Bochs

crap

Overall, it's fine, but in this day unless a user is on Linux, they aren't interested in this much work. And it really isn't worth it with the latest edition of Virtual Box out there (finally).

To all those people who claim that this software is too difficult to use: it's not. If you're too lazy to figure out anything on your own, then this is not for you. Missing a configuration file? It's all explained on the bochs website: http://bochs.sourceforge.net/doc/docbook/user/bochsrc.html You HAVE to create your own configuration file for every virtual machine, as Bochs expects each virtual machine you want will be different. Even if you couldn't find that with Google search, the readme clearly explains that all docs can be found either http://bochs.sf.net/doc/docbook/index.html or http://bochs.sf.net/docs-html Nothing in life is completely free. The reason why VPC, Parallels, VMWare, etc. are so "expensive" is precisely that free alternatives are more difficult to use. However, just because Bochs doesn't have a nice GUI to hold your hand through every step of the way doesn't mean the instructions aren't clear. No CS knowledge is even needed--just copy and paste things from the website. If it doesn't do what you expect, ask someone on the Bochs mailing list. If you're too lazy, then you deserve to lose $60 to Parallels or VMWare to buy their software. BTW, Helmo: If you really want to run C64 or Vic 20 software, there are emulators available on the internet. Bochs has the ability to emulate an entire IA-32 computer including whatever hardware you wish for it to have. It's for testing one OS on another OS, not for playing games, running Windows 95, or whatever you thought it was for. I suggest you find something better to do than trolling on MU, like learning English.

Well as far as i can see, no evolution since ages, we're quite close to a total integration for both i386 and ppc hardware compatibility mobos, and they still make an emulator to run win95??? c'mon...... humm why not intruducing another one in which i could run Commodore 64? or better like Vic 20? ok lets say its good and I really like it, where in the hell do you find applications to run on it? Vista is out there, and already most of applications won't even run on XP, and i should spend my time on compiling the source to install a project based on my grand mother 'puter? lol and then..?

Compiling and installing Bochs isn't soo hard. It's described here: http://bochs.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/topper.pl?name=New+Bochs+Documentation&url=http://bochs.sourceforge.net/doc/docbook/user/index.html You don't even need to read this, though. The steps to compile and install are rather simple. Do this: 1) Get the Developer Tools and install them (if you haven't already). You can get the Dev Tools for free from Apple's Developer website after you have registered as a Developer using the "free plan". 2) Download the bochs source package. Unpack it. 3) Open the Terminal. Change into the bochs directory by typing "cd " and dragging the unpacked bochs directory into the Terminal window. Press the Return key. 4) Enter the following lines, waiting for the operation to finish after each line: configure make sudo make install Each will take a while and you will see hundreds of lines printed out. This is normal. The last command (sudo make install) will ask for your administrator password which is your normal login password if you're a user that is allowed to administer the Mac. You now have a finished MacOSX binary executable inside the bochs directory. You can launch it by double-clicking it like usual. It will complain about not being able to open a hard disk image file and an unknown display extension "vbe". To fix this, follow these detailed instructions to setup bochs. Afterwards, everything will work fine. http://bochs.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/topper.pl?name=New+Bochs+Documentation&url=http://bochs.sourceforge.net/doc/docbook/user/index.html It does take some time. And it does help to RTFM once in a while.

Well that's great that they have source code that can possibly be compiled to hopefully create a usable binary. But we're on a Mac, we want binaries and we want them to "just work." The latest MacOS X binary is version 2.1.1, which might as well be the source code. It just tells me to run a script, which then runs Bochs from the terminal, which asks me to load some configuration file, and there is no information on where to obtain one of these files or how to make one. Yes, I read the read me. Useless. Granted, I understand it takes alot of effort to wrap these things up elegantly in order to make them just work. But, until they have a real GUI front end on this thing, don't bother. Check out Q, or just get VPC or Parallels.

The instructions that come with the binary version are no good - "cannot find image file".

Unfortunately, many open source projects require some rudamentary "CS" (computer science) knowledge, e.g. How to use a command line, what gcc is, etc. If you do not possess these skills, I recommend looking to see if a "binary" (i.e. pre-compiled) version is available from someone. Many people make them available as a service to the less skilled, or those who dont have the time. Alternatively, look at a commercial solution, e.g. Virtual PC.

Can someone please explain how this works? I have no idea how to compile something and the website with "instructions" sucks. I am all about open source but the difficulty level to get this stuff to work is ridiculous.

Can't get it to build on my machine.. brand new iMac G5 too..

Cannot get it run on mine either. (Neither the 2.2 nor the 2.1.1) OSX 10.3.9

Nice and free.

I can't get it to work either, but I know that's just because I can't be bothered to read up on it enough. :) That doesn't mean other people won't find a use for it. I think the previous reviewers should show a bit more sense. Just because you can't work it out doesn't make it rubbish. Not ALL mac users need/want the same things.

Far too complex for the new Mac user!

I thought the price of VPC was very steep. So I tried Bochs 2.1.1. I did not have much luck with it. Lots of configurations, etc. So I bought the OpenOSX version of Boch 2.1.1 which is advertised to be recompiled with optimizing compiler from IBM and have Mac style installer. Making a long story short, I went back and bought VPC. The price of VPC is not steep anymore!!! in comparison.

If VPC is a Pentium I then Bochs is a PDP11. :) I've not been able to install anything to it yet.

its a very good software and its cool try it now

Unusably slow on my G3 350, but you may encounter more success on Apple's latest iron. Lacks some important features such as physical CD-ROM support and resolution greater than 640 x 480. Still, stemming from an open-source project, this emulator shows promise. Check out my notes on installing Windows 98 here: http://www.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~fuhrer/personal/emulation/MacBochs/