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Edit Review — Microsoft Virtual PC 7

Nov 1, 2005 12:00 PM, By Tom Patrick McAuliffe

OS emulator brings Windows applications to the Mac.

Now, I don't want to start an opinion war or anything — when it comes to discussing which is better, the PC or Apple Macintosh, that's a fairly easy thing to do. Each computer platform has its advantages and its ardent users. I've used both platforms productively and subscribe to the “best tool for the job” approach. But I must confess that, predominantly, I use a Mac. As much as I enjoy the Mac, though, there are times when I need to use a Windows application.

My need to use a PC started when I got a new client. The customer used only PC and had a project with lots of Windows files (AVI, Targa, etc.). Worse yet, they wanted me to work with a specific program, Adobe Premiere, so they could adjust the project at will on their PC in the future. No problemo, since I had a PC handy, but the problems came up when I couldn't share files across platforms.

I found an easy-to-use, cost-effective solution to my problem in Microsoft's new Virtual PC 7 (VPC7). With VPC7, Mac users can run almost any Windows application and can access and share PC files, applications, and devices.

Virtual PC 7 for the Mac was acquired by Microsoft in February 2003 from Connectix Corp. It's the first version of this long-running emulation software program to support G5 processors. (The latest update to VPC7, version 7.0.2, is fully compatible with OS X Tiger.) VPC7 comes in five different flavors. Each has a different version of Windows, from the XP Home edition at $219 to XP and 2000 Professional at $249. If you already have a supported version of Windows, you can get on board for only $129. With an older version of Virtual PC, you can upgrade for $99. I tested the Windows XP Professional version, which comes with a CD for VPC7 and Windows. A “Getting Started” guide and a full PDF manual are also included. Support options include a free newsgroup and monitored web chat board, email support, and phone support (the latter two entail fees).

I got started using a 500MHz PowerMac G4 tower and a 1GHz PowerBook G4, both with OS X 10.3. I installed the software quickly and with no problem. I installed VPC7 first and then the Windows operating system. I then created a “virtual PC” using a dedicated portion of my Mac's hard drive. The program and Windows take up 3GB of space, so it's best to have a second drive. I would recommend a 20-40GB LaCie FireWire hard drive. I have two and love their shirt-pocket portability.

Once the system was operational, I was able to fully use the PC version of Adobe Premiere Pro and run some older versions of favorite Windows apps. I even ran a few games just to see the software's performance. I deleted each software program along with any system-level files before I tested the next one. I could operate each program just as if my Mac were now a PC. I could also quickly click back and forth between OS X and Windows desktops and easily share files between the two.

It's clear from the start the interface has been tweaked for version 7 to look more refined. Performance also has been enhanced. Users now have more control over the program's preferences as well. I could also plug in PC peripherals — the Windows system would bring up the Wizard right away so I could install the PC drivers for them. Most PC mice, keyboards, printers, and other peripherals will work. Microsoft's Mactopia website (www.microsoft.com/mac) offers a comprehensive list of devices and their tested compatibility, as well as lots of tutorials and support information.

In general, the software operated fine — if somewhat sluggishly. However, I had some hard crashes, after which I had to reboot the entire computer system. Although I'm fairly new to OS X, I know that is not supposed to happen. It certainly never had happened before. On average, these system “hangs” happened once in every 20 to 25 uses and did not seem to have to do with anything in particular. Sometimes the machine would hang during startup, sometimes when moving a PC file to the Mac or vice versa, and sometimes when clicking on an application icon. One time, a file generated by a PC application disappeared after being ported over to the Mac side. To avoid paying a fee for Mircosoft technical support, I went onto the MS user website chat boards, but I was unable to diagnose the problem. The hangs happened only occasionally, though, so as long as I worked with backed-up material I was fine.

Aside from stability, the only other challenge that keeps VPC7 from being a truly stellar product was speed. One expects the program to operate just like a hardware PC, but it doesn't. There are some delays, even with the new Fast Save feature, but not enough to disrupt your workflow. The bottom line is that it was a lot faster than my old PC, and on my PowerBook I could sit poolside and edit with Premiere Pro for the PC.

In addition to support for the G5, there are several new features. According to Microsoft, the new version has “improved performance, faster screen redraws, and more responsive graphics.” But having worked with both earlier versions of Virtual PC and its early competitor SoftWindows, I was not wowed. Don't get me wrong — I think it's a good tool and worth the cost — but at the same time there were some problems with stability. Additionally, while the software is functional, it's nowhere near as speedy as, in my opinion, it could be — nor does it reach the level of a modern hardware PC.

Overall it seems like most of the work was done “under the hood,” because the improvements over previous versions was just enough to justify the upgrade cost. PC-emulation software products have always been demanding on CPUs, so performance should improve with a faster Mac. Still, even with its challenges, Virtual PC 7 is a great way to use Windows-based programs on your Mac.

All in all, VPC7 is a worthwhile tool that just misses the “truly excellent” mark. Microsoft is a giant in the software business, so it should be only a short time before it fixes the few problems and further enhances the speed and stability of the application. There will come a point in every Mac-based videomaker's career when the application you have to use is available only for Windows computers. Now Mac users have a cost-effective solution to that problem. Virtual PC 7 is like having two computers on one machine. It's just plain easier. Does anyone want to buy my hardware PC?

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BOTTOM LINE

Company: Microsoft
Redmond, Wash.; (800) 642-7676

Website: www.microsoft.com

Product: Virtual PC 7

Assets: Allows Windows programs to be used on the Mac, drag and drop between platforms, use PC peripherals; and improved graphics support.

Caveats: Needs a fast Mac, some stability issues.

Demographic: Any Mac OS X user needing to use Windows PC applications.
Price: $219-$249

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© 2008 Penton Media, Inc.