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by wpdev_63 1841 days ago
It would be interesting to see microsoft to create a meta operating system that would run virtualized instances of windows 10, xp etc. to run applications securely and in the way to easily backup/version. I would easily pay $200 for such an operating system with enterprise grade support. There's nothing on the market like it right now.

I hope microsoft can figure out how to successfully monetize the operating system market again. I don't like them putting all their eggs in the cloud marketplace.
2 comments
jonwest 1841 days ago
Wouldn’t that necessitate them supporting every one of those OS’s, including security updates as well? Compatibility mode is one thing, but a virtualized instance would be something else entirely, I would think.
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hakfoo 1841 days ago
They did it in a limited fashion already. Remember the "XP Mode" addon for Windows 7?

I think if they had three compatibility VM modes: DOS/Windows 3.1 (might need a more complex DOSBox-like emulator, to solve the '64-bit OS doesn't like 16-bit stuff' problems), Win98SE, and WinXP, that would cover the vast majority of compatibility needs. Maybe there could be (downloadable from their store) more special-purpose images, for the guy who needs "WinME mode" or "Win2000 mode".

But it still feels like we're missing out on the true potential of VMs. They could be huge for privacy and security-- you run anything suspicious in a VM, and maybe only allow specifically (and user-configurable) permitted data to be persisted on disc.

I want my browser living in a seperate VM, that I can nuke from orbit in a single click. If I get drive-by downloaded, or just end up with a huge cookie file, poof, it's gone.

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iggldiggl 1841 days ago
> you run anything suspicious in a VM

I think Windows already has some sort of feature like that, although I never really tried it (and therefore can't say how smoothly to use the implementation is) because it requires HyperV, and at least on my computer HyperV breaks hibernation.

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wpdev_63 1841 days ago
QubeOS does what you are describing but it's obviously not as polished as a commercial product would be from microsoft. I believe chromeOS runs browser instances within their own vms and has pretty good security.
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swiley 1841 days ago
They already have personalities and ntvdm. The shell even has buttons for it (under properties for .exe files.)
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