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A bit of topic but, if many of you geek around like me then this news will bring a smile to your face….

In a surprising yet welcome turn of events Microsoft has decided to make its Virtual PC software a free download. The software allows a PC running Windows to emulate other versions of the operating system, making it very useful for testing purposes or running older software.

Currently the only version available is Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1, but Microsoft has said it intends to make the next version of the software free as well. That version will be called Virtual PC 2007, which will work on Windows Vista, but it has yet to receive an official release date.

Those of you wanting to run the available 2004 edition will need either Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4, Windows XP Professional, or Windows Tablet PC Edition. The guest operating systems it supports are MS-DOS 6.22, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT Workstation 4.0 with SP4 or above, Windows Me, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home or Professional, and OS/2 Warp version 4.0.

if Microsoft keep giving stuff away how ever will they make money …:-)

Chris Leckness (3547 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook

Chris Leckness is the Owner/Administrator of Mobilitysite. He is a Microsoft MVP, Mobile Devices and a member of the exclusive focus group, Mobius. Chris runs a Mobilitysite, GotZune, and a few other smaller sites and blogs. His personal blog is chris.leckness.com.