Virtual Machine: Run another computer in the computer

Mac users sometimes need to use Windows software, and Windows users may want to experience the Linux system. You might think that in both cases, the only option is to buy another computer (expensive) or set up a dual boot system (complex). But there is a third option: virtual machines.

A virtual machine, as its name implies, is a complete computer that runs virtually on your laptop or desktop. You can install any system you want in it and run it in its own window, which is very convenient. For example, my main computer is a Mac, but I installed a Windows 11 virtual machine to test the software for writing reviews and tutorials. Others may use virtual machines to access old software that cannot run on modern computers. Virtual machines have many uses.

How to work in virtual machines

Virtual machine software can create a virtual computer on your computer in just a few clicks. This sounds like magic, but it's totally implemented by software.

Your computer contains multiple components: CPU, motherboard, memory, hard disk, etc. Virtual machine software creates software versions of these components, all borrowing resources from your actual computer. You can configure the number of device resources that these virtual computers can access, such as how many percentages of CPU they can use and how much hard disk space they can occupy. These programs usually refer to your actual computer as a "host" and any virtual machine as a "client". You can create as many clients as you want based on the hard disk space.

Note that this is different from the simulator you use to load retro games. The simulator attempts to reverse engineer the environment in which a specific software runs. This is not the case with a virtual machine - it is a complete system, including an operating system.

This can be Windows 11, but you need to pay to buy Windows to do it, starting at $139.

Linux is free to run, and some virtual machine software for Mac systems can also create virtual versions of macOS. But please note that running a macOS virtual machine on a Windows computer is illegal - the macOS software license agreement clearly stipulates that the software can only run on Apple hardware. Some people still do this, but it's not easy.

How to set up a virtual machine

To install a virtual machine on your computer, you need to install virtualization software. Oracle maintained VirtualBox is completely free and open source. You can download this application, install it on your Windows, macOS, or Linux computer, and start creating a virtual machine. This requires some technical knowledge—you need to make some choices, including how much memory and storage space to allocate to the virtual machine—although if you are confused, there are detailed manuals available online. This is the DIY method.

For Mac or Chromebook users, there is another easier option: Parallels. This application guides you to download and install Windows and other operating systems so you don't have to bother yourself. The downside: It costs $100, and if you don't have a Windows license, you'll also need to purchase one to run Windows. I suggest that those who are just curious about virtual machines can try VirtualBox first - it will familiarize you with the concept. But if you need a virtual machine for work, Parallels is a simpler and more reliable option.

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