virtualization.... interesting, or just the next fad?

Started playing with virtualization last night. Using vmware, since I have a windows desktop that rarely gets used, and wish I could get more mileage out of it. Sits unused primarily because I have too many computers, but y'know...

Installed Ubuntu on it last night in a VM container. Once I understood how vmware interpreted toggling the mouse between environments, wasn't too bad. Some confusion on the mounting of the CD drive in the client vs host computer, but kinda expected that. Haven't tried any remote management yet, but that's next.

Maybe I'll end up reducing the 12 computers in my basement (a year ago) to 5 (now) to just a couple! Since I've stopped hosting anything from the house (gave up the static IP), it strikes me as frivolous to have so many running but getting so little use....