Mac Sales Extend to "Cyber Monday" and VMWare Fusion 2.0 as Low as $10

[MacRumors]

Perhaps in an effort to extend the buying frenzy of Black Friday, the Monday following Black Friday has been (controversially) dubbed Cyber Monday. Many online retailers have decided to extend or start new sales on this day. While Apple is not participating in such activities, the big 3rd party Apple retailers have continued their Black Friday sales through Monday night. Our price comparison chart has been updated with the latest pricing from MacMall, MacConnection and Amazon which continue to have discounts as high at $300 on MacBook Pros.

VMWare also let us know that they are taking the opportunity to offer a substantial one day sale which discounts their Windows virtualization application, VMWare Fusion from $79.99 down to $39.99 using coupon code "CyberMondayDeal". Of note, this discount is combinable with VMWare's $30 competitive rebate for existing Parallels and Virtual PC customers. VMWare's Peter Kazanjy explains that this would bring the cost down to $10 for those switching:

So on Monday, anyone worldwide can pick up Fusion for 50% off (~$40), and Parallels and Virtual PC users in the US and Canada can switch for only $10.

Those interested in the competitive upgrade should buy directly from VMWare (using Promo Code "CyberMondayDeal"). For those who are buying fresh, Amazon is another option as they are also offering VMWare Fusion 2.0 for $39.99 (though it's not clear if the competitive upgrade rebate is honored there).

Article Link: Mac Sales Extend to "Cyber Monday" and VMWare Fusion 2.0 as Low as $10

[DocNYz]

for the $30 rebate, will they need just a product-key from the other programs, or have to have them actually installed and running on the computer?

[GSMiller]

So how does VMWare know if you're switching from Parallels or Virtual PC?

[Marx55]

Also the OQO (the smallest MAC in the World)
http://www.oqotalk.com/index.php/topic,2672.0.html

AT HALF PRICE on Expansys:

OQO model 02 Holiday Weekend Offer
http://www.oqotalk.com/index.php/topic,3274.0.html

Go to
http://www.expansys.com
Select your country on top right corner.
Search for OQO
Sort by price
Look for the 1.6 GHz model. There is one option at half price.

OQO weights 454 g and is pocketable:

OQO model 02
OQO model e2
http://www.oqo.com
http://www.oqo.com/products/modele2/specifications.html

ONLY FROM 28 NOVEMBER TO 1 DECEMBER 2008

[nslyax]

From the VMWare site:

Copy of Online Rebate Confirmation page (or) Completed Mail in Rebate Form.
Copy of VMware Fusion Proof of Purchase – Store Receipt or Email/Web Order Confirmation.
Original UPC Barcode from VMware Fusion. *
Proof of Previous Ownership of Qualifying Competitive Products†

a) Front cover of product manual (OR)
b) Proof of purchase (receipt, email confirmation, web confirmation) AND product serial number.

Too bad the cyber monday deal can't be applied to academic discount.

[Michael CM1]

For someone who has never used VMWare Fusion and has only seen Parallels demoed on a tricked-out Mac Pro, what's the verdict on it? At some point I would love to run Windows on here so I can play a few games that are PC-only, but I haven't seen the cost justification (mainly the $200 for XP).

[Winni]

Originally Posted by Michael CM1

For someone who has never used VMWare Fusion and has only seen Parallels demoed on a tricked-out Mac Pro, what's the verdict on it? At some point I would love to run Windows on here so I can play a few games that are PC-only, but I haven't seen the cost justification (mainly the $200 for XP).

I own licenses for both Parallels Desktop and VMWare Fusion, but VMWare Fusion is the better product in all aspects and especially when you also want to run alternate operating systems like Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris or anything else in it.

However, when you want to play games, you won't be needing either, because games only work properly when you run Windows natively, which in Apple terms means you have to use BootCamp.

But my honest opinion is that you should buy an Xbox 360 for your gaming needs. Apple hardware still is a poor choice for gaming, the company does not even offer up-to-date graphics cards for the Mac Pro series. The already out-dated nVidia 8800GT is the hottest graphics card for games that Apple offers, and that baby is second-last generation at best and choking when you run beasts like Crysis (or even STALKER) on it.

But even if Apple had high-end gaming graphics cards in the offer, the Xbox 360 would still be the better option.

[TuckBodi]

I personally have been disappointed in the Black Friday and now Cyber Monday sales. I've been tracking hard drive prices for over a month waiting patiently for this weekend only to find out there were better deals a month ago (FreeAgent 1tb for $114 and Iomega 2tb for $150). And then recently I've been eyeing the Western Digital TV only to see it jump up in price by $20 this weekend.

Guess the dealers think we're just lemmings and believe we're getting a good deal because it's Thanksgiving weekend. Just waiting for the poor sales results to come in and them sating we're tight with our wallets...

[KingYaba]

I use VirtualBox. Does that count as a competitor of Vmware?

[Michael CM1]

Originally Posted by Winni

I own licenses for both Parallels Desktop and VMWare Fusion, but VMWare Fusion is the better product in all aspects and especially when you also want to run alternate operating systems like Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris or anything else in it.

However, when you want to play games, you won't be needing either, because games only work properly when you run Windows natively, which in Apple terms means you have to use BootCamp.

But my honest opinion is that you should buy an Xbox 360 for your gaming needs. Apple hardware still is a poor choice for gaming, the company does not even offer up-to-date graphics cards for the Mac Pro series. The already out-dated nVidia 8800GT is the hottest graphics card for games that Apple offers, and that baby is second-last generation at best and choking when you run beasts like Crysis (or even STALKER) on it.

But even if Apple had high-end gaming graphics cards in the offer, the Xbox 360 would still be the better option.

Sounds like I'll just stick without getting anything. I have a MBP with the old ATI graphics card (1200?), which isn't bad but isn't even the older Nvidia one. I mainly would like to try out the new Command & Conquer game and something else like that. I have a Nintendo Wii for games, but there are one or two that are PC-only that I would like to play. I'll be screaming at EA when the next Sim City comes out if it's not for Mac. Arrgh.

[MasterNile]

I got Parallels with the MacUpdate Promo Bundle back in April, I have the email receipt, so I should be able to send that + the product serial number and receive Fusion for $10 correct?

[ab2650]

Originally Posted by MasterNile

I got Parallels with the MacUpdate Promo Bundle back in April, I have the email receipt, so I should be able to send that + the product serial number and receive Fusion for $10 correct?

I'm in the same boat getting Parallels with the MU Promo... It all looks legit, but I don't particularly feel comfortable sending VMWare my Parallels serial number.

I'm pretty content with Parallels however, so I'm in no big rush to switch.

[iDarbert]

Is the competitive rebate also available outside the US?

[imac9556]

Originally Posted by ab2650

I'm in the same boat getting Parallels with the MU Promo... It all looks legit, but I don't particularly feel comfortable sending VMWare my Parallels serial number.

I'm pretty content with Parallels however, so I'm in no big rush to switch.

Did anyone find out whether the MacUpdate promo that bundled Parallels with it is eligible for this rebate?
Thanks, Paul

[tibi08]

Why has naming it "Cyber Monday" been controversial?

[MasterNile]

Originally Posted by tibi08

Why has naming it "Cyber Monday" been controversial?

Did you click the link directly after (controversially)?

if you did you might find in the wiki:

Criticism

Some critics online and in the media have called for a boycott of the term, calling it a useless media buzzword with no basis in fact. Fark founder Drew Curtis critically mocks the term in his book It's Not News, It's Fark as a leading example of holiday-based "fluff journalism".[7]

Website

At the official Cyber Monday site run by Shop.org, more than 500 retailers offered discounts for the 2007 holidays. As a Motley Fool article noted, many of these same deals can be found elsewhere.

However, wasn't black friday started the same way as this "Cyber Monday"? And if major companies join the bandwagon then it might become like another black friday, but with out people getting trampled, hurt, or even dying.

[IJ Reilly]

Originally Posted by MasterNile

However, wasn't black friday started the same way as this "Cyber Monday"? And if major companies join the bandwagon then it might become like another black friday, but with out people getting trampled, hurt, or even dying.

IIRC, the term "Black Friday" was first used by retailers to describe the huge wave of shoppers hitting the stores on the day after Thanksgiving. Somewhere along the line (quite recently) it was picked up by the media and turned into a generic name for the biggest shopping day of the year. So I don't think it's any more or less legitimate than "Cyber Monday."

[irun5k]

The upgrade to VMWare for $10 has some appeal.

My issue with Parallels was that the last version basically goobered up my Mac. It took and make file associations with all the apps that were in all my Windows virtual machines! It took a while to clean this up and I'm not sure I got all the pieces. This really, really made me mad because while you can apparently turn this feature "off", it pretty much did its thing without asking, and it is opt-out instead of opt-in.

However, I just looked at the VMWare web site.... looks like Fusion now does the same thing!?! Is it as intrusive? I want my virtual machines sand boxed, for crying out loud.

[avkills]

Originally Posted by irun5k

The upgrade to VMWare for $10 has some appeal.

My issue with Parallels was that the last version basically goobered up my Mac. It took and make file associations with all the apps that were in all my Windows virtual machines! It took a while to clean this up and I'm not sure I got all the pieces. This really, really made me mad because while you can apparently turn this feature "off", it pretty much did its thing without asking, and it is opt-out instead of opt-in.

However, I just looked at the VMWare web site.... looks like Fusion now does the same thing!?! Is it as intrusive? I want my virtual machines sand boxed, for crying out loud.

Yeah I had the same thing happen; pissed the hell out of me; all sorts of crap thrown into the Mac menus.

Fusion does not do this nearly as bad as Parallels. I think it only does it when you run Unity mode; but even then it is pretty clean.

I like Fusion better than Parallels; even the VM OS install is easier.

-mark

[scott523]

Originally Posted by MacRumors

While Apple is not participating in such activities, the big 3rd party Apple retailers have continued their Black Friday sales through Monday night.

I think it's safe to say Apple is "trying their best"... well not the best but trying to contribute in "Cyber Monday" by offering free shipping on all items in the online store.

[MasterNile]

Originally Posted by scott523

I think it's safe to say Apple is "trying their best"... well not the best but trying to contribute in "Cyber Monday" by offering free shipping on all items in the online store.

lol however they normally offer free shipping for anything over $50, and there aren't too many worthwhile things on the online store that are less than $50 anyway.

[SydneyDev]

How on earth are EMC making any money off this thing? First they offer 2.0 as a free upgrade to 1.0 users, and now this $10 switch.

[MasterNile]

Originally Posted by SydneyDev

How on earth are EMC making any money off this thing? First they offer 2.0 as a free upgrade to 1.0 users, and now this $10 switch.

Well it helps take market share away from Parallels. Some people that had bought Parallels have been wanting to switch over to Fusion but didn't want to spend another $80 after already paying $80 for Parallels so they just keep using Parallels, this gives them the incentive to make the switch. So if this deal gets 10 people to buy fusion instead of say 1 person buying it at normal price they're still $20 ahead of where they would have been and it gives them more market share in the VM world of Mac which means they can charge for there next version and make even more money.

[fendol]

Interesting definition...

Trying isn't good enough, it presupposes apple hasn't done it, I think they could care less about their prices, it's the "you want it or you don't"

[nado]

For those interested in virtual machines, have a look at the free VirtualBox. I purchased Parallels last year and after trying VirtualBox for a week, it looks like I'll just ditch my purchase!

http://www.virtualbox.org/