Short and sweet: Apple seems to have removed all references to Microsoft’s Virtual PC from its “Switch” webpages in recent days. Previously listed on some Apple pages were references to using Virtual PC to run Windows applications not available for the Macintosh.
The removal of Virtual PC mentions from Apple’s “Switch” webpages seem to coincide with the recent news that Microsoft confirms Virtual PC incompatible with Apple’s G5.
Apple’s “Switch” section is here.
(UPDATE 12:05pm ET: Apple does indeed have one reference left, on the Switch site. It is on this page. Thanks, Swedentom.)
Anyone heard rumors that Apple has been working on it’s own PC emulation product?
“Anyone heard rumors that Apple has been working on it’s own PC emulation product?”
If Apple isn’t doing such a thing, it should. Apple should just create a software package that allows the Mac to run Intel/AMD software (with as standard a BIOS, etc. implementation as possible). Then people could buy whatever OS they wanted (various Windows OSes, an Intel/AMD based version of Linux, an Intel/AMD based version of UNIX, or whatever). This way they don’t get into competition problems with Microsoft.
Apple really needs to have a VPC/RealPC type program. And it needs to be there somewhat quickly. DO we really think that Microsuck is going to help with VPC solving this quickly: I don’t think so. I think Apple is finally poised to grab some serious market share. a VPC type program will help get switchers who need one program or two. I use one real program on windows. I also use dos for V for Victory game (my favorite game).
Please apple hurry and get a quailty emu program and grap that market share.
“Apple should just create a software package that allows the Mac to run Intel/AMD software”
Surely you jest. What a ridiculous effort that would be. Talk about shoe-horning. Please do a little research on the differences in x86 (Intel/AMD) and RISC (PowerPC) processors before posting such tripe.
“Apple seems to have removed all references to Microsoft’s Virtual PC from its “Switch” webpages in recent days.”
Not quite.
http://www.apple.com/switch/questions/applications/index.html
From what I’ve heard an Apple branded PC emulation product would be difficult due to required cooperation on Microsoft’s end. I don’t know all the issues but apparently this is one of ’em…
Im not saying that Microsoft ISN’T dumping VIrtual PC, but remember even before they had to be complicit in the deal by selling Connectix Windows licenses.
If Apple were to include/make their own emulation software, the cons of such a debacle would FAR outweigh the pros. Sure we could run Windoze programs, but developers (many, but not all) will stop developing for Mac OS X, as you can just emulate Windows on your Mac. Any idea of turning a Mac into a PC is a bad idea. At first it seems it could make sense, but if you look deeper, it will kill Apple. Why do so many people fail to look at the longer term results? The playing field isn’t going to be the same if Apple introduces such an application, its going to skew horribly.
i always thought apple should buy connectix. now that MS has taken it over, i bet they are kicking themselves for being such boneheads.
Micro$oftopoly did not buy the VPC part of Connectix because of the Mac VPC, they did because of VPC for Windows. They are getting ready to drop support for the FAT 16/32 file system in a future release (Longhorn) of ‘doze and VPC will allow them to retain legacy support without building it into future releases of ‘doze. Why? Legacy support is one big contributor to the instability issues with ‘doze, as complexity breeds potential conflicts. Incorporating VPC technology into their server software will solve a lot of headaches for them in the future. The Mac VPC is just gravy along for the ride.
Any idea of turning a Mac into a PC is a bad idea.
I just need VPC to validate my cross platform web site. I don’t want to use a cheap PC and works with two keybord two screen and three button..
Nice day
Technically, Apple DID have a Windows emulation, and probably still do. NeXTStep (which OSX is built on) had a built in Windows emulation. I beleive it was called Yellow Box. In the original Beta release of OSX, there was still a splash screen for it tucked deed in the system (with both the NeXT and Windows logos on it, if I remember correctly).
Apple’s been making apps that are compatible with Windows features for a while, plus adding features to current apps (I.E. the Panther version of TextEdit can read .DOC files). While I doubt they’d make their own version of Virtual PC, how cool would it be if Apple could engineer a way to just run Windows apps on OS X? Without the hassle of having to actually use Windows! I’m thinking it would run like Classic does.
Granted – that would be a huge tax on resources, would take tons of time to develop, plus would Microsoft even permit such a thing?
Why are people so worried about Microsoft shutting off VPC.
VPC emulates intel HARDWARE, not Microsoft SOFTWARE; Microsoft still gets a full payment on a full license of windows when you use the emulator; and all Microsoft cares about is that you are running their software on everything digital (as you can see from their product line (from Car embeded systems, to large enterprise and Scientific clusters)
they don’t see it as a bad thing that VPC unables Macs to run windows quite the contrary they see it as getting the whole PIE. I mean if the remaning 5% of cpu Users also runs windows in Emulation, why wouldn’t they be so so so happy?
Really the only company that should be mad here is Intel because they are the ones being bipassed by this software.
Wether microsoft uses it to do virtualization on large servers, or uses it to emulate intel hardware on non intel machines, they loose always.
because everycopy of VPC that is running is an intel compatible processor not being used.
so I don’t think people should fret about Microsoft shooting themselves in the foot. (in fact I can see them making it that only windows can run on vpc asap, before anything else happens.)
Really what needs to happen is that people stop using Microsoft products period, even if it makes their lives a little difficult; and find replacements in O-S and other alternative directions.
Everycopy of a Microsoft OS that is bought wether on a cell phone or PDA, or in emulation software; is a percentage point more for Microsoft’s aim of dominating the Market.
leave it alone.
don’t touch it with a ten foot pole.
avoid at all cost.
RE: Jonahan
way to just run Windows apps on OS X? Without the hassle of having to actually use Windows!
What about IE ? Sorry Jonahan this is not possible.
I see no reason why Porsche must make the brackets to retrofit your favorite Ford accessories onto it.
I would hate to see Apple waste a huge amount of time, money, manpower and resources into making their system run crapware. Current Apple aps read and write 99% of the data produced by Windows. If it is so important that you run “CyberBlaster Bot from Hell 2004” then just keep your li’l Dell box or get an X-box. But, if you’re priorities are serious computing, go get an Apple… then get a life!!
On the “Hot News” page under OS X, it is still listed. Probably not for much longer. On the issue of Apple is dead if they make an emulator… well, they weren’t when Connectix did it. Morover, the market is dynamic and it may be that as MS comes under further REAL scrutiny by end-users the Mac and other Unix systems will be seen as very real alternatives and the products may be made for them first. It depends on the ease of development of course but porting from Unix to Windows may become the norm for some apps. Apple has some advantages and disadvantages in making available a Windows emulator but history has shown it didn’t seem to hurt them… and it might not in the future. Much depends on that market dynamic.
Apple still refers to Virtual PC in
http://www.apple.com/myths
Apple should help the open source x86 emulation project called bochs http://bochs.sourceforge.net/ and then ship macs with it. If you needed to run Windows, you could buy a copy and run it on your mac.
Well folks, there’s one thing to consider in this, sure M$ could drop VPC for Mac, or use it like they did Office to ensure that Apple stays “faithful” to them (remember the IE debacle, and the stories of Apple being told to kill off QuickTime?)
But for those of us who go digging through the OS underpinnings and have worked with some of the other *BSDs, there’s software with names like WINE which emulates Windows APIs, and BOCHS which emulates PC hardware in the OS. I’m not sure if these would be able to compile under OS X yet, but I’d bet it would be worthwhile to pursue. Wine especially would be interesting because that would similar to the “red box” (Windows compatibility) that was rumoured back in Rhapsody days.
I’m personally not to afraid of MS buying out VPC, or FWB bailing on RealPC, because the software is accessible, and with some effort, these Applications, while fondly remembered, will not be sorely missed.
All I can say is, who cares? I bet the percentage of mac owners that own (much less use) a windows emulator package on a regular basis in miniscule. PCs are so inexpensive that anyone needing to run a Windows specific application would generally be better off by just buying a cheap PC. I’m waiting for some REAL news in the Mac world, like the release of 10.3, or some new laptop hardware.
RE: Bochs
Actually, Bochs has already been ported to OS X. It requires the Dev Tools to be installed and will only run Windows versions thru NT 4. It’s pretty slow, but most emulation is and will probably benefit as more people show an interest because of the VPC fiasco. Check it out:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/unix_open_source/bochs.html
A big problem for many users is not really running windows apps (Most Mac apps can read windows documents), but it is running windows GAMES. Alot of people out there play games and if anyone plays games even once a month, chances are they will get a PC because few games are built for Macs. We need x86 emulation WITH native support for the videocard in the Mac. Shure, it will use more processing due to emulation, but the videocard does most of the work and if you have a G5, then it will do fine with the extra CPU load.
Beautiful….A masterpiece of stratagy, or a happy accident that Micro$oft might have bought this company to eliminate competition or control it’s OS on an Apple platform and now it won’t run on anything..I love it.
One more thought…Some of the people that switched to Mac are still using Micro$oft crap on their Macs. I just don’t get it…”Explain it to me like I was a 6 year old.”