http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

I know there are those who keep Windows around because they need it, at least this way you can always have both linux and windows on your PC.

Supposedly the 2007 release will be free also

That's free as in beer, of course - not as in Free Software. . .

Awesome. I've been wanting to install BeOS again, but since it won't install/run in my current PC, maybe I can run it with Virtual PC. The way I see it, everybody wins here: End users can test Linux (and other OS'es) and MS proves that you can do everything from Windows, even running other Operating Systems. Nice touch.

Now, since this is a anti-MS forum, let's see how many replies it will take for MS to get an unfair critique for releasing this for free ^_^.

You could have used Qemu or VMware for BeOS, surely..?

I would be very, very surprised if a Windows license is actually included. Heh heh.

IIRC they disabled the ability to run any non windows OS under it so you won't be able to run Linux from within windows. Just download vmware player.

That's what I was just going to ask. It wouldn't make any sense to have them let you run a competing OS under their VirtualPC. You can actually download VMware Server 1.0, so it'll allow you to make virtual machines, instead of having to use other people's.

As for allowing windows licenses, I think I read recently that they will allow you to run up to 4 different installs of windows inside of virtual PC, without having to buy a license for every single install.

Don't even need vmware server, download their browser appliance then edit the browser-appliacne.vmx and point the ide1:0.filename = to your own iso and reinstall whatever you want.

This is not an anti-MS forum!!
It is a forum frequented by a broad range of well-meaning people who occassionally say something critical about MS....

Is this confirmed?

Also how's virtual PC compare to vmware. Never used virtual pc before.

[sarcasm] thats very useful indeed! [/sarcasm]

I already had a free copy before this annoucement and I've had linux guests. It seems odd that they could do that if it is simply emulating an i386 PC. My guess is that you can still get it to work.

I do agree than vmware is better, and I continue to use VMware workstation on my main rig, but for those out there looking for LEGAL ways to run VMs, this is a viable alternative.

Just to disprove some of the rumors floating around about this program...

It is completely 100% free and includes a serial number for it. In fact the Serial Number is greyed out so you don't even have to go through the trouble of typing it in.

Also, I am installing Gentoo Linux right now using VirtualPC. So far everything is working fine. Please keep in mind there is a difference between not offering technical support for software and not allowing it run at all. I believe Microsoft's stance is that they do not provide technical support for a Linux OS installed on VirtualPC.

You can run legal Vm's with the vmware player. Check their forums, they don't mind if you install a different OS under one of their downloads.

You can also legally make VMs w/ VMware server 1.0