VMware

[Jeff Mottle]

I suppose this is not news to all of you, but I've never used it before. I was just turned on to VMware. http://www.vmware.com/landing/ws4_home.html

 

It's a virtual computer within your computer so you can install apps and try setting and compatibility issues without having to have another machine or worry about killing your own. You actually install another OS copy inside it. It stores everythign within a single file and that file is your virtual drive.

 

I'm messing with it for Windows Server 2003 to see how it works, but it would also be great to install all those apps you want to test but don't want to install for fear of bogging down your system or breaking something. This app is WAAY cool. It's about $300 but I can see it being worth it.

 

 

Here's another free rip off too. Probably not as reliable...but free.

 

http://chitchat.tripod.co.jp/vmware/vdk.html#download

 

[ August 21, 2003, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: Jeff Mottle ]

[bigcahunak]

I've been using VMware for years.

This is exactly what the name says it is - a virtual OS - install whatever you want on it, then when you close the session it asks you if you want to save any settings for future sessions, or completely wipe it off. You can create multiple virtual machines... just dont try to render on all of them... same CPU...

It also creates a virtual network adapter in your network places, so you can "network" your original computer with the virtual one.

Nice product if you tend to download demos and such.

[Jeff Mottle]

I played a lot with apple emulators and stuff and even them didn't work good every time..

No I have been using it all weekend, and it's EXACTLY like another computer. Bascially everything software and network wise it acts as a seperate workstation. As far as CPU, RAM, and external ports and harddrives (not virtual drives) they are shared with the "real" workstation. The "virtual" computer even reboots when neccesary. I HIGHLY reccomend it if you do install demos as well.

[choochee]

Is it possible for such a thing to emulate all the options of software and hardware while using the hard disk ? that sounds strange...I played a lot with apple emulators and stuff and even them didn't work good every time...

[garethace]

I think that some kind of VMWARE will be the only way in future for home users, running WinXP, to use older MS operating systems like Me, or 98, or NT4, to use older hardware, applications, games etc, etc.

 

Check this out, Me seems to be un-patchable to the new viruses... it is not that old is it? year 2000, 3 years old, and already obselete, sheeesh... http://www.aceshardware.com/forum?read=105032707