Virtual computer program

It runs on older hardware, recognizes most USB devices , and offers a library of Guest Additions that are free and easy to install.

These added features include the ability to transfer files and clipboard contents between the host and guest operating systems, 3D virtualization, and video support to alleviate common problems with visuals on a VM. The product's website provides several tutorials and a set of canned virtual machines that are custom-made to meet specific development needs.

Oracle VM VirtualBox has an expanding developer community that publishes new releases regularly and an active user forum with almost , registered members.

VirtualBox's track record assures it will continue to improve and serve as a long-term VM solution. VirtualBox is compatible with the following host platforms:. A long-time favorite of Mac enthusiasts who occasionally need to run Windows, Parallels seamlessly runs Windows and Mac applications side-by-side. Based on your primary use for Windows, Parallels optimizes system and hardware resources for a Windows experience that feels like an actual PC.

Parallels offers most of the features found in a paid VM product and many features specific to the Mac, such as opening websites in IE or Edge from a Safari browser and Windows alerts displaying in the Mac Notification Center.

Files can be dragged between the two operating systems, as well as clipboard content. A dedicated cloud storage space is included with Parallels, and it can be shared across macOS and Windows. A common misconception about Parallels is that it can only be used for Windows in a guest VM. There are three versions of Parallels available, each suited for a particular audience. Use the standard edition if you are switching from a PC to a Mac for the first time or use Windows applications on a regular basis.

The Pro Edition, aimed at software developers, testers, and other power users, integrates with Microsoft Visual Studio and well-known developer and QA tools such as Jenkins. It has round-the-clock email and phone support, advanced networking tools, and the ability to utilize business cloud services. The Business Edition includes all of the above, along with centralized administration and management tools.

It also has a volume license key that allows you to roll out and control Parallels instances across departments and organizations. Parallels is compatible with the following host platforms:. Microsoft includes Hyper-V Manager for professional, enterprise, or academic versions of Windows As a built-in feature, it supports deep linking within the Windows 10 host operating system and a range of guest OSes, including various versions of Windows, Linux, and old systems like MS-DOS.

Microsoft offers a free developer version of Windows 10 for Hyper-V Manager, fully licensed for use within the virtual environment.

QEMU is frequently the hypervisor of choice for Linux users, based on its zero-dollar price tag and easy-to-perfect full-system emulation tools. The open-source emulator simulates a range of hardware peripherals, using dynamic translation for ideal performance.

Running KVM virtual machines when using QEMU as a virtualizer can result in near-parity performance on the right hardware, making you almost forget that you're using a VM. This is rare with this type of software, adding some flexibility to the ways you can use it.

However, the majority of its user base tends to have Linux computers as the host. QEMU is compatible with the following host platforms:. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.

Download Latest Version for Windows. Virtual PC for PC 6. Download Latest Version for Free. NET Framework Detector. Disketch CD Labeling Software. TextMaker Viewer. USB Hidden Copier. Windows 10 Launch Patch 64 bit. Windows XP Mode. Ultimate Windows Tweaker. VirtualBox VirtualBox is free, enterprise-ready virtualization software for Windows users. By Scott Orgera. Scott Orgera.

Reviewed by Chris Selph. Tweet Share Email. What We Like An evaluation version is available. Easy to use once it is set up. Widely used and well regarded. Free for personal use. What We Don't Like Consumes a lot of resources. Not all programs work in the emulation. The default configuration may require changes. Get VMware Workstation Pro. The basic version, Fusion Plauer is free. Supports a range of macOS displays.

Uses the same virtual machines as non-Mac VMware products. Can be sluggish. Get VMware Fusion. What We Like The base version is free.

An intuitive interface and operation. It's stable. Additional features require a download of Guest-addition software. Get Oracle VirtualBox. Three versions to suit different applications. A complement of features, with the ability to monitor and adjust memory usage. What We Don't Like Considerable resource consumption. Adjustments aren't always intuitive. The subscription pricing model means users must upgrade yearly. How to Get the Best Performance out of Parallels. Get Parallels.

What We Like Free and installed in supported versions of Windows Robust performance with deep hooks into the host OS. Deep hooks mean other VM solutions can't run simultaneously. Activate Hyper-V on Windows It remains coupled with special software packages designed to aid users with sharing folders and drives among guest and host operating systems. The software functions almost identically regardless of the host platform and even offers 3D virtualization, multiscreen resolutions, and laudable hardware support, among other features.

Fortunately, support and updates are both outstanding — although you may need some tech knowledge to get everything working just the way you like. Boxes from Gnome is a creation and management tool for virtualization designed for Linux and can help you customize all kinds of virtualization tools — from specific workstation setups to enabling operating systems. The simple, elegant interface makes it easy to see what virtualization systems you have at any point and how they are performing.

Note that Boxes will automatically allocate resources for virtualization based on vendor recommendations. If Boxes cannot find any recommendations or virtualization info from the processor, it will automatically assign 20GB of storage and MB of RAM, so be prepared for this.

Although this list is supposed to be strictly virtual machines, we will make an exception for Apple Boot Camp to confirm its deserved hype. The software, built into all Macs, lets users dual-boot macOS and Windows on the same machine.