[lug] What is a good virtual for installing Windows into?

[Maxwell Spangler]

On Mon, 2011-01-31 at 10:54 -0700, Ken Weinert wrote:
> I know, I know - but I need Windows to remote in to work and I have 
> some web sites that I have to ensure work under IE. I no longer have any 
> Windows at home and I'd rather run it as a virtual than as a dual boot.
> 
> A related question: which version of Windows runs easiest in a virtual?

Virtualbox and Windows XP is what I run.

Virtualbox is the easiest if you want to setup bridged networking so the
virtual machine acts as if it has a NIC sitting on your real network.
This can be done in KVM (and others) but often takes more work.  Sound
and USB support in Virtualbox are solid and easy to use.

I use Windows XP because it's extremely lightweight and that helps the
experience.  I'm not after Windows for Windows itself, just the apps, so
the lightest footprint for getting to iTunes (etc) is all I need.

I run a four-core AMD Phenom II with 6G of RAM and it's very
comfortable.
-- 
Maxwell Spangler
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