Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac 7.0

Other products by Microsoft

Product Features

• Access PC-only software, files, networks, and devices with your Mac
• Zero-configuration printing; better graphics handling; expanded preferences
• Cut and paste between platforms; share folders and other media between platforms
• Easily shut down virtual PC and relaunch right where it left off
• G5 support; simple, intuitive installation process; use PC and Mac peripherals

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002NT16E
• Item model number: S65-00387
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 1, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,662 in Software (See Bestsellers in Software)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #7 in	Software > Utilities > Cross Platform
  #10 in	Software > Utilities > File Conversion
  #78 in	Software > Macintosh > Operating Systems & Utilities

• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
Even though you’re loyal to your Mac, there are times when you may need to cross that bridge to the PC world. With the help of Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac Version 7, you can access PC-only software, files, networks, and devices faster and more intuitively with your Mac.

Have your own licensed copy of Microsoft Windows? This version of Virtual PC has your name all over it. Use Virtual PC for Mac Version 7 to run your version of Windows on your Mac.

New Features:

• Zero Configuration Printing
  For Panther users (Mac OS X version 10.3), Virtual PC 7 eliminates the need to download special printer drivers. Simply click "print" and tap into the same printing functionality and drivers used by your Mac OS.
• Better Graphics Handling
  Virtual PC 7 delivers faster, cleaner graphics with a screen that redraws more quickly and graphics that are more responsive.
• Fast Save
  Now you can shut down your virtual PC in one easy step and easily relaunch right where you left off. Simply stated, Virtual PC 7 puts the application to sleep so you can easily get back to your Mac.
• Expanded Preferences
  Sounds, toolbars, shortcuts, memory, and even dock inclusion are found in the new Virtual PC 7 preferences and settings, giving you exceptional control over your Virtual PC experience.

Additional Features:

• G5 Support
  Virtual PC 7 was significantly rewritten to take advantage of the powerful Mac G5 processors and Mac OS X version 10.3 (Panther).
• Improved User Experience
  An all-new setup assistant guides you through a simple, intuitive installation process. The step-by-step Getting Started Guide provides user-friendly help, and once you are up and running you can take advantage of the easier printing and expanded preference options in Virtual PC 7.
• Cut and Paste Between Platforms
  Virtual PC 7 and your Mac share the same clipboard, making it easy to copy and paste between programs no matter which platform--Windows or Mac--you are using.
• Share Folders and Removable Media
  Share folders and other media between platforms. Simply save files in a folder on your Mac and retrieve them from within Windows.
• Use Both Mac and PC Peripherals
  Use a variety of PC and Mac peripherals including printers, external drives, and more, even if they were designed for use exclusively with a PC.

Product Description
Virtual PC 7 is the perfect application for when more than one operating system is needed. This software lets users create virtual drives that run their own operating systems. Run DOS, Linux, OS X and OS/2 applications on the same machine -- and Switch between drives with a click! Convenience and accelerated development come together with Virtual PC 7!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, January 17, 2005

By	Prasad Mathews "malcolm01" (MCKINNEY, TEXAS USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I wasn't sure when I bought this item. I have been a Windows user for ever, but bought an iBook a few years ago, and got hooked on the iPod, iTunes, and you name it in the Mac world. I have been pretty happy, except of course, for the fact that there were a few programs that I could not use on the Mac.

The Virtual PC was one option, or I could own both a Windows PC and a Mac. The last thing I wanted to do was have my stuff distributed between 2 computers, so I figured I would give the Virtual PC a try. After reading the mixed reviews, I was not expecting the best.

Well, its not bad..! Its slow, but then, so is Windows. Actually, in some regards, my Microsoft Money program works faster in Virtual PC than it did in Windows XP!

I use it on a Powerbook with 512MB of Ram. Like I said, not bad. Dont expect the stars - if you want to play games, why do you need to do it in Virtual PC?

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than expected - saved me hundreds of $$, April 22, 2005

By	NJP (Ohio) (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews

Based on the negative performance reviews - I almost didn't give Virtual PC a chance.

I'm a recent convert to Mac, having spent the last 14 years in PC/UNIX environments. Doing graphics and web development now, I had hoped the move to Mac would be fairly painless - and it has been, with one exception. Two programs that I use significantly are PC-only, and after months of searching, there's just simply not anything on OSX that has the comparable functionality.

And, when testing browser compatibility it's just as arrogant for Mac designers to ignore testing on the PC browsers as it is for PC designers to ignore the Mac browsers.

So, I was faced with three choices: 1) have a standalone PC for these programs, 2) have a PC but going through a KVM so I could use just one keyboard/mouse/monitor to switch between, or 3) use Virtual PC.

Number 1 was out because I just don't want a completely separate setup - and don't have the room. But I was heavily leaning towards #2 simply because it seemed "right" to have my two Windows programs running on a Windows box. Plus most of what I had read on Virtual PC made it sound like it would be unusable - it was just too slow.

(Un)fortunately, my #2 option above was proving to be a costly affair. A new PC, plus either a DVI switch or a new dual-input monitor was looking to be in the $500+ range. And there were limitations with that too - like no direct interaction between the two machines, not being able to use the Mac and PC at the same time, etc.

So, for $129 I decided Virtual PC 7 was worth the shot (I already have a Windows 2000 license from a previous system). The complete setup on my Dual 1.8 G5 (2GB Ram) took about 2 hours. And I was skeptical at best - I've used emulators before and they suck.

Wow, was I pleasantly surprised! Not only does stuff (like networking, shared folders and printing) just seem to work, but the performance is perfectly fine for what I'm doing. I can see where someone who was expecting true "Windows" top-level graphics performance would be upset, because you don't get instantaneous screen redraws all the time, and after a heavy graphics-laden screen redraw the cursor may be slow to move for a second. This could definitely make things like game-play and Photoshop problematic.

But for most programs, and if you're only running 1 or 2 at a time, the VPC responsiveness is pretty impressive - especially considering it's an emulator. It is definitely very usable - typing has no delay - and it never really feels sluggish that I've been able to tell. On average, VPC seems to take about 25%-30% of CPU resources when I'm doing something in it, but if it is sent to the background, it only takes about 1-3%. That's nice.

If your goal is to use VPC to run Windows on a Mac, you may well be disappointed. If your goal is to use VPC simply as a way to run a needed PC program on the Mac, then I think you'll be impressed.

One note. Once you've got your VPC up and running, copy your VM document somewhere as a backup. That way if you ever need to "reinstall" your Windows OS in VPC, you can simply drag this copy in for a clean "install" without having to go through the real 1 hour + OS install.

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Solution for Mac Designers, December 22, 2004

By	Robert Pfeifer - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As web designers who work exclusively on the Mac platform, we have found it difficult sometimes to view the way designs behave and appear to a PC user since we do not have access to a PC. With limited desk space and resources it doesn't seem practical to purchase a PC, Virtual PC 7 for Mac has helped solve this issue.

We run G5s here in the studio and this program is a savior. Not only does it free up room from extra hardware it allows us to view our work as 95% of the world would see it.

Though at times it's not as lightening fast as I would hope it to be, it is quick enough, does what we need it to do and makes our job much easier.

I would recommend this product to any G5 user looking to add Windows to there Mac environment arsenal.

Robert Pfeifer | Creative Director
http://www.effusiondesign.com