There have been some rumours that OS X 10.5 (Leopard) will contain virtualization. To some extent it was confirmed today with Apples announcement of Boot Camp.
However, Boot Camp isn’t actually virtualization but rather enabling users to dual boot their Mac into a Windows OS.
What about VM Ware?
I’ve been a VM Ware user for a while and I’m quite happy with using it to run *nix or windows within one another. Granted you have relatively current hardware and sufficient RAM, the performance of virtualization ought to be good enough for it’s intent. No, it’s not intended for gaming in your virtual windows. ;)
What about using VM Ware to run OS X on your PC? It’s currently not supported. I say “currently” as I have hopes that one day VM Ware will release such support based on demand.
Ultimately, hardware is at a point now where you don’t actually need more than one box to support your multi-platform needs. The cost of VM Ware Workstation is by far cheaper (and more convenient) than investing in additional hardware.
Imagine a day when you have a single box (PowerMac?) in your office, a secure and stable *nix based host workstation running whichever virtual environment of your choosing. It all comes down to the right tool for the job. And as any carpenter would know, a hammer isn’t always the best tool for the job. ;)