Product Reviews

This latest version of Virtual PC doesn't make much sense at first. After all, the whole point of Virtual PC is that it allows you to run Windows software you wouldn't otherwise be able to use on a Mac. But there are several versions of Linux that are designed specifically for the Mac, so why on earth would you use a PC emulator to run Linux when you could just use a native Mac version?

The answer lies in Linux itself. If you think Windows is a clumsy operating system, wait until you start to use Linux. The geek brigade may rave about its power and stability, but it's a bit of a nightmare from the ease-of-use point of view. It's certainly not ready for mass-market consumption, even though there are plenty of people who would like to see Linux topple Microsoft.

Nevertheless, there's no doubt Linux is becoming an important operating system, especially in the area of Internet services, where its stability makes it ideal for use on Web servers. Because of this, many Mac users are now taking their first steps with Linux, and that's where Virtual PC With Red Hat Linux could prove useful.

Using Virtual PC makes it much easier for newcomers to get started with Linux. For a start, installing Linux is normally a complicated process that involves partitioning your hard disk and configuring your Mac so you have the ability to boot into either Linux or the standard Mac OS as required. It's hard work, especially for first-timers. But, if you use Virtual PC, Connectix has already done the installation work for you. A full copy of Red Hat Linux

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6.1 is provided on two CDs, but Linux is already installed on the hard disk file created by the Virtual PC installer program. Just double-click on the Virtual PC icon and go straight into Linux. Once installed, thanks to the 'save state' option, you can launch Virtual PC and go back to the point where you last stopped. There's no need to go through the startup process each time.

The other advantage of using Virtual PC to run Linux is that it effectively turns Linux into just another Mac application, rather than treating it as a second operating system. You don't have to worry about partitioning your hard disk, as Virtual PC is just another set of data files stored on it. And instead of booting into either the Mac OS or Linux, you can run Linux in a window on your Mac desktop and switch between the two whenever you want. You also have the ability to run software that's written for the PC version of Linux and which may not yet be available in a Mac version.

Virtual PC also supports Copy and Paste, so if the Linux application you're running supports it, you can copy and paste between the Mac OS and Linux. You can also use a USB printer to print from Linux, assuming, of course, you have a USB Mac and the correct drivers. Connecting to the Internet is easy, too, as Virtual PC uses your Mac's Internet stetup. So all you have to do is open a browser in Linux.

There's one big drawback, though. Running Linux under emulation means it's quite a bit slower than a native Mac version would be, but if you're just getting started with Linux, you'll be more concerned with finding your way around the operating system than in running Linux at full speed.

This product makes a lot of sense for the education market, where students with Macs can use Virtual PC to give themselves a gentle introduction to Linux. But there will also be plenty of developers and technical-support staff who will appreciate the chance to dip their toes into Linux in this way. So if you need to learn more about Linux, or are just curious to see what all the fuss is about, this new version of Virtual PC is an easy and affordable way to get started.