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Ask HN: Best desktop android running as VM?
4 points by botw on Nov 13, 2015 | hide | past | favorite | 8 comments
Is there a good desktop android running as a VM? can run android APKs, terminal, copy/paste among apps and between host/guest windows. I need to type a lot into android apps from keyboard instead of tapping.



Have you tried Microsoft's Android Emulator?

https://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/features/msft-android-emu...

Genymotion could be another choice.

I only tried both, I remember the default VM being a bit of a pain, so I guess either should be better.


Microsoft's Android Emulator is by far my favorite.


You could run GenyMotion as a VM on any laptop. (https://www.genymotion.com)

Or if you just want Android a Lenova Yoga?


The Bluestacks emulator (90M users) is available on PC and Mac, http://www.bluestacks.com


Be warned that the Bluestacks software is an insidious little thing. It works, mostly, but 1) the stack is out of date (it was still on 4.0 last I used it only a couple months ago), 2) it comes pre-installed with an awful spammy launcher and superfluous game software, 3) it floods the system with superfluous extra processes, and 4) it even attempts to fool you into thinking you've uninstalled it when you haven't.

You can fix 2) by installing an alternate launcher, and in the case of 4), the main uninstaller does nothing, you'll actually want to uninstall the "BlueStacks Notification Center" to actually get rid of it.


Not sure it meets your task requirements, but typically you can pair a Bluetooth keyboard with an Android device.


If it fits your usecase, Arc Welder works like a charm.


Well a chromebook rund Android apps pretty well.




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