Virtual Machine

[Z-06]

I am planning to set up one using Sun Microsystem's VirtualBox and putting Ubuntu 64-bit as the second operating system possibly the Windows XP-64 bit as the third one.

Has anyone of you dabbled with virtual machines? Some suggestions before I start mauling my system? Any thoughts?

Specs:

Dell Precision M-6400

Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bits

2.66 Quad Core Intel Mobile Processor

8 GB DDR3 Ram

1GB NVIDIA FX3800 mobile V-card

2 Non Raid 250-GB 7200 rpm HDD - the second one will be the bed for the other OS.

DVD+RW

[Intrepidation]

I use Virtual XP which is something that can be set up using Windows 7 Pro. It's handy for older programs that just won't run properly on newer the newer OS.

However the problems with Virtual XP is that it doesn't support Direct X and therefore can't play old games or run older 3D software...which is a real shame.

I've heard some third party mods are working to make something like Direct X possible, but IIRC it's still in the beta stage.

Your computer will handle it no problem.

[Drew Dowdell]

I've run virtual machines on a lot less than that.

[Z-06]

I use Virtual XP which is something that can be set up using Windows 7 Pro. It's handy for older programs that just won't run properly on newer the newer OS.

However the problems with Virtual XP is that it doesn't support Direct X and therefore can't play old games or run older 3D software...which is a real shame.

I've heard some third party mods are working to make something like Direct X possible, but IIRC it's still in the beta stage.

Your computer will handle it no problem.

Yeah the problem with Virtual XP and Virtual PC 2007 is that they are antiquated and are not Linux friendly. That is the reason of choosing VirtualBox.

I've run virtual machines on a lot less than that.

Unfortunately, I have the honker and I have to live with excess.

Is there a better software than VirtualBox? Based on my limited research it looks like better than most. Another I looked into was Virtual Machine, but the reviews for the free version were not positive.

[Drew Dowdell]

Never had any problems running Ubuntu on Virtual PC2007