Virtualbox on Mac

[whitepawrolls]

I currently have virtualbox for linux running a copy of xp, but I just got a new (used) mac dual g5 and I would like to run it on that as well. I know current virtualbox only runs on intel macs. My question is are there any plans to make one for the G5 series macs, or can someone recommend something similar (other than virtual pc thats no longer made). Thank you.

[S.SubZero]

The PPC architecture is being "put out to pasture" by Apple, and therefore there isn't exactly a strong desire to create complex new applications like virtualization software for it. Also, I think having one platform running another platform on it is more emulation, not virtualization. You may be able to find a PPC build of QEMU, but I'm not familiar with QEMU really.

[wplj42]

You might want to try and find a copy of Leopard. It is the last Mac OS X to operate on a PPC. Then you will have access to BootCamp.

[rpmurray]

Then you will have access to BootCamp.

Negatory. Boot Camp only runs on intel based Macs.

[wplj42]

Oops! How soon I forget.
The Original Post mentions running XP via VirtualBox for Linux. Try this:

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/10.04/release/

If you don't want the current Ubuntu for PPC, just go back here:

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/

[Sasquatch]

But you're still stuck with not being able to run Windows on the Mac, which the OP wants.

There are no plans whatsoever to create a PPC version. As stated above, it's architecture is obsolete now. And the change between architectures isn't something virtualisation (VBox, VMWare, etc) does. Only Qemu can emulate different architectures, but is very slow.

[stefan.becker]

And some years back before MS buys Connectix there was a special version from VirtualPC fpr PowerPC.

[wplj42]

The original post refers to running XP with VB for Linux. Yes? Did I read that wrong? I am no expert with PPC machines. Only had one, a G3 iMac. I don't know what it takes to run a PPC version of Ubuntu on a G5. I only made a suggestion. I am not advanced to the point of knowing how to do it. Sort of makes senses that VB for Linux will run Windows. So, install the PPC version of Ubuntu and run Windows. VB does not run Windows well enough to suit me. I would never want to run Windows that way.

[Sasquatch]

The original post refers to running XP with VB for Linux. Yes? Did I read that wrong? I am no expert with PPC machines. Only had one, a G3 iMac. I don't know what it takes to run a PPC version of Ubuntu on a G5. I only made a suggestion. I am not advanced to the point of knowing how to do it. Sort of makes senses that VB for Linux will run Windows. So, install the PPC version of Ubuntu and run Windows. VB does not run Windows well enough to suit me. I would never want to run Windows that way.

It's not the point if the processor is powerful enough, it's about the architecture of the CPU. PPC is an entirely different architecture than the x86 that's in PC's and today's Macs.
Same thing with your mobile phone. It uses the ARM architecture, but you will never be able to get any x86 program running on it without the help of an architectural translation. VirtualBox does not provide this translation. Because VB is an x86 program, it won't run on PPC. When you try to install it on Linux, you will get an error stating it's the wrong architecture.

[wplj42]

Check this out:

http://download.cnet.com/Q-kju/3000-209 ... ?tag=lst-1

[Sasquatch]

Sorry, I fail to see the point in this, as the first review already states this:

Cons: Not compatible w/ macs w/ powerpc chips.

So, it's still not working on PPC.

[wplj42]

I got the link via a YouTube video, where someone was using it on a G4 eMac. There must have been a time when it worked on PPC. I'm out of ideas, but at least I gave it a try. Good news is, I am fed up with my iMac. It will be for sale as soon as a replacement can be figured out. It is a mid 2007 Intel. As for this forum, and VB in general, I am fed up with it too.

Vaarwel ... Feel free to delete my user account on this forum.

[untmdsprt]

I got the link via a YouTube video, where someone was using it on a G4 eMac. There must have been a time when it worked on PPC. I'm out of ideas, but at least I gave it a try. Good news is, I am fed up with my iMac. It will be for sale as soon as a replacement can be figured out. It is a mid 2007 Intel. As for this forum, and VB in general, I am fed up with it too.

Vaarwel ... Feel free to delete my user account on this forum.

If you are fed up with your Intel Mac, why not just put a version of Linux on it, then install Wine? Wine is supposed to run most Windows software without the need for Windows.

[Sasquatch]

If you are fed up with your Intel Mac, why not just put a version of Linux on it, then install Wine? Wine is supposed to run most Windows software without the need for Windows.

You can compile Wine on Mac too and get Wine for Mac running, so you can run Windows apps through Wine on your Mac OSX system .

[nmiller]

OP might want to take a look at this page for alternatives to VirtualPC, now owned by M$: http://www.macwindows.com/pcemul.html. I'm not sure if VirtualPC is still available new, but a good place to look for used copies might be the Low End Mac Swap list. (http://lowendmac.com/lists/)

Since running XP or an older version of Windows, written for x86 processors on the PowerPC Macs requires hardware emulation, performance is not going to be that great. But if you're just wanting it for lightweight computing, it should handle the task.

HTH.