Simple Economics. For $249, I have a fully functional Virtual PC 4 running Windows 2000 from Connectix inside my iMac DVD SE.
Virtual PC comes in five flavors. This allows Mac users the choice between running Windows 95, 98 or 2000, Red Hat Linux PC version, or PC DOS 2000 on the Mac.
Nothing to Fear: You Can Get Back to Mac Platform
Windows 2000 can run in full screen mode or in a small window mode. Using the Command (Apple) key and M key, toggles you back and forth from full screen mode to small screen mode on your Macintosh.
Installing Virtual PC 4
Virtual PC will ask how much space you wants to devote to the Windows 2000 drives. Those drives then operate like regular Windows 2000 drives on a PC.
Most of the programs Mac users run on the PCs can run on Macs using Virtual PC.
Strength of Virtual PC 4
The biggest strength of Virtual PC 4 is that it works well. Within minutes of running the installer you can be using Windows 2000 on your Mac. A setup assistant guides you through adjusting the application's RAM, VRAM, and other basic settings.
Virtual PC Toolbar
Virtual PC 4 has a toolbar in the lower left corner. All the toolbar icons use contextual menus (Control-Click-hold). All the icons let you pop up the Virtual PC 4 Settings window.
The hard drive icon can launch the Disk Assistant application. The CD icon can unmount or eject a CD. The floppy icon lets you unmount or eject a floppy. You also can mount a floppy disk image by dragging it to the icon. The Shared Folder icon lets you navigate to a Macintosh folder for sharing on both Mac and Windows platforms.
Reaction: Pro
Easy to setup. Significant performance improvements on Mac G4 computers. Runs multiple PC operating systems concurrently with Windows 2000. The Virtual PC 4 emulation system and peripherals works well as they do with the Mac. USB keyboard, mouse, printers, and external hard drives all work well on my iMac using Mac OS 9.0.4 system.
Reaction: Con
Virtual PC isn't perfect. It does not support 3D acceleration, nor dual processors. It doesn't yet support 3D hardware acceleration, increasingly important in playing games or designing them.
Virtual PC had trouble recognizing my iMac's Zip drive in Windows 2000. I went to the Iomega website to download the latest free Windows 2000 Zip drive software. I then install it in Virtual PC and I was able to access my Zip drive.
Final Notes
Virtual PC is suitable for anyone working in a cross platform or Windows dominated environment. Virtual PC 4 's value is best for owners of G3 and G4 Macs.
Virtual PC 4 emulating a Windows 2000 PC computer will meet the reasonable needs of most users who need to work with other operating systems but don't want to give up their Macintosh computers.
System Requirements
Virtual PC 4 is available from Connectix. Price: $99 (with DOS); $199 (with Windows 95, 98, or ME); $249 (with Windows 2000); $79 (upgrade).
Requirements: G3-based Mac with Mac OS 8.5 (9.0 for Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Red Hat Linux).
Application RAM: DOS 20 MB, Windows 95 40 MB, Windows 98 50 MB, Windows Me 64 MB, Windows NT/2000 80 MB, Red Hat Linux 80 MB.
Hard disk space: DOS 260 MB, Windows 95 350 MB, Windows NT 500 MB, Windows 98/Me 1 GB, Red Hat Linux 1 GB, Windows 2000 1.5 GB.
Recommended: G3 performance is suitable for my requirements. G4 is best for optimized performance. You should give Virtual PC 4 as much RAM as possible.
Paul Gerstenbluth is President of the ARIE Foundation and is a MAC and PC consultant. The ARIE Foundation's mission is to provide VA hospitalized patients with hobby materials and computers that helps in their stay and recovery. Paul also writes computer reviews on Mac and PC software applications.
Return to the Rhode Island Apple Group Home Page.