VMWare or Virtual PC

I have just returned to Windows from a years journey with Linux, and interesting it was, I even helped beta test Linspire from Alpha to Gold release version. But now Ive bought a new laptop with XP on it an dfor the most pasrt my Linux journey is over.

however, I am still heavily involved in one particular Linux project and need the ability to test Alpha and Beta releases, which I want to do on a virtual machine, so I'd really appreciate any information or advce to the following question:-

Which is the best to run on Windows XP with SP2, VMWare Workstation or Virtual PC. By "Best" I mean the most stable and inlikely to corrupt my XP OS. Im leaningtoward virtual PC as its a microsoft product so should be completely compatible an dhave the best stability, but has anyone got any info etc?

Thanks


PS: Nice to be here!!!!