MACWINDOWS

The argument for the superior computing platform rages on. Will MacOS or Microsoft's Windows be the victor? Well, it seems that the MacOS has picked up an extra point or two with Connectix's release of Virtual PC 3. Packed with even more features and compatibilities, it truly helps to bridge the gap between the two platforms.
Virtual PC is an application for the Macintosh that emulates Windows. There are several varieties of this software, all are very similar, but you have the option of purchasing the emulator with Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, and even Linux. I worked with the Windows 98 version on a 400 mHz iMac with 128 MB or RAM. The program is run like any other, but once the program is loaded, Windows then proceeds to load. The emulated version of windows is identical to what you would find on any Dell or IBM system, the only difference is that now you can see it on your Mac. Virtual PC can almost always automatically "map" your Mac devices for use with the PC environment. The built in DVD-Player becomes my "E: Drive" and the keyboard and mouse are automatically recognized. Virtual PC can even import your TCP/IP network settings into the PC network control panel so your DSL or cable modem line will work with Windows 98.

All of this makes using a PC on your Mac handy dandy, but without the speed to back it up, the Windows environment can become too slow and cumbersome to accomplish anything. The amount of available free physical RAM will also help to speed the software up. The more you can allocate to Virtual PC, the fewer snags and slowdowns you'll encounter. On a 400 mHz G3 chip, with 70 MB of RAM allocated to the program, it was able to load Windows in a decent amount of time, and any programs in Windows thereafter, but if two programs were launched at the same time, things seemed to slow to a grinding halt. For example, I could browse the internet at cable modem speeds, but if I played MP3's and tried to load a new web page, the MP3 would skip and stutter worse than a teenager on his first date. This means that Photoshop, Quake, and Premier are out of the question with Virtual PC. However, the program emulated Windows well enough to do simple tasks such as word processing, web browsing, file conversions, etc.

Although the software might be slow and cumbersome when compared to a real PC, it has been optimized for the Velocity Engine in all PowerPC G4 chips. This means you can expect a better encounter with Virtual PC on your new G4 than on an iMac DV. However if you are in a bind to read something that is proprietary to Windows, VPC can easily translate and print the document on your MAC. That said, if you are constantly in need of a Windows PC, then you should probably buy one, since you'll pull your hair out waiting for the software to do what you ask it to. But for mild processing Virtual PC will do the trick , and at $160, it won't make your wallet disappear either.

Bottom Line: If occasionally you require the use of a PC, then VPC is the savior among software. It is easy to use and setup, and can emulate a PC to near perfection. However, if you plan on doing some heavy computing on the Windows platform, shoot for a full WINPC, you'll thank yourself in the long run. www.connectix.com