Posted on 08/14/2007 2:58:55 PM PDT by ShadowAce
Dell is developing consumer PCs that can run multiple versions of Microsoft's Windows and Linux software at the same time.
Users of the new Dell PCs would be able to simultaneously run multiple, software-generated computers on one machine, using an increasingly popular technology known as 'virtualisation' that allows greater flexibility and computing security.
One virtual machine might run Windows Vista and handle every day computing tasks, while another could be used only to browse the internet, limiting any security threats to the parameters of the virtual machine - which could be deleted.
A third virtual machine might run a version of Linux that is compatible with programs on the user's work computer. And a fourth virtual machine might run Windows XP software that is not compatible with the Windows Vista machine.
Such PCs could go on sale as early as next year, Dell chief technology officer Kevin Kettler said while attending the LinuxWorld conference in San Francisco.
However, he declined to say whether the machines will be able to run Apple's OS X software designed for its Macintosh computers, whose sales are growing faster than the overall PC market.
"I can't speculate on that," Mr Kettler said. "Virtualisation is very powerful. It's an environment that would allow many different operating systems to co-exist. You can interpret that however you would like."
Mac computers are able to run Windows software using virtualisation programs, including SWsoft's Parallels and VMware's Fusion.
Dell is developing the machines with help from several partners, including EMC Corp's VMware business, which is expected to go public through an initial public offering next week and privately held SWsoft, he said.
The technology is already being used in consumer PCs, although so far it is not heavily marketed by personal computer makers other than Apple, which uses the same kind of microprocessors from Intel in its Mac computers that are used in many PCs that run on Microsoft Windows.
A virtualisation software package known as Parallels from privately held SWsoft is one of the top-selling programs for Macintosh computers.
This piece is a Dell ad masquerading as a news story.
So it’s a mess...
Having something that would simulate XP or Win2k environment would be a big help. Especially if it really operates within Vista and not a dual boot OS type arrangement.
And other companies computers cannot do this? Seems unlikely.......
Yep.
But if it gets VMware into the public eye more, fine.
I run VMware's Fusion on my MacBook, and Workstation on both Windows and Linux hosts, with about half a dozen different guest OSes. It rocks.
The article's idle speculation about Apple allowing OSX as a guest OS is stupid though. Apple will never allow that on anyone else's hardware.
If Dell is developing (or is a major force in developing) the software to do this it is more than just an ad. It’s a press release...
Microsoft may not like this much - remember, most versions of Vista can’t be legally used in a virtualization environment because of MS’s licensing terms.
Correct -- this is a Dell ad, as pointed out elsewhere. Any modern x86 hardware can run VMware, and it hosts on dozens of OSes, too.
Bump. Welcome to the future.
Cygwin: don't leave /home without it.
That's not true any more. MS had to allow the other versions to run as guests also. They changed a couple of weeks ago.
Cygwin's cool, I use it daily on my Windows boxes. But it ain't the same as a virtual machine, by any stretch of the imagination.
Well, the remarkable thing is that it will come with VMs preinstalled and ready to go.
This will bring VMs to Mom and Dad, which is a big deal if your Mom and Dad LOVE to go to shady sites using IE 5 and fill up their computer with spybots, then call you every couple of weeks complaining about the performance.
Just use a preconstructed Linux sandbox and let em go. PROBLEM SOLVED!
Brilliant move on Dell’s part, IMHO.
Nah, Dell's just piggybacking on the popularity of VMware. There's nothing special that has to be done to make VMs work, other than install the host software, which in many cases is free (e.g. VMware player for Windows and Linux).
I doubt the contribution from Dell is anything but consumer packaging.
Yes it is. Mostly marketing, and a little visionary thinking. But a great move.
Check out Microsoft Virtual PC 2007. (a Microsoft freebie). You can run multiple vitrtual OS’s under this including W2K, XP, W2k Server, W2K3 Server, Vista, various flavors of Linix, etc. Only limited by amount of memory and disk on your physical cpu. I use this product alot. Two thums up on this one.
VMS...
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