w00t w00t! Microsoft has released Virtual PC 2007 for free, which you can download from their site. However, you must be running of the following Operating systems - please note that Virtual PC 2007 will not run on others. You can however use those others (Windows XP Home for example) in a virtual session (please make sure you abide by the licensing scheme!)

Supported host operating systems:

• Windows XP Professional
• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
• Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
• Windows Vista Business 
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
• Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition

You can read the release notes here.

One of the best new features is of course support for Windows Vista as host operating system, and if you are cheeky - you can install Windows Server codename ‘Longhorn’ in it (be sure to select Windows Server 2003 in the Create new Virtual PC wizard)

However, if you require more administrational power, or wish to run a dedicated testrig for these kind of scenarios I highly recommend Virtual Server 2005 R2.

A lot of people wonder why you would want to run virtualisation as home user. Well, as you can guess from my blog I am not your average Joe. Apart from the constant beta-testing, I also like to familiarize myself with emerging new technologies. Virtualization allows me to do that in a safe, controllable manner.

On the personal news; I just finished ironing another batch of the laundry so I should be on par with the laundry about now. I just need to clean up a few things and do the laundry and I am all back up on the tidyness scheme…. I hope Which reminds me, I still have to sort a few things out.

I also got a call from my (new) dentist that wanted to make an appointment - talk about pro-active! I like that, I like it a lot. THAT kind of service makes consumers come back to your business. Now I know the example of a dentist may not be the most appealing but you have to agree that this kind of service is great. It really makes you feel appreciated as a customer. Plus this way they make sure I get my regular appointments and they get their regular payments

Well, tomorrow I should be receiving Suppreme Commander via postage So that will definately make me a happy ‘camper’ I better go get those things sorted. You go try out Virtual PC / Virtual Server. And well, if both of those do not appease you, go try out VMWare