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How to Try New Operating System Risk-free?
With Windows 10 just around the corner, Microsoft are
releasing 'Technical Previews' of the operating system to give people a glimpse
of how it will function. Installing it comes with risks attached – it is
unfinished software, after all – so if you want to try out Windows 10 before
its general release, you will need emulation software like VirtualBox.
What this neat little program does is enable you to run a
second operating system alongside the one already installed on your computer
(provided you have paid for both, of course). That makes VirtualBox perfect for
trying out different operating systems – if you want to run a Mac-only program
on your Windows PC, for example.
Unlike some rivals, VirtualBox is completely free, so you
get access to the full feature set for an unlimited period of time, all without
paying a cent. Available features include snapshots (which allow you to 'save'
the virtual OS in its current state, to be returned to later), folders that can
be shared between OSes, plus you can even remotely access your virtual OS from
another computer.
Pros
Range of supported systems: VirtualBox is
available on all the major operating systems. This allows you to take advantage
of open-source virtualization whether your platform is Mac, Windows, Linux, or
Solaris. You can then run most versions of Windows, DOS, Linux, or Solaris as a
virtual system.
Lots of info: One of the typical advantages of
open-source software is that the user community creates a wide range of help
and technical documents to assist people in the software's operation.
VirtualBox is no exception, and there is ample documentation available to
anyone who needs help with their VirtualBox setup.
Cons
Operating system integration: The paid
virtualization solutions have much better integration between the host system
and the guest operating system. For instance, using VMWare or Parallels, you
can drag and drop files from one system to the other. You cannot do that with
VirtualBox.
Lack of active support: Virtualization software is
complicated and can easily have things go wrong with it. When this happens with
a product that you are paying for, you have access to a lot of hands-on
technical support. That does not exist with open-source products. If you run
into a conflict, you will be stuck trying to sort it out on your own.
Website: https://www.virtualbox.org/
Downloads page: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
Screenshot:
Sources and
Additional Information:
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