But this way, you can use Windows-specific software and programs inside Linux without needing to install Windows fully. Unlike regular applications, it will consume lots of RAM. The bottom line is that with virtual machine software, you can use Windows like an application inside Linux. These are called virtual machines because they’re basically emulating other operating systems, but they’re not really interacting with the computer system like a true operating system would. With a virtual machine, you can run an operating system like an application inside your current operating system.

VirtualBox is open-source virtualization software from Oracle for creating virtual machines. What is VirtualBox and what are its advantages? In an earlier tutorial, I showed you how to install VMWare on Ubuntu, but in this one, we’ll be using Oracle VirtualBox to create virtual machines and installing Windows 10 on them. If, like me, you’re an infrequent user of Windows and don’t want to trouble yourself with dual booting Ubuntu and Windows 10, I suggest installing Windows 10 inside Linux by creating a virtual machine. It works well, except you have to switch between the operating systems by restarting them. One way to use the two systems together is to dual boot Windows and Linux.

I regularly encourage people to use Linux, and when I give them reasons to switch, I always mention that they can use Windows and Linux together if they’re ‘scared of Linux’.

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