Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac 7.0 with Windows XP Professional

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: 15.2 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002NT83U
• Item model number: S65-00383
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 1, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,900 in Software (See Bestsellers in Software)

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

  #6 in	Software > Utilities > Cross Platform
  #21 in	Software > Operating Systems > Microsoft Windows > Windows XP

• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Virtual PC for Mac Version 7 for Windows XP Professional is the premier edition. The best of the best. The big kahuna. This is the Virtual PC for busi nesses and advanced home users. It has the most robust communication, security and networking capabilities.

Expand the power of your Mac with the application that makes it possible for yo u to access PC-only software, files, networks, and devices from your Mac. Virtu al PC 7, which is compatible with the Mac G5, offers important improvements in support, speed, and reliability.

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 sam e printing functionality and drivers used by your Mac OS.
• Better Graphics Handling
  Virtual PC 7 delivers faster, cleaner graphics with a screen that redraws m ore 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 s leep so you can easily get back to your Mac.
• Expanded Preferences
  Sounds, toolbars, shortcuts, memory, and even dock inclusion are found in t he new Virtual PC 7 preferences and settings, giving you exceptional control ov er 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 installat ion 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 us ing.
• Share Folders and Removable Media
  Share folders and other media between platforms. Simply save files in a fol der 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 with Windows XP Pro makes it easy to create virtual drives that run their own operating systems. Run applications for Linux, OS/2 and other operating languages on the same machine -- and Switch between the drives with just a click. This bundle includes Windows XP Pro for working with the popular operating system on your Mac. Includes Windows XP Pro, the popular solution for your business and advanced home computing needs -- faster and more stable than ever!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

157 of 160 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works as advertised..., October 11, 2004

By	Barbara A. Blackburn "JollyRB" (Chicago) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Keep in mind that VPC 7 is an emulator not a replacement for a real PC. You're not going to be able to play Doom 3 with VPC. Forget about it. And don't complain when you buy it and find out it doesn't play your favorite PC games.

VPC is for those (like me) who primarily use a mac but find they have to step in the world of Windows from time to time because of work or whatever.

VPC runs most productivity software with no problems. I use it to open various files so I can convert them for use on my mac, to stream video online using the Windows viewers (which often don't work in OSX).

But most importantly I use VPC to run all the kewl GPS/Mapping software available for the PC that isn't available on OSX yet. This includes connecting my PDA, my Garmin GPS 60Cs, etc.

Works so well that sometimes I forget I'm using an emulator. VPC prints to my mac USB printer with no problems. Links up to my DSL connection. Consdering it's a software driven emulator it's really an amazing accomplishment.

Which is why I hate seeing a bunch of one-star ratings from kids who mistakenly thought VPC was going to transform their mac into a PC game machine. Thats' NOT the purpose of this software as stated in the product description.

BTW I'm posting this via Explorer THROUGH VPC7 emuilating a Windows 2000 machine. 'Nuff said.

BTW I noticed a lot of the reviewers here are woefully short when it comes to memory. VPC thrives on memory. The more you have the better it runs. I have 1.5 gig of RAM as opposed to the 512 meg one reviewer has. I wouldn't recommend runningn VPC with less than a gig.

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good!, November 5, 2004

By	J. A. Weiland (Alpena, MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Virtual PC 7 was loaded on two computers in my home. One is a G5 single 1.8 with 1GB RAM and the other is an 800Mhz iBook with 384MB RAM. I then loaded Peachtree Complete Accounting on both and MS Office 2000. This is my first time using any Virtual PC. So after reading various reveiws at Amazon and in various magazines, expectations were not high. However, I was pleased with the response time and quickness of the product. In fact Peachtree runs "Virtually" better than it does on the Windows system at work. Interestingly enough, Virtual PC 7 runs much better on the iBook than it does on the G5. With the horsepower of the G5 I thought it would blow the iBook out of the water. Not true. It may be that VPC7 is "new" to the G5 processor yet and there are still bugs to work out. (After all, it is a Microsoft product).

Startup and shutdown of VPC7 on the G5 is horridly slow (almost 2 minutes each). Pack a lunch. The iBook startup and shutdown of VPC7 takes about 30 seconds each. Again, amazing!

Other than the minor G5 issues mentioned, Virtual PC 7 works fine. Would I buy it again, yes!

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars updated review, October 8, 2004

By	D. Zerafa - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You can increase performance to P3 / P4 levels by disabling services.
Disable 90% of the services XP runs in the background (Does a desktop really need wireless zero config enabled by default?!?!?) and speed should be as good as Home.

I still wouldn't try playing games, I'm just using it to run some Windows only programs for school.

Updated Rating : 4 stars.


Disable the services that you don't need to run XP:

-Fast User switching
-Messenger (ALWAYS DISABLE THIS!)
-Portable Media Serial Number
-Remote Registry (ALWAYS DISABLE THIS!)
-Secondary Login
-SSDS Discovery Service
-Terminal Services
-Upload Manager
-Server (If this is just going to be a standalone version of Windows no need for the service.)
-System Restore Service (VPC takes care of this.)
-Computer Browser
-Webclient
-Network Location Awareness (MS's network integration to VPC may depend on this so its a tossup if you need to disable it.)
-Theme (Since most Mac users aren't impressed with XP's Fisher Price theme anyways disabling the theme engine can free up some RAM and some speed.) You'll just be forced to use an Windows 2000-ish theme.


So do I think that my Mac/Windows experience is still ruined? Not any more. But still keep your expectations in check.


-- original review --
I'm running this on a brand new 12' powerbook with 756M RAM (512M allocated to the Virtual PC). The OS launches in a reasonable amount of time and performance I observed is at the level of a Pentium 2 (maybe a 3). Sound card performance is slightly choppy as well. Granted I've not thoroughly tested it out yet and perhaps some tuning will improve performance. Perhaps this product may be an acquired taste. I would suggest this product does have usefulness -- for cross platform testing and for apps that are not too resource intensive. But for me for now it ruins the Mac experience and the Windows experience in one fell swoop. My recommendation, buy a second Windows laptop or desktop to fully enjoy Windows and keep your Mac pure.