Android Emulators for Windows and Mac

[ffutures]

Everyone seems to say that Bluestacks is the best Android emulator for Mac and Windows - any dissenting voices? Any downside?

Reason I'm asking, someone is working on an Android version of Oolite, the Elite work-alike, I'd really like to give it a try when it's available.

Comments

[ggreig]

Microsoft just announced that they've made their Android Emulator available independently of the developer tools.

Note it would require x64 Windows 8 or later and a CPU with hardware support for virtualisation (because it's based on Hyper-V which first became an integral part of the OS at Win8, and has that hardware requirement).

I don't have experience of using either, and suspect that Bluestacks will be the better option for you short term, but think the MS Emulator will be worth keeping an eye on.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Can't use the Microsoft one, I'm running Windows 7 and not planning to change any time soon.

[ggreig]

In case you didn't know, Windows 10 (release just under a week away) is a free downloadable upgrade for Windows 7 or 8 during the first year. However, fair enough whatever your choice :-)

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

How badly does it fuck up your computer?

[ggreig]

I expect that's largely a matter of opinion :-)

I've had the previews installed on a sacrificial machine next to me at work, and haven't had any problems with it, but I haven't used it extensively, so it wouldn't really be fair for me to give it a clean bill of health on those grounds.

In terms of the Start Screen, which is what everyone seemed to hate about Windows 8, it's gone, and has been replaced by a hybrid Start Menu that's half traditional Start Menu and half tiles. Most people seem to think it's an improvement. Personally, it'll take a bit of a period of adjustment which won't really start (for me) until I'm using it on a day-to-day basis.