I want to compare Windows & Linux in VM's.

[Advice Pro]

I' ve got a netbook, Gateway Lt3119u, which came with Windows 7 Home Premium and want to know how it compares to Linux. I'll attach my system specs gotten with PC wizard. What I want for software is just a browser and pdf reader that highlights, so probably Opera and Orcut.

First, have you ever done such a comparison. Second, how best to simulate the comparison with my netbook specs

[mpack]

One warning: do not run internally timed benchmarks inside a VM. Simulated timers are not reliable for this purpose.

Anyway, compares in what respect? Against which Linux version?

[Advice Pro]

The Linux distro will be Lubuntu 12.04. I mostly just want to test internet speed. BTW, which browser do you think is the best for Linux. In a browser I want to view Google Books and save passwords.

[mpack]

Well, internet speed will be dictated by the physical NIC and by the broadband connection, and by the browser. The effect of the choice of guest OS will come way down the list. Also I would have thought you must use the same browser on both Windows and Linux - unless it's your intention to benchmark browsers?

I use Firefox, I've briefly tried other popular ones without being overly impressed. I absolutely hate Internet Explorer, but other than that I have no strong browser opinions. Horses for courses.

[Advice Pro]

It's not the internet speed that I want to compare, it's the browser speeds. Win 7 HP 64-bit weighs 3.09 GB and Ubuntu Minimal install is 1.5, so the browser everything should be twice as fast on Ubuntu.

[BillG]

It's not the internet speed that I want to compare, it's the browser speeds. Win 7 HP 64-bit weighs 3.09 GB and Ubuntu Minimal install is 1.5, so the browser everything should be twice as fast on Ubuntu.

Why would there be a relationship between browser speed and the disk size of the OS?