I use Virtual PC 2007, and I absolutely love it! It is easy to navigate through, drag-and-drop between host and virtual is great, and the menus and options are neither complex or numerous like other virtualization products out there. If a new version of Virtual PC is ever release (and I hope it will be!), I would want either no or very few changes to the user interface. That being said, I do agree with others who have complained about Virtual PC 2007 regarding the lack of a couple of important hardware functions.
Perhaps the answer isn't redoing Virtual PC 2007 completely, because I really like the simplicity of the interface and (most importantly) it works! Instead, maybe virtual "hardware adapters" are the solution. For example, the network adapter in a virtual machine is "virtual hardware", right? If something like virtual "hardware adapters" could be developed, I could see them being added to the virtual machine in the same manner as Virtual Machine Additions. So, what would I wish for? I'm glad you asked! Two things:
- USB Support Come on, you know what I'm talking about! Above all, this is the most critical need for Virtual PC. Those in the IT community that I have spoken to hold a broad range of opinions on this very feature enhancement request. The number one rebuttal that I get is that a USB solution just isn't necessary to move files into the virtual machine because there are already great ways to do this now (folder shares, drag-and-drop, etc). Fair enough, but what about hardware that needs to be attached locally within the virtual machine, such as a USB scanner, USB printer, a USB License Dongle for a software application, or an application that runs off of a USB drive? Something like a "Virtual USB Port" as an add-on or a Virtual PC Addition to supplement this critical need would work. Maybe even a check box inside the virtual machine settings in Virtual PC could be added. The need for USB Support is the only reason why I spent the bucks for VMWare, not to mention another portable hard drive. One hard drive is for my Virtual PC (*.vmc) machines, and the other is for my VMware (*.vmx) machines. I really think USB functionality in Virtual PC is possible because the physical CD drive on my laptop (which can be allocated by the Virtual PC 2007) is USB.
- Video Memory Virtual PC 2007 supports up to 16MB of video RAM. Again, I have heard the arguments regarding RAM allocation, the impact on the host machine, and I understand 100%. I just picked up and installed 2GB for about $40, so I really don't care if my virtual takes 64MB, 128MB, or even 256MB. Why is more video RAM needed? I'll mention only two. First, forget about game usage for just a second, and think about game development. Developing games means that debugging needs to be done on a physical machine if the host's processor doesn't offer hardware assisted virtualization. Second, sales or product demonstrations and presentations on Windows Vista as an OS on a virtual machine are just OK. Features that are unique to Windows Vista Ultimate are really only good on a physical machine, as well as cool-factor features on other versions of Windows Vista, like Flip-3D. Maybe a "Virtual Video Adapter" or Virtual PC Addition could be developed as an add-on so that DirectX can run on the virtual.
You've been a great crowd, and thanks for listening to my ramblings! I'm really looking forward to the next release of Virtual PC. I pray that the user interface remains the same, but that critical functions are added.