Performance
In order to simulate machine hardware Virtual PC vacillates between exploiting the host's device drivers to simulate hardware and competing with the host operating system to gain control over CPU and RAM. Connectix says the virtual machine retains around 80 to 90 percent of CPU performance but disk intensive tasks degrade performance by up to 40 percent. Alas, no good news for gamers; the virtual machine is incapable of emulating audio and complex video tasks performed by modern gaming hardware.
Virtual machine performance is highly dependent on available RAM and this the main disadvantaged associated using this class of emulation products as opposed to partitioning solutions, to run multiple operating system. Connectix says that Virtual PC will run two operating systems with varying degrees of success with a minimum of 128M of RAM, but recommends using 256M. In this case the recommendation is not one that can be ignored. Anything less wouldn't be feasible.
The cost of the RAM must be considered with cost of owning and using the product. A single-user license for Virtual PC for Windows is AU$579 (at the time of writing FirmwareDesign has not finalised pricing for volume purchases). Depending on how much additional RAM you need to purchase the total cost of owning the product could be 1000 percent higher than owning disk-partitioning software such as PartitionMagic.
Virtual PC for Windows is unlikely to interest amateurs and tinkerers. It is most likely to benefit professionals who stand to benefit from offsetting the purchase price of the software against savings on hardware purchases.
Connectix Virtual PC for Windows
Company: Connectix
Price: AU$579 per single-user license
Distributor: FirwareDesign
Phone: 1300 369 951
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