30

Play

Highlights

video game: 2:27
touch screen: 0:41, 2:58, 8:27, 10:15
hong kong: 4:04, 8:46
stylus: 3:17, 10:46

Automatically Generated Transcript

May not be 100% accurate

" War."

" Yeah that's for wired camera reason. Can't -- I remember. -- What you've done it before you -- this matter what can we do this week in law today the -- the do. Yeah. Little Rock creator must be cynical yeah anywhere on. We'll hope we'll be nice yeah. You that's opportunities in self image is not mom and -- can view touch screen LZ mark are okay good. --"

" Brought to -- go to assist express brutal legend available wrong October 13 a domain dot com. Got a great idea it all starts with a great domain."

" It. It. Well."

" Supposedly good. Okay."

" It splits them all of."

" Oh yeah that's the way toward reality."

" Bob rock -- but I think it's gonna -- months. Old. -- yeah we're gonna work. --"

" Guys -- really. Please. All. Yeah he's good news. This."

" Right through it."

" Battled to a world of heavy metal. Brutal legend it's the new epic action video game. VA and legendary game designer can shapers double fine productions. Featuring the voice of Jack Black is legendary rock and roll -- Eddie -- brutal legend is now available from brutal legend dot com for exclusive brutal legend footage from. Revision 3 shows good revision3.com. Slash alleged."

" Honestly I thought converting an LCD into a touch screen was going to be big expensive ordeal. And to prove you wrong it's -- bomb. A good friend coming down to let him via. -- actually it's actually really easy. You've done this before Q which he. EG yes because they actually have small keyboard my big hand just kind of you know file Moore he works I thought you really interesting that a stylus or finger to be able to navigate. And I guess it is purposes project with perfect we are big Unix system involving a Mac Pro lot treat humans but that. Requires us to use in nineteen games specifically for the resolution. A monitor this this -- of Xbox here all. And the software that Ares was so here Paul just what the camera needs -- that little touchpad mouse thing yeah. So I -- I'm glad that this worked out what it would come apart when we get used to make it work so all your need is the actual touch panel. And they usually come with controllers if they don't come with controllers it's pretty easy to get one. And you just have to match up this one is the four wire resistant touch -- actually go straight -- your in this. Just pick this up from -- vendors came from Hong Kong took it took forever but what hundred dollars an -- eight -- to the point that if they don't aren't that expensive and smaller ego. Less money they are it this is in nineteen you've seen his biggest when he too well the bigger. And I've seen as -- thirty Q but that kind of blows the you know the budget right -- I mean for 2250. Bucks Oreo one point five for fifteen like fifteen dollars twenty dollars that gives you an idea of the range what -- that is the project that he he. You might wanna tackle some -- tackle a project like this. Will this work on any monitor. For the most part as long as you flat service to apply the touch class -- it should work just -- so maybe not so much with your old fifteen years you with the rebels screen we have with with -- you just the -- put it on in -- and bending. A console so this particular display and why this was well suited for this project well. This is -- really easy because it's a cheap display. Be coming up are really easy to battle just pops right off so it it comes scary as sticking a screwdriver to back it makes cracking noise -- images. It pops off the loathing human mind if you wanna remove. The the foot first okay from that it's it's usually these four screws the foot comes right off and then sometimes there's one or two screws holding. The -- okay once you've got the front as the law. Please -- guilty. Well the LTV is self contained inside of its own little metal case. So it's actually fairly -- house fairly safely so usually there's speakers. Usually they're screws here in here that will allow light years port straight out on the other side as well. Which is trying to do is gain access. To the back Rick actually have to take -- he added I was -- theoretically -- you're trying to put the the controller -- little controller -- but that big. And -- just like that wicket gun sticks its exact size of -- to what it does is it takes four wires in order for 56 or eight. Wires and depending on what are potentially yet and it converts it over to you. I US bit. Three we just have -- has become -- right out of here and eat it up there always these. Yeah I would go yeah so all I did took some so. Exact and I -- little hole and -- wire through to -- up. Had a not a you know holes were talking out excellent. I -- similar to do this if this wasn't -- that's -- specialized project right desperately it will use the extension yeah just something disconnect or you could even manage manage acts of -- Nice. Now what about putting it all back together I'm assuming that we have to paste special attention into how we. Merge these two pieces so the first -- wanna be when future your controller board attached to back somewhere if you don't wanna make sure it sits flat into the battle. So once it's it's flat into the the back part of the Basil arching the back for a housing you're gonna want to. Go hand cleaner the surface because once you clean it. But a microfiber. Not. Not with an accident nothing of great shelves. So once it's clean you're gonna go on where your glass in line up along the edge here you can actually hear the difference between the the just a flat glass. And where the touch -- against you're gonna wanna lined up. Pretty much heat resistant. All where it. Then you pretty much you want it to keep it down along the bit. Along the -- so it's not moving shifting -- put this thing together. An important thing to remember is when you go to the -- black plastic after you've got at all takedown you get up to class on. Don't push too hard it's not gonna sit back the way it was because you don't wanna crack right now this doesn't look at it but I do notice you we've got electric here. And I -- it did you ever happened to on the hot glue gun before. Yeah so what I did in order to prevent having a rattle the -- it's not really on there it's just kind sitting on their award to the clips are and I filled the -- the gap with hot glue and then ran all the way around electrical tape. So the places like on the sides we're didn't fit in there really wasn't gap it was more of the distance from where should be in considering. I just when I had ran around with it. Now is this going to work. For my iMac -- my -- he's for what the company that we ordered this from gave us a touch screen that they've actually got drivers for Mac. One XPC. And they had thirteen 64 bit version for one X. Excellent and there it because these up here would give -- but -- nine -- there is they're starting snow leopard drivers and windows seven hours. When -- go all right so even though it came from eBay from Hong Kong -- crap known I don't have that up. Alright well. Now -- exactly work because it's wise to just to show its human interface device like that emulate a mouse if for the most part. What you're doing more and more so than drivers is you're gonna need a and calibration software so that basically what you can do is coming years. Okay this part of the screen is the top the top left and this is the top right. Bottom the bottom right bottom left so that it's not going on touching here where you actually touching right couldn't get this thing first hooked up. And and we need you first look this up please you're gonna wanna test to make sure you've got the white cited service. You're gonna notice that if you touch here it's gonna make -- mouse while somewhere else. -- that's a big things calibration and there's usually four point -- 28 point or 25 point calibration that an accredited out of my pocket human hand I. Sit there forever okay wanted to open to little. -- Now if if you're gonna do this again is there any lessons learned after doing a couple of these panels are you do this differently. -- the big thing to keep in mind is where cables coming out of and where they're gonna fit. Inside the back because if you look in the back this one. There's not. That much room here so they pass wed the board exactly considering detected it through here group here but in this topic it's really not that -- So I got I had to reposition -- were a couple times. A touch screen technology is using my going to be able to do it you Apple to cut these -- a multi touch this is a resisted single touch so it only responses to one when it. The and it does work with styles is this has existed okay and as opposed to capacity of capacity requires you being the other. Point so instead of taking two layers it's pushing them together. To future teacher could point you're taking one layer in your finger and smashing it to remembering. And better and there's that's why the iPhone doesn't work with a stylus -- clubs with gloves -- how that technology actually worked late. Like how does -- know we're. You know your finger adds up so -- in this case there's two positives to negatives. And it's actually getting the voltage difference so let's pushing here you get a different voltage on one lead on the other and that'll give your -- why. Okay a person up here -- might get you know wonderful note you know it down here -- at home or whatnot and it. We in the exit like I'd just figures it out that's but the operations -- exactly it's a you can nowhere -- where. Excellent oh I'm excited to be putting this majority in the consulate Nepal's excited -- have to be using little thing little tiny touchpad anymore. So. Thank you so much for coming down and actually any time to having you down more often now because I hear in the area yet just -- just outside the city excellence is that a ten hours. To me in cash. A two and change but it was on the beltway as we -- Excellent well thank you so much am I where can people find work your exploits just checking on jinx now while dot com or follow me on Twitter twitter.com slash she's now one. Excellent and for more information about any of the segments -- was talked about on today's episode go ahead fighters and attack Hak5 dot org."

" Yeah. It's pretty well diet that's ridiculous. They did want to research so it turns out you can lose a lot early on as you can see. As always -- freeze I can't lose it. I figured out -- quick yet. Its steepest ever actually the best. However I'm sure the world are registered -- op diet dot com. No -- motorists are resolved I have come first -- cookies -- moron. To say it's god. Pop. I don't know costs domain registries and all all the yes."

" But dot -- for less than ten bucks without -- up selling. Reseller dedicated servers received panel and killer DPS hosting with root access. Domain dot com is the place to go next time you're looking to start a website or build your new massively multi skilled side business. Best of all there offering Hak5 and sweet deals on domain names private registrations and web hosting. Just -- domain dot com and use coupon code Hak5 that's H a K five that check out to get 15% off your order. Got a great idea it all starts with a great domain. Domain dot com."

" Some do and development next you incitement. I had twelve. Virtual machines. And he's crafts offers. For the loss yeah. Didn't hurt ourselves. Really yeah just like I'm gonna you listen to your goals. Controller Canadians. Effective -- except. That's reason earthen platforms after you -- when you -- Twitter about it and realize how many. That's. Amazing and -- to mind. Minor incremental upgrade and are you kidding this outrageous thing about you every time I see your stuff disclosing where you'll notice the beautiful thing everything works and and I don't know percolate look at. It three point 018 point thumping once I downloaded and he."

" War."

" Yeah that's for wired camera reason. Can't -- I remember. -- What you've done it before you -- this matter what can we do this week in law today the -- the do. Yeah. Little Rock creator must be cynical yeah anywhere on. We'll hope we'll be nice yeah. You that's opportunities in self image is not mom and -- can view touch screen LZ mark are okay good. --"

" Brought to -- go to assist express brutal legend available wrong October 13 a domain dot com. Got a great idea it all starts with a great domain."

" It. It. Well."

" Supposedly good. Okay."

" It splits them all of."

" Oh yeah that's the way toward reality."

" Bob rock -- but I think it's gonna -- months. Old. -- yeah we're gonna work. --"

" Guys -- really. Please. All. Yeah he's good news. This."

" Right through it."

" Battled to a world of heavy metal. Brutal legend it's the new epic action video game. VA and legendary game designer can shapers double fine productions. Featuring the voice of Jack Black is legendary rock and roll -- Eddie -- brutal legend is now available from brutal legend dot com for exclusive brutal legend footage from. Revision 3 shows good revision3.com. Slash alleged."

" Honestly I thought converting an LCD into a touch screen was going to be big expensive ordeal. And to prove you wrong it's -- bomb. A good friend coming down to let him via. -- actually it's actually really easy. You've done this before Q which he. EG yes because they actually have small keyboard my big hand just kind of you know file Moore he works I thought you really interesting that a stylus or finger to be able to navigate. And I guess it is purposes project with perfect we are big Unix system involving a Mac Pro lot treat humans but that. Requires us to use in nineteen games specifically for the resolution. A monitor this this -- of Xbox here all. And the software that Ares was so here Paul just what the camera needs -- that little touchpad mouse thing yeah. So I -- I'm glad that this worked out what it would come apart when we get used to make it work so all your need is the actual touch panel. And they usually come with controllers if they don't come with controllers it's pretty easy to get one. And you just have to match up this one is the four wire resistant touch -- actually go straight -- your in this. Just pick this up from -- vendors came from Hong Kong took it took forever but what hundred dollars an -- eight -- to the point that if they don't aren't that expensive and smaller ego. Less money they are it this is in nineteen you've seen his biggest when he too well the bigger. And I've seen as -- thirty Q but that kind of blows the you know the budget right -- I mean for 2250. Bucks Oreo one point five for fifteen like fifteen dollars twenty dollars that gives you an idea of the range what -- that is the project that he he. You might wanna tackle some -- tackle a project like this. Will this work on any monitor. For the most part as long as you flat service to apply the touch class -- it should work just -- so maybe not so much with your old fifteen years you with the rebels screen we have with with -- you just the -- put it on in -- and bending. A console so this particular display and why this was well suited for this project well. This is -- really easy because it's a cheap display. Be coming up are really easy to battle just pops right off so it it comes scary as sticking a screwdriver to back it makes cracking noise -- images. It pops off the loathing human mind if you wanna remove. The the foot first okay from that it's it's usually these four screws the foot comes right off and then sometimes there's one or two screws holding. The -- okay once you've got the front as the law. Please -- guilty. Well the LTV is self contained inside of its own little metal case. So it's actually fairly -- house fairly safely so usually there's speakers. Usually they're screws here in here that will allow light years port straight out on the other side as well. Which is trying to do is gain access. To the back Rick actually have to take -- he added I was -- theoretically -- you're trying to put the the controller -- little controller -- but that big. And -- just like that wicket gun sticks its exact size of -- to what it does is it takes four wires in order for 56 or eight. Wires and depending on what are potentially yet and it converts it over to you. I US bit. Three we just have -- has become -- right out of here and eat it up there always these. Yeah I would go yeah so all I did took some so. Exact and I -- little hole and -- wire through to -- up. Had a not a you know holes were talking out excellent. I -- similar to do this if this wasn't -- that's -- specialized project right desperately it will use the extension yeah just something disconnect or you could even manage manage acts of -- Nice. Now what about putting it all back together I'm assuming that we have to paste special attention into how we. Merge these two pieces so the first -- wanna be when future your controller board attached to back somewhere if you don't wanna make sure it sits flat into the battle. So once it's it's flat into the the back part of the Basil arching the back for a housing you're gonna want to. Go hand cleaner the surface because once you clean it. But a microfiber. Not. Not with an accident nothing of great shelves. So once it's clean you're gonna go on where your glass in line up along the edge here you can actually hear the difference between the the just a flat glass. And where the touch -- against you're gonna wanna lined up. Pretty much heat resistant. All where it. Then you pretty much you want it to keep it down along the bit. Along the -- so it's not moving shifting -- put this thing together. An important thing to remember is when you go to the -- black plastic after you've got at all takedown you get up to class on. Don't push too hard it's not gonna sit back the way it was because you don't wanna crack right now this doesn't look at it but I do notice you we've got electric here. And I -- it did you ever happened to on the hot glue gun before. Yeah so what I did in order to prevent having a rattle the -- it's not really on there it's just kind sitting on their award to the clips are and I filled the -- the gap with hot glue and then ran all the way around electrical tape. So the places like on the sides we're didn't fit in there really wasn't gap it was more of the distance from where should be in considering. I just when I had ran around with it. Now is this going to work. For my iMac -- my -- he's for what the company that we ordered this from gave us a touch screen that they've actually got drivers for Mac. One XPC. And they had thirteen 64 bit version for one X. Excellent and there it because these up here would give -- but -- nine -- there is they're starting snow leopard drivers and windows seven hours. When -- go all right so even though it came from eBay from Hong Kong -- crap known I don't have that up. Alright well. Now -- exactly work because it's wise to just to show its human interface device like that emulate a mouse if for the most part. What you're doing more and more so than drivers is you're gonna need a and calibration software so that basically what you can do is coming years. Okay this part of the screen is the top the top left and this is the top right. Bottom the bottom right bottom left so that it's not going on touching here where you actually touching right couldn't get this thing first hooked up. And and we need you first look this up please you're gonna wanna test to make sure you've got the white cited service. You're gonna notice that if you touch here it's gonna make -- mouse while somewhere else. -- that's a big things calibration and there's usually four point -- 28 point or 25 point calibration that an accredited out of my pocket human hand I. Sit there forever okay wanted to open to little. -- Now if if you're gonna do this again is there any lessons learned after doing a couple of these panels are you do this differently. -- the big thing to keep in mind is where cables coming out of and where they're gonna fit. Inside the back because if you look in the back this one. There's not. That much room here so they pass wed the board exactly considering detected it through here group here but in this topic it's really not that -- So I got I had to reposition -- were a couple times. A touch screen technology is using my going to be able to do it you Apple to cut these -- a multi touch this is a resisted single touch so it only responses to one when it. The and it does work with styles is this has existed okay and as opposed to capacity of capacity requires you being the other. Point so instead of taking two layers it's pushing them together. To future teacher could point you're taking one layer in your finger and smashing it to remembering. And better and there's that's why the iPhone doesn't work with a stylus -- clubs with gloves -- how that technology actually worked late. Like how does -- know we're. You know your finger adds up so -- in this case there's two positives to negatives. And it's actually getting the voltage difference so let's pushing here you get a different voltage on one lead on the other and that'll give your -- why. Okay a person up here -- might get you know wonderful note you know it down here -- at home or whatnot and it. We in the exit like I'd just figures it out that's but the operations -- exactly it's a you can nowhere -- where. Excellent oh I'm excited to be putting this majority in the consulate Nepal's excited -- have to be using little thing little tiny touchpad anymore. So. Thank you so much for coming down and actually any time to having you down more often now because I hear in the area yet just -- just outside the city excellence is that a ten hours. To me in cash. A two and change but it was on the beltway as we -- Excellent well thank you so much am I where can people find work your exploits just checking on jinx now while dot com or follow me on Twitter twitter.com slash she's now one. Excellent and for more information about any of the segments -- was talked about on today's episode go ahead fighters and attack Hak5 dot org."

" Yeah. It's pretty well diet that's ridiculous. They did want to research so it turns out you can lose a lot early on as you can see. As always -- freeze I can't lose it. I figured out -- quick yet. Its steepest ever actually the best. However I'm sure the world are registered -- op diet dot com. No -- motorists are resolved I have come first -- cookies -- moron. To say it's god. Pop. I don't know costs domain registries and all all the yes."

" But dot -- for less than ten bucks without -- up selling. Reseller dedicated servers received panel and killer DPS hosting with root access. Domain dot com is the place to go next time you're looking to start a website or build your new massively multi skilled side business. Best of all there offering Hak5 and sweet deals on domain names private registrations and web hosting. Just -- domain dot com and use coupon code Hak5 that's H a K five that check out to get 15% off your order. Got a great idea it all starts with a great domain. Domain dot com."

" Some do and development next you incitement. I had twelve. Virtual machines. And he's crafts offers. For the loss yeah. Didn't hurt ourselves. Really yeah just like I'm gonna you listen to your goals. Controller Canadians. Effective -- except. That's reason earthen platforms after you -- when you -- Twitter about it and realize how many. That's. Amazing and -- to mind. Minor incremental upgrade and are you kidding this outrageous thing about you every time I see your stuff disclosing where you'll notice the beautiful thing everything works and and I don't know percolate look at. It three point 018 point thumping once I downloaded and he."

mari1ee

Started discussion: October 14, 2009 @ 9:15am GMT

Episode 609: Touchscreen Mod and VirtualBox vs VMware [Discussion]

This time on the show Jason Appelbaum joins with a touchscreen LCD mod that's a lot easier than one might think. Then Darren and Matt pit their desktop virtualization platforms, Virtual Box and VMware Workstation, against eachother over a game of Halo.

Watch or download this episode now!

masterevilace
about 1 month ago
I feel like the VB vs VMWare segment was full of fail.

VMWare Player is crap. Free doesn't mean anything when the product is worthless, and I don't believe it can even make a VM... Matt said it was added "like a week ago", but the latest version is over a month old? I can't find anything recent that even supports that theory
VMWare Workstation is 190$... If you're not in a business setting, you probably won't like that price.

Darren mentions he could even play Duke Nukem 3D with VirtualBox's 3d acceleration.. but this wouldn't matter as the game is only 2.5D (not real 3D) and isn't even hardware accelerated. There are windows ports for this game, but at that point you might as well not even play in a VM unless you're not using windows.

Matt was right on the money with VirtualBox support. Small incremental versions have caused havoc with many systems. From simple things breaking--such as not being able to modify the host key (which toggles between sending input to the guest, and not).. to not being able to boot a VM.. to possible VM corruption. It's pretty bad.

The latest version works great, however. I run a dual-core VM with a gig of ram running XP 32bit which hosts all of my programming/work applications, and there are no issues for me.

VirtualBox is a fully-fledged VM software and completely free. It's easier and quicker to setup and be done with it in comparison to VMWare products. At the consumer level, I don't think it's beatable.
computoman
about 1 month ago
I still use qemu. it does not require a kernel mod like vb does. I want as few as possible messing with the kernel.
cocopuffz
about 1 month ago
I believe VirtualBox runs DirectX 9c... and actually I think 7 is the one that is broken, atleast on my machine. I'm not sure what that dude means by "virtualbox has more overhead... you can run Vbox headless and create, manage and backup in the CLI. Either way I'm sure VMware is great... but Vbox is free and works great.
ghelyar
about 1 month ago
I agree that the VM showdown segment was a bit crap. Some new things are hits, some are misses. This is just a big miss.

The sound levels were also off a bit I think throughout the whole episode.

Jason's looking back and forth into the lens was also a bit off-putting but you can't really blame the show for that.



I realise the VM segment was probably roughly scripted but really, Darren hasn't heard of the free VMWare Server product which has let you create VMs for years and offers almost exactly the same functionality as Workstation?



I find that VMWare is the best product by far. Half of the ones that run on a Linux host won't run a Windows guest well (actually this may have changed in recent years, I haven't looked at them for a while) including Xen and also 64bit support is usually terrible on them. The latest versions of VMWare will let you run 64bit guests even if the host is 32bit, as long as the host CPU supports something like Intel VT
davmoo
about 1 month ago
I'm sorry to be down on the show and all, but I was hoping for a real comparison of VirtualBox and VMware. Not two dudes sitting on a couch talking about it while playing a video game. I got more out of watching Snubs in the background.

Matt does make one good point, though. There are many business customers who would rather pay for a product and have good support in return, instead of having a free product which relies on "community" tech support.
ghelyar
about 1 month ago
The community support argument doesn't make that much sense anyway. The VMWare community support is amazing (and you get commercial support on top). You are pretty much guaranteed to get 2 or 3 complete, working answers within a few minutes. My biggest problem with it is deciding who gets the "Correct" and who gets the "Helpful" points (usually whoever answered first gets "correct" from me ;) )
davmoo
about 1 month ago
Here's the main question I was hoping would be answered in the comparison...

Does VMware require a kernel patch like Virtual Box and Xen?
ghelyar
about 1 month ago
In reply to davmoo:
Here's the main question I was hoping would be answered in the comparison...

Does VMware require a kernel patch like Virtual Box and Xen?


No, it runs everything out of the box, from various types of DOS to BSD, Linux, Windows etc. I don't think there even are any kernel patches available for them. You can install VMWare tools to the guest but that just does things like improve graphics performance and allow you to automatically move your mouse on and off the window rather than having to actually click on it to use the guest's mouse.
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