How does CPU virtualization compare to software emulation in terms of operating system support?

The chosen answer accurately highlights a key strength of software emulation by emphasizing its ability to run applications that are designed for different operating systems. Software emulation creates a virtual environment that mimics the hardware of a machine, allowing applications from various operating systems to execute as if they were running on their native environment. This versatility makes software emulation particularly valuable for compatibility with legacy or alternative systems that may not run directly on the existing hardware.

In contrast, CPU virtualization operates differently by leveraging the underlying hardware's features to create virtual machines. This means that CPU virtualization is generally geared towards running operating systems that are compatible with the host system's architecture, rather than enabling multi-OS compatibility as software emulation does. CPU virtualization can support modern 64-bit operating systems as well, extending beyond just legacy systems or limited architectures.

Thus, the capability for software emulation to facilitate cross-compatibility between operating systems is a significant advantage that supports the correctness of the chosen answer.