Win4Lin Desktop
Win4Lin is also available in standalone desktop version and is a perfect solution for installing and running Windows desktop virtual machines and applications on top of Linux. It provides the benefits of virtualization technology without the complexities associated with it. Win4Lin does the hard work for you, so you can focus on your application needs and maximize your productivity when working in or migrating to a Linux environment.
The typical usage of the product is to install Windows inside a virtual machine, and then load Windows applications inside that session. This will allow you to run Windows applications for which there is no Linux equivalent, and still maintain your native desktop for the bulk of your work. With Win4Lin , Windows becomes a guest instead of a control point. It becomes an integrated part of your desktop, sharing printer(s), files/folders, and networking with your host Win4Lin system as if it were just an application.
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Finally, Win4Lin presents a virtual hardware environment to Windows. Windows never interacts (nor sees) your "real" hardware, which is controlled by your host Linux system at all times. Instead, Windows sees a very consistent set of virtual devices that will not change even if you make changes to your actual system. This keeps Windows more stable and eliminates the risk of Windows crashing your real hardware. Finally, you should not need to (and must not) install any special device drivers inside the virtual Windows sessions, since Win4Lin automatically configures Windows to work on your platform regardless of what equipment you actually have.
Win4Lin Desktop addresses the needs of three distinct user segments. With Win4Lin Desktop, home and personal users enjoy unparalleled ease-of-use together with the broadest Windows application support available from desktop virtualization products. SMB users are able to lower costs by standardizing on Linux infrastructure while retaining their tried and true applications like Quickbooks and Filemaker. Enterprises and large organizations benefit not only from being able to run custom and vertical applications unmodified on Linux, but also from incredible easy management and corruption recovery.
Version 5 of Win4Lin Desktop is very fast. Virtualized desktops are very convenient and do not require a user to either reboot or use a second personal computer to run their remaining PC applications (often Intuit Quicken or QuickBooks) but users often complain “they’re just too slow”. Users make this comment whether they’re running Windows virtualized on Linux, OS X or Solaris and regardless of which vendor has developed the virtualized desktop. Win4Lin Desktop answers this concern with blazing speed. Based on a massively modernized code base, Win4Lin Desktop makes it possible to eliminate the need for rebooting or for maintaining a second PC box.
Host System Requirements: Software
Linux kernel 2.6.x
glibc 2.3 or higher
XFree86 or X.org 4.3 or higher
Host System Requirements: Hardware
32 or 64-bit Intel or AMD Athlon/Opteron processor, 1.5GHz minimum
512MB of RAM minimum
10GB of free disk space (at least 8GB free in your home directory)
Graphics card and monitor capable of 1024x768 minimum resolution
CDROM or DVD drive, or access to ISO 9660 CDROM image files
Supported Guest Windows Versions
Windows 2000 Professional or Advanced Server, any service pack except 3
Windows XP Home Edition
Windows XP Professional Edition
Media must be bootable retail, OEM, or "Reinstallation" CDROM. Most "Recovery" CDs, or OEM
CDs dependent on a specific type of BIOS, may not be installed.
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