Ok, so by know everyone more or less knows Virtual PC 2007 Beta, is available for download.  So here are my first impressions (not really facts).

  • It looks like the old version
  • A few dialogs, and defaults are different [and better]; eg properties of a VM, and the “New VM wizard” are subtly different
  • Runs VMs from the previous version
  • Save states are not compatible between versions
  • Save states are much faster
  • Creating a new VM is much nicer, with the option to specify a disk size
  • Leaving a VM at the “Reboot and Select proper Boot device” will still max out your CPU
  • Better with laptop power management (Fix for IntelPPM issue)
  • Supports greater than 2.2GB ISO images
  Virtual PC 2004 SP1 Virtual PC 2007 Beta
Build Version 5.5.3.582 6.0.112
Download size 18.2 Mb 25.7 Mb (beta)
Install time for XP SP2:    
  Default disk size 16 Gb 64 Gb
   Boot 0 0
   Copy Files 12 12
   Finish install 37 minutes 33 minutes
   VM Additions 13.306 13.724

Now for those who are going to install Vista (and I imagine most of you are because) it installs so much better. the VM Additions included 13.709 supports Vista 5472.5 and your mileage will vary.   You may want to grab the latest additions 13.715 from connect.microsoft.com