On Tuesday, Connectix Corporation announced the release of Virtual PC 4.0, the newest version of the popular PC emulation software for Macintosh. The new release expands Virtual PC’s abilities, allowing users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously, expand disk images, and see general performance increases.
Virtual PC 4.0, which requires at least a PowerMac G3 but is optimized for a G4, is almost twice as fast as previous versions of the software, and provides a new, easier interface. In addition, the emulator now supports three-button and scroll mice and includes a built-in help system.
All of this comes with a price, however. Virtual PC–which retails for US $199 with Windows 98 (US$79 for an upgrade)–is RAM-intensive, requiring at least 50 MB of allocated RAM. (Connectix recommends making 64 MB available for optimum performance.) The Windows 98 version is available now, and versions with PC DOS and Windows ME pre-installed will become available later this month and next month, respectively. If you purchased Virtual PC 3.0 after November 1, 2000, you’re entitled to a free upgrade, so definitely check it out. Connectix, a master of emulation, is also the manufacturer of RAM Doubler and Virtual Game Station.
