Has someone heard "Free Virtual PC Software"?

[argon007]

When I bought the chinese computer magazine in Taiwan today, I saw "FREE Virtual PC Software" It is called "Bochs." Has someone heard this software?

If you have used it, can you tell me if it is good to use or not?

Thanks.

http://bochs.sourceforge.net/

(Out of topic: if you don't think it is good to use, then I will buy the VMWare Workstation 4.52)

[jaclaz]

Well, Bochs is not really a Virtual Machine, but rather an Emulator.

i.e. Virtual Machines, like VMWare or Connectix/Microsoft Virtual PC, simulate an actual "Hardware PC", you see the boot screen, you actually install a video card driver for the hardware it simulates, and so on.

Bochs is more like a software layer.

Hope the above makes some sense, however fact is that BOCHS is really slow.

If you plan to run on the virtual machine a simple OS, like DOS, and you have an average PC, it is ok, if you want to run WinXP inside the virtual thingy, you better get yourself either VMWARE or VIRTUAL PC. (I prefer the first over the latter, but it's just personal).

Before buying either, try Virtual PC, there is a downloadable time limited version.

If you want to have a try with BOCHS, why don't you try with REACTOS,

http://www.reactos.com/

If you want to run DOS in an emulator, try also DOSBOX,

http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/

though it has been developed for games, quite a lot of software runs in it.

jaclaz

[argon007]

Well, Bochs is not really a Virtual Machine, but rather an Emulator.

i.e. Virtual Machines, like VMWare or Connectix/Microsoft Virtual PC, simulate an actual "Hardware PC", you see the boot screen, you actually install a video card driver for the hardware it simulates, and so on.

Bochs is more like a software layer.

Hope the above makes some sense, however fact is that BOCHS is really slow.

If you plan to run on the virtual machine a simple OS, like DOS, and you have an average PC, it is ok, if you want to run WinXP inside the virtual thingy, you better get yourself either VMWARE or VIRTUAL PC. (I prefer the first over the latter, but it's just personal).

Before buying either, try Virtual PC, there is a downloadable time limited version.

If you want to have a try with BOCHS, why don't you try with REACTOS,

http://www.reactos.com/

If you want to run DOS in an emulator, try also DOSBOX,

http://dosbox.sourceforge.net/

though it has been developed for games, quite a lot of software runs in it.

jaclaz

Thank you for answering....

[prathapml]

BOCHS is seriously sick - too slow and buggy to be of any real use. I'd prefer VMware anyday, especially since VMware has binaries for windows as well as linux.

[GeneralMandible]

VMWare is great! I've set up Windows 95/03 Server/2k Server and SuSE Linux. Gives you a lot of room to play without buying lots of hardware.

[prathapml]

I agree with that, although I thought this thread was about "Free Virtual PC Software".

Such a pity that this one's only for the PC-related emulators - otherwise one could have mentioned a few Macintosh emulatiors as well.

[howser56]

VMWare is great!  I've set up Windows 95/03 Server/2k Server and SuSE Linux.  Gives you a lot of room to play without buying lots of hardware. 

I have to agree. VMware is a great product. Worth every penny.

[ceez]

Since this topic has changed from the original post.....I am putting my vote in for Virtual PC.... I've had no probs at all with it and runs any windows flavor that I throw in it!