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Is "VirtualPC" worth it to emulate Windows programmes on my iMac?

  • 22-03-2009 9:45pm
    #1
    Seanie M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,795 ✭✭✭


    Any pros and cons I should know about using Virtual PC to allow me to use (important) Windows-only programmes on my iMac?

    Seanie.


Comments

  • #2
    ethernet
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,568 ✭✭✭ethernet


    Last time I checked, VirtualPC was Windows-only and it was for virtualisation of mostly Windows OSes and supported a handful of Linux distros.

    What you want for running a Windows app or two on a Mac is VirtualBox (free as in beer and speech) or commercial alternatives, such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion.


  • #3
    Thumper Long
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭Thumper Long


    Virtual Pc is an emulation suite for PPC based Macs so if you are not Intel then this is your only option, its effective but not as fluent as the intel based solutions. So if you are Intel then the solutions offered by ethernet will suit, personally I prefer the latest release of parallels.


  • #4
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,698 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    Also, OP, if you have an Intel Mac (which I assume you do) then you can install Windows on a separate partition with Bootcamp without any need for a virtualization app. You can then choose which OS (Windows or OSX) you want to use at start-up. VMware and Parallels are for running Windows within OS X without needing to reboot. Bootcamp is more compatible and offers better performance, but VMWare/Parallels are more convenient. But you can use both as required.

    I'd recommend VMWare over Parallels btw.

    Virtual PC for Mac is long gone. I think the last update was in 2006. MS abandoned the Mac version after the change-over to Intel. It was a load of crap anyway.


  • #5
    Seanie M
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,795 ✭✭✭Seanie M


    Thanks for the replies guys. It sounds like from your descriptions that I want something like VMware and Parallels to allow me to swap between programmes. It would not be needed frequently - with my line of work, maybe once or twice a week, but the need of rebooting to have that luxury would still be an annoyance.

    And yes, the new iMac's are Intel based.

    Seanie.


  • #6
    ronkmonster
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,181 ✭✭✭ronkmonster


    virtual box might suit more if your not going to use it much due to it being free.

    i use it at home and have no problems with it.


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  • #7
    Diarmuid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,981 ✭✭✭Diarmuid


    I use Virtualbox the odd time too. Great piece of software (esp for the price :-)


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