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what can Virtual PC do?

G

GigaWire

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 25, 2001
386
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i need some user testimonies on what Virtual PC can do. Can you install all PC programs to it, and esentially run 2 OS's on one machine. The reason I ask is no way will I buy a PC, but i get alot of database CDs that only run in Windows. So would i be able to *install* them in virtual PC? Also, how fast is virtual PC, and what's the best flavor, 2000, XP pro?


thanks in the advance
 
VPC does allow you to run 2 os's on one machine. It does its job very well, its stable and you can install any software on it. That said its FAR from a speed demon. On my DP 800 Powermac, its usable, but not great. I was actually able to use powerpoint quite well on it. So its useable, but not a substitute for a PC. I;ve found Win2k is the best. XP has to much eyecandy that will bog it down. Win2k has all the compatiblity you need and not all the junk of xp.
 
Originally posted by hugemullens
VPC does allow you to run 2 os's on one machine. It does its job very well, its stable and you can install any software on it. That said its FAR from a speed demon. On my DP 800 Powermac, its usable, but not great. I was actually able to use powerpoint quite well on it. So its useable, but not a substitute for a PC. I;ve found Win2k is the best. XP has to much eyecandy that will bog it down. Win2k has all the compatiblity you need and not all the junk of xp.
Click to expand...

My sentiments exactly, it seems to run most programs quite well, except graphicaly heavy apps such as games and such due to its lack of support for directX (M$'s Fault) but i use it for lots of programs. One of the best thing about it is you dont have to se it up on the internet and it uses the macs internet connection from the off (gotta love that)...
 
even odd programs...

I can even run programs that are out of the ordinary such as Banking software. I run Barclays Bank software that lets me dial into their computers...This is corporate banking software...not personal banking stuff...

Its alot slower than a PC though, but I run it effectively on a TiBook 800 when I'm on the road...

Have a nice one :)
 
VPC runs everything well that isn't too hardware specific. (Don't try to install disc burning apps or a DVD player). It's extremely slow, so you can "use" office apps (like my bank's proprietary telebanking software) but it's not very convenient. Also, Windows USB handling thru VPC can be a hassle, but this is more a windows than a VPC problem.
On my 12" PB the overall performance is approx. of a 166MHz Pentium II while graphics performance is much less.
 
I'll tell you what it can't do, and that is support monitor spanning. Sucks because the only reason i use it is with autocad. Oh well, it works in my 'book on the road, but I was a little unhappy when I found that out. I guess i still gotta get a cheap pc box for autocad work.
 
VPC

I've been using VPC for about 10 years - I develop a Windows application on the Mac and test and deliver from VPC. VPC 6 is very stable, relatively quick to start from a saved state, uses a lot of memory - an extremely good excuse to buy more memory :D. I have 1GB in my TiBook and that was my excuse :p.

My experience is that VPC runs equivalent to a PC with 80-90% of the Mhz as the Mac you are running it on e.g. VPC runs at 600-700 Mhz on my 800 Mhz TiBook. That is a pretty old slow PC laptop - but it is enough to keep from buying a PC laptopl.
 
My experienc
VPC 5 with Win 2000 blows, both in 9 and 10. Lockups, Win2000 rebooting itself, program shutting down. Just stinks. I tied VPC 4, similar problems. I currently use VPC 3, in OS9, and it run beautifully.
Just my .02
 
Originally posted by Roger1
My experienc
VPC 5 with Win 2000 blows, both in 9 and 10. Lockups, Win2000 rebooting itself, program shutting down. Just stinks. I tied VPC 4, similar problems. I currently use VPC 3, in OS9, and it run beautifully.
Just my .02
Click to expand...

Concur with your experience with VPC5 in OSX - VPC W2K has only failed once in two years and then it fixed itself - I was very impressed.:cool:
 
OK, Win 2000 runs a LOT faster than XP in VPC. Also, run it in OS 9 not X, there's a huge difference.

Several weeks ago everyone was talking about an OS X version of RealPC. I haven't heard anything about it recently, what's the story with it?
 
I use it for Director on the PC... ideal for cross-platform dev.

And with 2 screens with drag and drop functionality it's like having a real PC next to my PowerBook! but sometimes more convenient than actually having a PC! Just slower that's all!
 
I have a 700 fp iMac with 776 ram. I'm running win98. However, KaZaa is crashing all the times. Is it smart to run Win2K? Any suggestions for KaZaa?
Thanx
 
VPC 6 is one of the coolest apps I've ever used. Very elegant. XP looks very nice at 1440x900.

With 512MB Ram allocated on a 1GHz iMac it's running like a 266Mhz Pentium at best. Good enough for CBTs, but I wouldn't try anytyhing heavy. Internet access through Airport is excellent.

USB support was seamless with my HP printer. I could probably increase responsiveness by lowering the resolution from 1440x900x32, but it's looks great and is crisper than OS X.

All-in-all not bad. I'd be really interested in seeing the performance you can get with a 970.
 
I'm running it with XP Pro and I've found it to be very stable. I'd liken the speed to a 400mhz Pentium III. I only use it for a couple of must have apps, incuding Visio and Act!, and those are fine. I wouldn't want to do image editing or music stuff with it, though....
 
thanks for all the responses, you've cleared up alot of the advertising hype.
 
Originally posted by gerror
I have a 700 fp iMac with 776 ram. I'm running win98. However, KaZaa is crashing all the times. Is it smart to run Win2K? Any suggestions for KaZaa?
Thanx
Click to expand...

I've had the same problem running Win 98 (Virtual PC 5 and 6).
Since I'm using VPC 6 running Win 2K (SP3) KaZaA runs fine.
 
Originally posted by MacsRgr8
I've had the same problem running Win 98 (Virtual PC 5 and 6).
Since I'm using VPC 6 running Win 2K (SP3) KaZaA runs fine.
Click to expand...

hmm, i thought this was just me... perhaps kazaa just doesn't do 98 well? i'll have to find a friend with win2k now, i'm certainly not paying for that kind of trashware... at least now i know it's not something i was doing wrong...

:)
pnw
 
Originally posted by paulwhannel
hmm, i thought this was just me... perhaps kazaa just doesn't do 98 well? i'll have to find a friend with win2k now, i'm certainly not paying for that kind of trashware... at least now i know it's not something i was doing wrong...

:)
pnw
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's strange. i do remember that KaZaA did run on a (real)PC running Win ME (of all OS'ses...)
 
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