VMware took the latest shot this week in the Mac virtualization war by announcing VMware Fusion 3.0. According to their press release, here’s why you should pay attention:
VMware Fusion 3 will include more than 50 new features and enhancements, delivering a better-than-ever Windows on Mac experience. Key highlights include:
- Optimized for Snow Leopard. Built from the ground up for the Mac, VMware Fusion 3 leverages Mac OS X Snow Leopard’s advanced architecture with a new 64-bit core engine and native support for the 64-bit kernel, delivering even better Windows on Mac performance.
- Ultimate Windows 7 Experience. VMware Fusion 3 will be the first to enable the full Windows 7 experience, side-by-side with your Mac, complete with Windows Aero and Flip 3D.
- Switching Made Easy. VMware Fusion 3 will make it easy for users to bring their entire PC to their Mac in a few easy steps – wirelessly or with a simple Ethernet cable – allowing customers to protect investments in existing Windows software, and to keep using the programs they still need.
- Best-in-Class 3D Graphics. Support for OpenGL 2.1 and DirectX 9.0c Shader Model 3 will enable users to run their favorite 3D Windows games and applications – all without rebooting.
Okay. I was all set to be impressed by this, but if I look at their chief rival Parallels Desktop and compare features between the two, this is what I see:
Optimized for Snow Leopard – Parallels Desktop had support for Snow Leopard when Snow Leopard shipped back in August. But they shipped an update a day or two after Snow Leopard shipped (Build 3846 of Parallels Desktop 4.0) to ensure that you’re covered.
Ultimate Windows 7 Experience – Okay, they’re one up on Parallels Desktop there since the current version of Parallels Desktop doesn’t do Aero or Flip 3D.
Switching Made Easy – Parallels came out with a special version of Parallels Desktop (called the “Switch To Mac Edition”) that did exactly this back in August.
Best-in-Class 3D Graphics – The current version of Parallels Desktop with support for DirectX 9.0, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0 and OpenGL 2.0 is close to what VMware Fusion 3 is going to support. Let’s agree to call this a tie.
So it seems to me that some of the new features in VMware Fusion 3 are meant to catch up to Parallels Desktop 4.0. While they have made a jump with support for Aero and Flip 3D, I’m having a hard time getting excited about this announcement. I guess I’ll have to wait until October 27 when the product ships to really get a handle on where this stands compared to their chief rival.
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This entry was posted on October 9, 2009 at 8:33 am and is filed under Commentary with tags VMWare. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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VMware Fusion 3 Announced… But Should You Care?
VMware took the latest shot this week in the Mac virtualization war by announcing VMware Fusion 3.0. According to their press release, here’s why you should pay attention:
VMware Fusion 3 will include more than 50 new features and enhancements, delivering a better-than-ever Windows on Mac experience. Key highlights include:
Okay. I was all set to be impressed by this, but if I look at their chief rival Parallels Desktop and compare features between the two, this is what I see:
Optimized for Snow Leopard – Parallels Desktop had support for Snow Leopard when Snow Leopard shipped back in August. But they shipped an update a day or two after Snow Leopard shipped (Build 3846 of Parallels Desktop 4.0) to ensure that you’re covered.
Ultimate Windows 7 Experience – Okay, they’re one up on Parallels Desktop there since the current version of Parallels Desktop doesn’t do Aero or Flip 3D.
Switching Made Easy – Parallels came out with a special version of Parallels Desktop (called the “Switch To Mac Edition”) that did exactly this back in August.
Best-in-Class 3D Graphics – The current version of Parallels Desktop with support for DirectX 9.0, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0 and OpenGL 2.0 is close to what VMware Fusion 3 is going to support. Let’s agree to call this a tie.
So it seems to me that some of the new features in VMware Fusion 3 are meant to catch up to Parallels Desktop 4.0. While they have made a jump with support for Aero and Flip 3D, I’m having a hard time getting excited about this announcement. I guess I’ll have to wait until October 27 when the product ships to really get a handle on where this stands compared to their chief rival.
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This entry was posted on October 9, 2009 at 8:33 am and is filed under Commentary with tags VMWare. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.