Connectix Corp. has released an update to VirtualPC, their emulation software that enables Mac users to run Windows operating systems and applications on their Macs. The new version, v6.0.2, is ready for download from Connectix’s Web site.
VirtualPC emulates the inner workings of a Windows-compatible PC computer, on the Macintosh. The software enables Mac users to run Windows operating systems and productivity software without needing a real PC, for a fraction of the price. The most recent major release of VirtualPC, v6, sports improved speed, better integration with Mac OS X, improved USB peripheral and Apple display support, and other changes.
This past February, Microsoft Corp. announced that it had acquired Connectix’s “Virtual Machine Technology,” which was used to create VirtualPC. The company announced that VirtualPC for Mac would join Microsoft’s Mac Business Unit (MBU), which produces Internet Explorer, Office v.X and other software for the Macintosh.
The new version of VirtualPC fixes a compatibility problem with AirPort Extreme Cards, according to Connectix. AirPort Extreme is the new high-speed wireless technology first introduced this past January with Apple’s 17-inch PowerBook G4. Based on a draft specification of the IEEE 802.11g industry standard, AirPort Extreme enables users to communicate over a wireless network at up to 54Mbps.