Don't get rid of those old Windows Applications !
In reviewing the Moka5 Virtual PC concept.......that promises the best of server-centric distributed applications environments (complete operating environment and apps) with desktop off-line operability... highlighting VMWare and Linux 'packages'...
I extended my search back to what "Virtual PCs" means to Microsoft. I was familiar with the 'virtual PC' product for the Mac environment which allows Mac users to run "most" Windows programs in a Mac window, but Microsoft also has ...
...their Virtual PC product that allows all versions of DOS to any version of Windows to be run in a later version of Windows... And the push is on to drive the that 'virtual PC' product into the market at no charge.... why? - while the 'environment' to run multiple 'virtual PC' sessions may be free, each installs like a new PC install, and requires a separate 'licensed' version of the operating system to install.
That means at best, you can re-install your Windows current or old versions once per virtual environment install technically....unless you install the copy once and copy only the virtual hd 'image' (hint).
The real benefit of the existing (and free) Virtual PC product by Microsoft is of course, the ability to run a 100% (well almost) version of former operating systems, allowing many personal old favorites (that may never have gotten popular to survive) to continue to run. If you're running old DOS (or even software that ran in the DOS - Windows 3.1 environment), you'll also have need of a DOS printing support programs (as programs coming from the pre-Windows environments expected more direct control of printers rather than being managed from Windows).
Here, just 'google' for 'DOS Windows printing' and you should find immediately, (a) DOS freeware 'prn2file', (b) DOSPrint - freeware emulation of an Epson matrix printer, (c) DOSPrn and (d) Printfil.com.
The unfortunate part is that with the poor upward or backward compatibility of Windows versions over the last ten (10) years, most people have discarded or abandoned even very useful applications that hereto have not been able to be run on todays basic desktops and laptops.
Virtual PC's by Microsoft may be nice for running old applications, or supporting virtual licensed emulation, but they aren't portable like Moka5 LivePCs, and weren't developed with a 'server-side' distribution, or updating strategy.
Nice try (and personal thanks for keeping old software useful) Microsoft, but Moka5 got it right - Server-Side distribution/maintenance, small infrastructure profile, self-contained, configures - maps resources upon startup (boot), and application focused - go MOKA5!
technorati tags: virtualPC, Virtual-PC, windows-31, windows-88, Microsoft, Moka5
Labels: emulation, Virtual PC, Windows
posted by SearchEngineer_eBizGuru @ 11:01 PM
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