Virtual Box - Summary Review

Here is a summary on my VirtualBox installation. The download itself was a small foot print while the installation was a breeze. You could literally be up and running in a few minutes! Yes, this is powerful in that the spirit of open-source collaboration has brought us free virtualization right to the desktop on the Mac! The scope of my testing was limited to Mac OS X (Leopard) desktop, I look forward to sharing my experience on the Snow Leopard implementation next. I did see inquiries from curious users about Snow Leopard, and all I can say for now is - it looks great and has worked well so far for the pioneers. I will try and share my experience on it soon. For now, Windows has been jailed into a virtual machine on my MacBook!

For those not familiar with the rambling here, VirtualBox is an open-source software that allows you to say run Windows on your Apple MacBook. You may ask "why would you want to run Windows on Mac?". The answer is, there could be something that is only available on the Windows platform (the list is lean) and virtualization using VirtualBox software is a great way to run it within your Apple environment. This is the current trend in computing and is in keeping with the green initiative of a low carbon footprint, low energy consumption and a smart way to do things.

I remember running about six different servers in my lab in 1999, with every one of them running a unique operating system. While most of it was to do with testing, the advancement in virtualization now enables us to do it all and not mess up your running PC. In other words, you could be sitting in your favorite coffee shop and virtually be in your lab. Dating back to the same time, I remember some of us running back home after an evening at Barnes & Noble, to begin the lab sessions we awaited all day for.

Smart computing you say, sometimes we tend to take for granted the benefits of smart computing. Imagine the convenience, portability, virtualization, efficiency, accessibility, availability, modularity.... the list goes with the benefits that change our lives for better. Even more interesting are the brilliant minds behind this and how their dreams have given us hope. I foresee opportunities in the realm of virtualization and connectivity, where the triple domains of our phone, notebook and TV need to be in sync to make life easier. While you may choose to have multiple profiles, imagine the clutter and mess of managing and maintaining multiple profiles on these three devices? Software will play an even bigger role in the near future. Lots of job opportunities for creative programmers that think outside the box and outside of conventional frameworks, while promising ideas will still find the venture capital they deserve. The market corrections globally will ensure quality funding and that is good for the consumer. Mr. Gates and Steve Ballmer, along with all the other entrepreneurs will always be remembered for their contribution and persistent effort that changed life for the better. Their stories are being compiled for the history books and we hope generations to come will be inspired towards a better world for all.