“Dell is developing consumer PCs that can run multiple versions of Microsoft’s Windows and Linux software at the same time, [according to] the personal computer maker’s chief technology officer, Kevin Kettler,” Reuters reports.
“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 virtualization that allows greater flexibility and computing security,” Reuters reports.
“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,” Reuters reports.
MacDailyNews Take: Or you could get a Mac which has as OS that – shocker! – can do everything and still surf the Internet unimpeded. What a crystal clear indictment of Windows’ shoddiness by Reuters and Dell!
“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,” Reuters reports. “Such PCs could go on sale as early as next year, Kettler said in an interview by telephone while attending the LinuxWorld conference in San Francisco.”
Reuters reports., “He declined to say whether the machines will be able to run Apple Inc’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,’ Kettler said. ‘Virtualization 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.'”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “MrKruser” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: He won’t speculate, but all signs so far point to it never happening. Apple’s Mac OS X Software License Agreement currently states: “This License allows you to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time.”
Only Apple’s OS-unlimited Macs can run virtually all the world’s software. In other words, Apple Macs run the world’s largest software library. Period. Beleaguered Dell can dream, but, as things stand, all other PCs from all other PC box assemblers are OS-limited and cannot run Mac OS X, iLife ’08 (iMovie, iPhoto, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand), iWork ’08 (Pages, Keynote, Numbers), Final Cut, Logic, and thousands of other Mac-only apps and plug-ins.
Yeah!– what MDN said.
haha, can you IMAGINE trying to show Joe Six-Pack how to run Ubuntu and Vista at the same time?!
…………….crickets chirping……………..
dell ; hi steve it’s mike here
steve ; hangs phone up
PWN3D!!!
Apart from a testing environment, what would the purpose be?
Sad, just scrabbling for a future…
slow newzzz day.
WOW!… hey, the wow did start now.. but that was thinking about how difficult it is to keep your windows PC running.
Because running three versions of Windows at the same time will certainly make the user experience better.
Is it possible to get BSOD three times simultaneously on one PC?
Come on, now; there must be SOME arena in which Dull can pretend to be innovative!
Surely there must.
Perhaps an edible keyboard!
Besides stating in the license, is there any other way Apple can stop the consumer from running OSX in a virtual machine on a Dell? BTW, I am a long time Mac user – I am not planning on switching to Dell. I am just curious.
Ontario, you cannot install OS X on non-Apple hardware because OS X knows what hardware it is running on.
You can, of course, hack OS X to pieces and make it run, but then you run the risk of breaking your hacked installation every time release an update.
MW: face, as in ‘face facts Dell, you cannot innovate your way out of a paper bag!’
Look at the file called ‘Don’t Steal Mac OS X.kext’ located in /System/Library/Extensions, and then do a google about it.
You cannot install OS X onto anything other than a Mac without a hack saw.
From wikipedia:
‘Dont Steal Mac OS X.kext is a file present in Intel-capable versions of the Mac OS X Operating System requesting that users of Mac OS X not “steal” it. Currently the extension is only included with the version of OS X that runs on the Intel Core processor family and is located at /System/Library/Extensions on the volume containing the operating system.[3][4] The extension contains a kernel function called page_transform() which performs AES decryption of “apple-protected” programs. A Mac OS X system which is missing this extension, or a system where the extension has determined it’s not running on Apple hardware, will be missing this decryption capability, and as a result will not be able to run the apple-protected binaries Dock, Finder, loginwindow, SystemUIServer, mds, ATSServer, translate or translated.”
Desperate times for the PC makers !!!
I love it, everyday SJ turns the knife a little more.
But the sad part is PC users have no clue, when I’m in an Apple store I hear customers saying things about Macs that make no sense. They have learned to settle for less and are fine with it.
They dont even seem to realize the machines are not running Windoze!
Does this mean you have to buy all the operating systems for security, what a joke!
Cool… now you can have multiple BSOD at once!
You guys are funny!!!
“OS Limited Dells” hahahahahahahahaha
It’s OSX that is “Machine Limited” .. Apple has to ADD a chip to all of their machines so OSX will find it and know it’s a “real” Mac, otherwise, it would run on “Any” PC… (And if you use OSX 86, it will run on any PC)..
As i mentioned, I’m a Mac user but I’ll pass on the kiss ass propaganda!
Fanboyism…. Cracks me up…
@shoeman
the fact that OSX is limited to Macs is the reason that dell is OS limited, but Macs can run any OS. think about it, you just proved the point…
i swear comprehension rates are at amazing all time lows in the world.
Shoeman make a point,
I am sure if dell comes begging we can help him our surely guys , we can do a PC OS 10.4
Common Poor guys
we can make some cash on it,
dells 10.4
Shoeman, the true definition of a nit-wit.
Thanks for proving my point in your myopic rant!
MW: air – air-head?
I wonder how Microsoft feels about this?
Now turning to the weather there is a 80% chance it will rain chairs in Redmond during the morning and afternoon hours.
Help! My kid wants to run a couple of Windoze apps on the new iMac. WTF do I do!!?? Any advice?
MW: children (I shit you not!).
james,
be nice to shoeman
We like debates here..
just need to have interesting ones,.
No how can I
get a copy of OSXX86? anyone?
MDN do you think that every other computer manufacturer should close their doors and only Apple exist? At least Dell is trying even though their only other option is Linux. I think it’s pretty un American to hope that one of the last assemblers that still does it here in the USA goes under.
use Parallels
: Less is More
I recon or crossover.
Runs sweet
PS I want more money
Intel versions of OS X can be hacked to work on any PC including AMD powered PC’s.
The biggest problem is that you have to roll your own drivers.
When you caluclate the cost your the time screwing around trying to get the stolen copy of OS X to work with all of your hardware, it is infinitely cheaper to just buy a Mac.
Several Windows geeks who brag about having OS X running on their PC’s still haven’t figured that out yet.