Recently a great idea came to myself.
Windows 7 Professional comes with the ability to install Windows XP Mode. Its basically an image of virtual Windows XP that you can run with virtualization technology such as (of course) Microsoft Virtual PC or Virtual Server. The purpose of Microsoft providing this image is to “debug”, “test” legacy applications. But I found a very sweet use of the image though: as the main workspace instead of the Windows 7 host itself.
Basically what I did is, I assign 50% of the available physical RAM to the Windows XP Mode. My laptop has 2 GB of RAM, so I assign 1024 MB of RAM for Windows XP. Why I did this, is because 2 GB of RAM for Windows 7 is just barely enough, and when I’m running heavy applications (Eclipse, WinSCP, etc), Win 7 becomes lag and it takes quite long to hibernate/resume the computer.
But the Windows XP Mode, having 1 GB RAM, is particularly fast and very responsive to work with. So I end up installing and running those programs in the Windows XP Mode, while I leave the Windows 7 just for some personal stuffs, such as browsing, MSN, Torrents/downloading, that do not require much of resources. The result is I end up having both fast and responsive personal and workspace environments.
Other than perceived better performance, its also very easy to hibernate the workspace (Virtual machine). Just close the Virtual PC and all the files and settings will be kept “frozen” until I resume it by activating the Virtual PC. It also offers better maintenance scenario, in case the workspace is corrupted I just need to reinstall Windows XP Mode, and not the entire host OS (Windows 7).
It also enables me to start/shutdown/hibernate/resume the Windows 7 very quickly, below 1 minute each. As long as they are done without having the Windows XP Mode still running.
Its a so-sweeeet configuration..
Now I wonder… Will that violate the EULA of the Windows XP Mode ?