That means that the software inside a virtual machine can’t escape and tamper with your computer. It runs a lot like any other program, but the virtual machine is separate from the rest of the system. It’s like you’re creating a computer within your computer. So what is a virtual machine? It’s a computer file (often referred to as an image) that behaves like an actual computer. If you have a favorite, let people know about it in the comments below! I’ve heard that Parallels Desktop is amazing and wildly faster that VirtualBox, but I haven’t actually tried it myself. If it’s speed and graphics that you’re after, you might want to check out a paid version. There are, of course, some details like 3D graphics that might not be as good on VirtualBox as they might be on something you pay for. VirtualBoxĪlthough there are a number of popular VM programs out there, VirtualBox is completely free, open-source, and awesome. There’s no need for constant backups and restores. If something goes wrong, whether with software installations or by infecting your system with a virus, you can easily switch back to a previous snapshot. This lets you experiment freely with your environment. You can, at any point, save the state of your machine with a “snapshot” and revert back to that state if you need to.

Because you can configure your virtual hardware, you can even install an old OS like DOS or OS/2. You can run software written for one OS on another without needing to reboot. Virtual machines allow you to run more than one OS at a time.

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