I run it daily on a Linux Ubuntu 9.04) host and a Windows 7 Host. I also set it up on my Brother-In-Law's Mac so he could run his old Windows-based personal finance software. As for guests: I've run just about every guest OS imaginable on the Linux host, and XP and Linux Guests on the Win 7 host, with no problem.
I find it to be a much more flexible option on Windows machines that VirtualPC was; and, in my opinion, ran smoother (ymmv).
I understand that your review was specific to running VBox on Mac, and I have little real experience with Macs but, in general, I think Virtual Box should always be tried first. Then, if it is not meeting some need promised by the others, then purchase one of your "more polished" products. I think it's a mistake to discount VBox just because it's "free".
Just my $0.02
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Current version is 3.2.8 (virtualbox.org)
Has nearly all the bells and whistles including CLI Utilities and supporting 3rd Party apps on the Mac side and 3D support Win side (admittedly experimental).
'Storage' Device registration is a bit cumbersome but necessary to ensure no multiple writes, etc. and 'USB' Device setup can be a bit tricky but all works well enough. [ Hint : For really low latency USB (e.g. TV Tuner) use VMWare Fusion instead ]
Deploying to end users now for a couple of years. Examples follow.
Today :
"Screen Shared" from a Mac Mini (Intel Dual Core, 10.5 Leopard) through 400 Mbit Firewire IEEE 1394a to a Mac Pro with (2) G5 PowerPC processors (10.5 Leopard).
i.e. silent, headless Mac Mini (size of external HD) is now slave to user of Mac Pro.
User can now run full office suite and publisher under windows using same keyboard/mouse/display; hence need for Intel. Simultaneously use Mac Mini's OS X, Applications, Ports, DVD Burner, Storage Space, print from mini or Guest OS on mini (i.e also connected to gigabit LAN, creo, fuji xerox offset printer, etc.) ? all whilst retaining investment in, familiarity with, and performance of Mac Pro.
Tomorrow :
VirtualBox on Mac will be running "windows" games for an 11 year old girl on her new MacBook. "Authentic, Legal Code" from dead HP laptop for Windows installation.
Major Hint : Expertly set up Guest OS/ss and GUI/ss improves experience for users of all virtualised machine solutions; and select your candidates carefully ? the new concepts surrounding virtualisation can be a mind bend for the casual user, if not presented and explained _very_ clearly.
Has nearly all the bells and whistles including CLI Utilities and supporting 3rd Party apps on the Mac side and 3D support Win side (admittedly experimental).
'Storage' Device registration is a bit cumbersome but necessary to ensure no multiple writes, etc. and 'USB' Device setup can be a bit tricky but all works well enough. [ Hint : For really low latency USB (e.g. TV Tuner) use VMWare Fusion instead ]
Deploying to end users now for a couple of years. Examples follow.
Today :
"Screen Shared" from a Mac Mini (Intel Dual Core, 10.5 Leopard) through 400 Mbit Firewire IEEE 1394a to a Mac Pro with (2) G5 PowerPC processors (10.5 Leopard).
i.e. silent, headless Mac Mini (size of external HD) is now slave to user of Mac Pro.
User can now run full office suite and publisher under windows using same keyboard/mouse/display; hence need for Intel. Simultaneously use Mac Mini's OS X, Applications, Ports, DVD Burner, Storage Space, print from mini or Guest OS on mini (i.e also connected to gigabit LAN, creo, fuji xerox offset printer, etc.) ? all whilst retaining investment in, familiarity with, and performance of Mac Pro.
Tomorrow :
VirtualBox on Mac will be running "windows" games for an 11 year old girl on her new MacBook. "Authentic, Legal Code" from dead HP laptop for Windows installation.
Major Hint : Expertly set up Guest OS/ss and GUI/ss improves experience for users of all virtualised machine solutions; and select your candidates carefully ? the new concepts surrounding virtualisation can be a mind bend for the casual user, if not presented and explained _very_ clearly.
I've been using Vbox at home on Linux (Ubuntu 9.04 through 10.04) to run WinXP for the occasional "Windows only" situation.
I also use it at work (RedHat Enterprise Linux 5) to simultaneously run multiple instances of Windows, RHEL4, and RHEL5, each running demanding apps.
MUCH better than VMware (for our needs), elegant, trouble-free, and good performance. Oh, and the "price is right" too.
I also use it at work (RedHat Enterprise Linux 5) to simultaneously run multiple instances of Windows, RHEL4, and RHEL5, each running demanding apps.
MUCH better than VMware (for our needs), elegant, trouble-free, and good performance. Oh, and the "price is right" too.
I'm running Gentoo Linux on a little Core 2 Dell Optiplex box. I have another PC running Win7, so Virtual Box (on the Linux PC) runs a copy of WinXP 24/7 for reference, compatibility with older apps, and to provide a "2nd instance" of some apps that I use with different logins, etc. It's proven more convenient than RDP. With Synergy+ running on Linux and 7, I only use one KB/mouse for both PCs, too. (UAC or RunAs sometimes puts a wrench in the works, though.)
As a side note, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get my iPhone to show up under the XP VM. I plugged it in, selected it from the USB devices menu in the console window, and it just worked. I was almost disappointed by the lack of a fight.
As a side note, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get my iPhone to show up under the XP VM. I plugged it in, selected it from the USB devices menu in the console window, and it just worked. I was almost disappointed by the lack of a fight.
I personally had little trouble setting up VirtualBox and it is running fine for about half a year on my iMac now. I run Windows 7 Home and use Visual Studio 2010 without any problem. It has not failed until now.
I've used VirtualBox to run Windows 7 on the Mac, and Windows XP on a Linux host. Works great for basic functionality, but won't support anything that requires accelerated graphics, including Aero. This means you can't even play Solitaire on Win 7. The other commercial VMs now do support that, so I paid for Parallels to get the complete Win 7 experience. While it works as advertised I will say that Parallels takes *forever* to boot up the VM while VirtualBox seemed quite snappy in this respect. Oh well, as the author said, if your demands aren't too high, VirtualBox is a win, no pun intended, but I had to go with paid software.
I'm sorry to say this "review" was pretty content-free. The majority of Mac users will want to use VM software for running Windows, and a review that is mostly Windows-free is just short of useless.
I've used VirtualBox for over two years to run Windows XP, primarily to run those one or two little Windows apps I can't get away from. I've never had it fail to do what I needed it to do. I'm sorry it won't run Win7 in Aero mode, but my old Macbook Pro is pretty memory-constrained anyway. I wish it could run Windows installed on a Boot Camp partition.
Its shortcomings are overwhelmed by what it does well, and for being free. I owned Parallels when I first got my Mac, and loved it, but the upgrade fees got to be too much. VirtualBox may not give me everything I want in a hypervisor, but it gives me everything I need.
I've used VirtualBox for over two years to run Windows XP, primarily to run those one or two little Windows apps I can't get away from. I've never had it fail to do what I needed it to do. I'm sorry it won't run Win7 in Aero mode, but my old Macbook Pro is pretty memory-constrained anyway. I wish it could run Windows installed on a Boot Camp partition.
Its shortcomings are overwhelmed by what it does well, and for being free. I owned Parallels when I first got my Mac, and loved it, but the upgrade fees got to be too much. VirtualBox may not give me everything I want in a hypervisor, but it gives me everything I need.
I have been using VirtualBox on Linux for years and have used it in the past on Windows XP. VirtualBox has been an excellent option, not only for the price, but also for the features and performance.
Since getting my Mac, I chose to purchase VMWare's Fusion because of the ability to run the bootcamp partition as a VM without affecting the ability to still dual-boot. As of my last review of the VirtuBox specs, it did not have this option.
I still use my Linux system regularly and still have VirtualBox update-to-date.
Since getting my Mac, I chose to purchase VMWare's Fusion because of the ability to run the bootcamp partition as a VM without affecting the ability to still dual-boot. As of my last review of the VirtuBox specs, it did not have this option.
I still use my Linux system regularly and still have VirtualBox update-to-date.
> "Since getting my Mac, I chose to purchase VMWare's Fusion because of the ability to run the bootcamp partition as a VM without affecting the ability to still dual-boot. As of my last review of the VirtuBox specs, it did not have this option."
I had initially intended to do this on my Linux PC with a WinXP partition. Supposedly, it's possible to do.. but when I read the instructions and hacks online for setting up hardware profiles and such, I decided to can that idea in favor of a normal file-based virtual disk. I haven't yet had cause to regret that decision.
I had initially intended to do this on my Linux PC with a WinXP partition. Supposedly, it's possible to do.. but when I read the instructions and hacks online for setting up hardware profiles and such, I decided to can that idea in favor of a normal file-based virtual disk. I haven't yet had cause to regret that decision.
VirtualBox is a great too for a god price and do enjoy using it
Also see my review of vmware and parallels: http://www.totalapps.net/mac/virtualization-face-off-of-mac-os-x/
Also see my review of vmware and parallels: http://www.totalapps.net/mac/virtualization-face-off-of-mac-os-x/
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