Comments on: Not So Virtual PC http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc The Weblog of Erik J. Barzeski Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:50:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: infurious http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc#comment-18562 infurious Thu, 06 Apr 2006 12:14:32 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc/#comment-18562 <strong>Boot Camp</strong> Everyone has blogged about Boot Camp. Give it a rest Boot Camp

Everyone has blogged about Boot Camp. Give it a rest

]]> By: Ralph Scheuer http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc#comment-18561 Ralph Scheuer Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:50:00 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc/#comment-18561 A more interesting thing than Apple's Boot Camp might be Parallels Workstation. They are reportedly going to post a timebomb but free Mac beta tomorrow (can be found <a href="http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/">here</a>. Parallels uses the Vanderpool hardware virtualization features of the new Intel CPUs and lets you run Windows and Mac OS X at the same time. As this is only going to cost around 50 USD and probably fast enough for most things (I don't care about games at all) because it has CPU virtualization support, this will be the route I'm going to take. I won't reboot to launch an occasional Windows app. (No, I'm not affiliated with them in any way. I just wanted to tell you all in case you are interested because I'm really excited about such a solution). A more interesting thing than Apple's Boot Camp might be Parallels Workstation. They are reportedly going to post a timebomb but free Mac beta tomorrow (can be found here.

Parallels uses the Vanderpool hardware virtualization features of the new Intel CPUs and lets you run Windows and Mac OS X at the same time. As this is only going to cost around 50 USD and probably fast enough for most things (I don't care about games at all) because it has CPU virtualization support, this will be the route I'm going to take. I won't reboot to launch an occasional Windows app.

(No, I'm not affiliated with them in any way. I just wanted to tell you all in case you are interested because I'm really excited about such a solution).

]]> By: Nathan http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc#comment-18560 Nathan Wed, 05 Apr 2006 23:22:41 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc/#comment-18560 The problem with virtualization is that you can't virtualize a video card. So anything that heavily uses the video card is going to be slow. I don't know how this would affect most programs except games, but Vista is supposed to be very graphics-card heavy, so you may not be able to run it with any performance using virtualization. Microsoft is focusing on this, so they must have a solution, but so far everything they are doing is at the OS level, not the hypervisor level. Darwine would fair better, because it runs programs at the OS level, but Vista could still cause some serious complications and [Dar]Wine is never going to be a great general purpose solution. For specific applications and non-mission critical data, it will be fine, but I wouldn't use it in my business. The problem with virtualization is that you can't virtualize a video card. So anything that heavily uses the video card is going to be slow. I don't know how this would affect most programs except games, but Vista is supposed to be very graphics-card heavy, so you may not be able to run it with any performance using virtualization. Microsoft is focusing on this, so they must have a solution, but so far everything they are doing is at the OS level, not the hypervisor level.

Darwine would fair better, because it runs programs at the OS level, but Vista could still cause some serious complications and [Dar]Wine is never going to be a great general purpose solution. For specific applications and non-mission critical data, it will be fine, but I wouldn't use it in my business.

]]> By: Matt Simpson http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc#comment-18559 Matt Simpson Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:49:02 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc/#comment-18559 Oh, I dunno. Virtualization is neat, but I doubt it'd do well for games and the like. Oh, I dunno. Virtualization is neat, but I doubt it'd do well for games and the like.

]]> By: Arto http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc#comment-18558 Arto Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:48:29 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc/#comment-18558 A virus couldn't "cross over" per se from Windows to OS X since, as you remarked, it won't be able to read or write the OS X partition (the necessary code for "raw" HFS+ writing would bloat the virus "somewhat" ;-)) Nonetheless, if a virus decided to erase your partition table, you might be screwed. Virtualization is the way to go. A virus couldn't "cross over" per se from Windows to OS X since, as you remarked, it won't be able to read or write the OS X partition (the necessary code for "raw" HFS+ writing would bloat the virus "somewhat" ;-))

Nonetheless, if a virus decided to erase your partition table, you might be screwed. Virtualization is the way to go.

]]> By: Byron Ellis http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc#comment-18557 Byron Ellis Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:17:13 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc/#comment-18557 Yeah, but that niche is named "University IT" so its in Apple's interests to address that. Now, instead of split Mac/PC computer labs they can consolidate, which is a bunch of money for Apple and helps to address perennial space problems endemic to basically any mature University. Yeah, but that niche is named "University IT" so its in Apple's interests to address that. Now, instead of split Mac/PC computer labs they can consolidate, which is a bunch of money for Apple and helps to address perennial space problems endemic to basically any mature University.

]]> By: Derek http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc#comment-18556 Derek Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:06:14 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc/#comment-18556 I think we're all waiting for Darwine. Most people probably just want to use productivity apps and games on Windows, not the integrated Viral Explorer with ActiveX Worm plugin. I think we're all waiting for Darwine. Most people probably just want to use productivity apps and games on Windows, not the integrated Viral Explorer with ActiveX Worm plugin.

]]> By: daria http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc#comment-18555 daria Wed, 05 Apr 2006 16:48:11 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc/#comment-18555 i saw this earlier today and i totally agree with you, erik. i'm not giving up my virtual PC.. it is definitely a smarter solution, for me anyway. i saw this earlier today and i totally agree with you, erik. i'm not giving up my virtual PC.. it is definitely a smarter solution, for me anyway.

]]> By: Clark Cox http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc#comment-18554 Clark Cox Wed, 05 Apr 2006 15:44:01 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc/#comment-18554 I'd imagine that a Windows virus could screw up the mac side of things (i.e. what's to stop a Windows program from just writing zeros to the non-NTFS/FAT partitions on connected drives?) I'd imagine that a Windows virus could screw up the mac side of things (i.e. what's to stop a Windows program from just writing zeros to the non-NTFS/FAT partitions on connected drives?)

]]> By: Daniel http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc#comment-18553 Daniel Wed, 05 Apr 2006 15:36:44 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/04/05/not_so_virtual_pc/#comment-18553 I agree, but I'm having one heckuva time getting <a href="http://www.kberg.ch/q/">Q</a> running on my core duo mini... I'm sure it's user error. I really look forward to having Virtual PC available for my Intel box. I agree, but I'm having one heckuva time getting Q running on my core duo mini... I'm sure it's user error. I really look forward to having Virtual PC available for my Intel box.

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