With a virtual machine, you can dabble in all kinds of alternative operating systems, like installing Windows 10 inside Linux. Here's how.

So if you buy a Windows 8 System Builder OEM box and install it in a virtual machine, you can upgrade it to Windows 8.1 and you have followed the license terms to the letter.

Trying Linux is easy—you can even install it on a USB drive or disc to try it out before committing. Enter the world of open-source here.