What are some good, free "virtual machine" apps? [closed]

I've been out of the virtual machine market for a while. Back in 2005, I used Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 (not free) and the current version of VMWare (not free). What are some good, free solutions?

I'm sick of trying out new software on my host OS and hosing it!

Solution 1:

I've been using Sun's VirtualBox for the past little while, and I have been completely happy with it.

Update: I have been wanting to update this to provide some of the reasons why I am perfectly happy with it, but in doing that I will take way from the comments that other's have added. So, with that said, I highly recommend people read the associated comments.

Solution 2:

VMWare Player and VMWare server are free. You'll need an appropriate image to start for Player, of course.

(And you mention VirtualPC, but that's free as well now, I believe.

Solution 3:

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 IS free, download it here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=04D26402-3199-48A3-AFA2-2DC0B40A73B6&displaylang=en

Solution 4:

Virtualbox from Sun and VMWare Server are both free.

Solution 5:

In my very recent experience between Virtual PC, VMWare, and VirtualBox:

If you want 3D Graphics Acceleration: VMWare. Program seems to fail DirectX check immediately on the other two.

Otherwise some Google querying with the underutilized wildcard can yield some quick comparisons, e.g.: "virtualbox * faster OR performance * virtual pc" (and then reverse the order, substitute names, etc.) repeated for whichever quality you wish.

I'm personally very satisfied with VirtualBox and its performance, but needs vary.