Best VM software for my needs

In a recent post, I talked about how I am looking for a hypervisor or something to run my VM’s on with local console access.

Based on the comments I am looking on perhaps reloading my laptop to Ubuntu or some other lower resource consuming host.  However I have a large requirement for Virtual Machines.

Here is what I am looking for and would love some help/direction:

1. Lightweight:  VMWare Workstation seems pretty heavy resource wise
2. Ability to have more then one snapshot:  Most of my VM’s have several snapshots based on what I am demoing
3. Graphical/Console Access

The VM’s that I need to run are:

1. Windows 7:  I know VMWare Workstation 7 allows for full Aero, is there another VMWare System that does this?
2. Windows XP – Might not be needed
3. Red Hat Server
4. At least 3 Windows Server VMs

Graphical Hypervisor or Virtual Machines??

The title might be misleading as I don’t know what to call what I’m looking for.  I run a lot of VM’s (Windows, RHEL, Ubuntu, etc) but right now my host OS (Windows 7) consumes a lot of memory.  I would like to run the most stripped down boot on my laptop and then run a large # of VM’s.

Things I need to run:

• Windows Client OS (see some of my previous posts on the reasoning behind this)
• Windows Server OSes (for multiple demos I must run: Altiris, Symantec DLP, etc)
• RHEL (for testing w/ Altiris)
• Kubuntu/Ubuntu for my contribution to the Ubuntu Community

As far as I understand most Hypervisors, ESX, Xen, Hyper-V boot to a stripped down OS, then allow you to run multiple virtual machines.  However I would have to use some other type of device to access those VMs.  Example:  RDP into my Windows Server running on ESXi.

My goal would be to boot into the Host OS, then start up the needed VM.  If I needed Windows I would power on my Windows Client and access/work in a graphical environment.

Does what I am looking for make sense?  Does something already exist?  Or am I just smoking something

I would fly this airline

In the Information Week issue dated Nov. 30, 2009 there is an article titled: “A Web Presence Needs Sizzle, For Shizzle,” (btw I hate when everything is capitalized when it isn’t needed) makes the case for some airline about sharing it’s data:

“If someone’s a frequent flier, the airline should, in theory, know that person’s routes, favorite flight times, frequency of upgrade requests (and success), how early he checks in online or in person… Being an Executive Platinum could put them in a club where they could connect with other frequent fliers, perhaps ones who fly similar routes or conduct similar types of business….”

I travel a lot for work and if there was an airline that did all this, sign me up.  Customer service (or lack thereof) is why I switched from United to Continental even though I was giving up status.  If I could better track my data (like TripIt) already does, could get special offers on routes I fly, instead of junk advertising on specials on routes I would never fly (San Fran to San Jose, when I live in Michigan) this would mean something to me. 

Also exposing this type of data, it may make the airlines better as more and more information is available for the public to slice and dice.