wine users - Jun 2010 - wine vs virtualbox

hi!

what is the difference between wine and a virtualisation like virtualbox? 

what are advantages and disadvantages compared to each other? 

peter

peter4444 wrote:
> 
> what is the difference between wine and a virtualisation like virtualbox? 
> 
> what are advantages and disadvantages compared to each other? 
> 

http://forum.winehq.org/viewtopic.php?t=7097

On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 15:08, peter4444 <wineforum-user at winehq.org>
wrote:
> what is the difference between wine and a virtualisation like virtualbox?
Wine runs (some) Windows applications under Linux / other Unix-like
OSes... Virtualbox runs operating systems...

If the application runs, Wine is usually much quicker. Wine might also
support 3D acceleration in cases where virtualization won't. (This is
getting less of a problem...)

(Wine emulates a Windows environment, Virtualbox emulates a
computer)
> what are advantages and disadvantages compared to each other?
Virtualbox requires a Windows license, but more applications work
(since they are running on actual Windows). It also uses more memory
(unless you hit a memory leak in Wine....) eand tend to run somewhat
slower (since you are running an entire operating system...)

VMs also tend to have timing issues...
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vmware_timekeeping.pdf

Gert

peter4444 <wineforum-user at winehq.org> wrote:
>
>hi!
Hello back.
>
>what is the difference between wine and a virtualisation like virtualbox? 
>
Wine is an attempt to build the Windows32/64 APIs to allow running of Windows
programs in a sort of Native way on UNIX/Linux.

Virtualbox is a virtual machine process.  You will need to purchase/own a copy
of Windows in order to run it on your system.
>what are advantages and disadvantages compared to each other? 
>
Well, Wine is FREE (basically) and does not require purchase of Windows. 
However, not all of the API is complete and some programs, which use software
security, will never run on it.  Also, Wine is a work in progress and is subject
to sudden changes as it is updated.  Some programs that run in a specific
version may not in others.

Virtualbox, itself is also FREE, but requires you to purchase a license and have
a copy of each operating system you want to use.  The advantage is that it
appears as real Windows, so any Windows program that is properly written to work
in a virtual environment will run, even those with software security.  Once
Windows is installed in a virtual environment, you only have to get updates from
Microsoft to be current.

BOTH present the 'danger' in that malware designed for Windows will run.
The amount of damage is mitigated in a virtual environment as no actual contact
with physical media should be allowed.

What you use is up to you.  If you are willing to contribute to Microsoft's
bottom line, virtual machines are the way to go.  If you are not, or are willing
to work with a in-progress system, then use Wine.

Great strides have been made in the last year to get major games and office
productivity software to work in Wine.

James McKenzie