Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Like Microsoft ’s Virtual PC (; January 2005 ) , Guest PC 1.2 lets you operate a practical Windows estimator on your Mac . At almost half the price of Virtual microcomputer 7 ( which costs $ 129 in a similar form ) , some users will receive it a money - saving way to start the episodic Windows plan .
To compare the two copycat ’ performance , I created practical machines in both programs with very constellation running Windows XP Home Edition , then ran a battery of Windows functioning benchmarks . Virtual PC outperformed Guest PC across the board , but neither program offers much hurrying . It ’s like watch a race between a tortoise and a … turtle . One of them will win , but it ’s not a very exciting consequence .
I also ran a smattering of Windows - only applications and 2 - 500 games ( neither practical microcomputer nor Guest PC support 3 - D graphics ) , as a typical user would . Virtual PCisnoticeably faster . Programs launch faster and windows redraw faster . But Guest PC ’s relative slowness did n’t keep me from open document , running programs , shop the Web , or playing Solitaire . I had no problems connecting to the Internet or printing ( Guest PC prints to the pressman you have selected as default in Mac OS X , with no setup expect ) .
I did encounter some problems with Guest PC . Audio files skipped , crackled , and sizz . Windows Media Player stuttered and screeched when I seek to represent a motion-picture show clip ( Virtual PC also struggle with multimedia files ) . The company says these issues should be fixed in the next adaptation .
Guest PC lacks some important features uncommitted in practical microcomputer . There ’s no backup for USB devices ( the company say it ’s come in a future edition ) . If you require to share information between your virtual PC and your Mac , Virtual microcomputer put up seamless written matter and glue ( and drag and drop ) between them , while Guest PC requires you to set up Windows Sharing to partake a folder with your Mac . Virtual PC has a loyal Save feature that automatically saves open files and puts your virtual personal computer to sleep when you quit the imitator . To depart Guest PC , you first have to shut down and then turn off your virtual computer .
The Guest PC window is limit to 1024 - by-768 pixels in 16 - bit semblance ; Virtual PC support 1920 - by-1200 pixels in 32 - bit people of color . you may drag to resize the Guest PC windowpane , but it does n’t resize your Windows screen background ( you ’ll get scrollbars rather ) .
Guest microcomputer requires a G3 , G4 , or G5 processor running OS X version 10.3 or later . It will run on Tiger , but currently does not support networking ( Lismore suppose this will be fix in an update that should be release by the end of May ) . You ’ll call for 2 GB or more of hard - disk space and a decent amount of RAM ( 256 MB or more ; but I would n’t commend running it with less than 512 MiB devote to Guest PC ) . You ’ll also need your own written matter of Windows ( any variation ) .
Macworld’s Buying Advice
Guest microcomputer 1.2 lags Microsoft ’s practical PC 7 in polish and performance , and if you’re able to give it , Virtual microcomputer 7 is worth the premium . But if you have more patience than cash , Guest PC is an cheap style to execute the occasional Windows programme and will do a adequate occupation for almost half the Mary Leontyne Price .
[ Robert Ellis is a free-lance author who bring out the blogFuturosity . He review practical PC 7 and regularly survey digital cameras forMacworld . ]
