VirtualBox
Runs a whole copy of Windows in a window on your Linux desktop.
Our verdict
VirtualBox is the last resort that always works. Instead of translating a Windows program, it runs Windows itself in a window, so the program cannot tell the difference.
That is the right answer for the tax package, the scanner software or the work application you cannot replace. Snapshots are a bonus, letting you save the state of the machine before a risky change and roll straight back.
The costs are real. You need a valid Windows licence, several gigabytes of memory set aside while it is running, and twenty gigabytes or more of disk. Graphics performance is poor, so games are out. Also note the Extension Pack, which adds USB device and webcam support, is licensed only for personal and educational use, not for a business.
What's good
- Runs real Windows, so a program that will not work any other way still works
- Snapshots let you take a picture of the machine and go back to it if something breaks
- Free, and the main program is open source
What to know first
- You still need a Windows licence and enough memory and disk space for it
- Games and anything needing a real graphics card run poorly or not at all
- The Extension Pack that adds USB and webcam support has a separate licence that excludes business use
The details
- Cost
- Free
- Open source
- Yes (GPL-3.0)
- How you install it
- .deb installer, .rpm installer, Built-in app store
Windows apps it can replace
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