Parallel vs Fusion

[fangpyre]

You guys love to blame microsoft but ALL microsoft websites are MAC friendly even Hotmail/MSN portal.

In this middle-country we have little choice as mac users. That's why we need virtualisation....

True.
But it wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for MS technology.
But of course, MS is looking after its bottom line.
And to think ANY company, including Apple, would do otherwise is insane.

[dandantheitman]

What I do like about VMWare is the vast amount of pre-built VMs already available. So it you are testing something and you need to spin up a quick Windows 2000vm or a SuSE linux 9.2 VM then they are all available for download. This helps me out immensely.

Dan

[michl]

What I do like about VMWare is the vast amount of pre-built VMs already available. So it you are testing something and you need to spin up a quick Windows 2000vm or a SuSE linux 9.2 VM then they are all available for download. This helps me out immensely.

Very true. Yet one has to be mindful of licensing issues, of course (Windows 2000? ...)

By the way, Parallels Desktop has them too, called "Virtual Appliances" (yuk!). See the Parallels support forum for instance.

[hakka]

Regarding ability to download VMs. I never usging pre-made VMs - for my testing environments i prefer to build custom made all the time, also u never know how GOOD actually they made it, and moreover what about Windows activations, keys, etc - is it legal? You sure?

The big benefit VMware has is ESX platform and connected technologies such as VMotion, Virtual SMP, VirtualLab, templates etc etc.... very handy... But its not for consumers its for admins mostly....

And on consumer level Paralles offers much more than VMware for Mac.

[dandantheitman]

Very true. Yet one has to be mindful of licensing issues, of course (Windows 2000? ...)

By the way, Parallels Desktop has them too, called "Virtual Appliances" (yuk!). See the Parallels support forum for instance.

MY Bad. Not windows

[michl]

VMware announced the latest update to its Fusion virtualization software, with a new version optimized for Snow Leopard and sporting full support for Windows 7, including Aero. ... Retail price is USD 80, upgrade price USD 40.

[michl]

It's official: VMware releases Fusion 3 for Mac with full Windows 7 support.

Meanwhile, it seems Parallels Desktop for Mac 5.0 is coming soon.

And Wikipedia has updated its Comparison of VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop.

[michl]

For those interested, the excellent Ars Technica has posted a 7-part in-depth review of Parallels Desktop 5, with comparison to VMware Fusion 3. Conclusion here.

[hakka]

2 Michl,

Strange comparison you know. Fusion has lots of bugs too. I doubt they ever will fix their OWN OVF export format support in Fusion. Yes u read it right - u CANNOT export virtual machine from Fusion to VM workstation or ESX/VSphere. Also I do like network adapters in VBox better that in Fusion.

Surely Parallels has its bugs, but overall it better integrated into OSX and give me less headache after all. All BSOD this guy mentioned - its about network settings, i submit the bugs already )) will be soon fixed.

My vote - if you on mac - Parallels desktop
if you on Windows - VMWare Workstation/PLayer or VBox.
Linux/Other unix -> VBox

if you really crazy geek big time - try Q-Emu...

[michl]

@ hakka, thanks for the insight! Very appreciated.

Otherwise... Sheepshaver rules!