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Parallels 9 vs. Fusion 6 (Merged)

dyn said:
Funny you should say that because VMware applies the exact same tactics as Parallels does just like Apple and many many more ;) The price you talk about is solely taxes, etc. etc. that has been determined by your government that your people voted for. You can keep telling yourself lies but this is how things work around the world. Switzerland is no exception to this at all!
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It's quite clear that you're not the brightest around here, so I'll repeat it for you: This has NOTHING to do with my government and EVERYTHING with Parallels. When importing goods, the importer (me) has to handle all duties, taxes and so on. No other foreign company does the same, no matter how often you repeat that. (Swiss companies or companies with local offices have to collect the taxes and pay all the import duties themselves) It's clear that you're clueless about the reality, but at least do your homework before blabbering nonsense.

And since you mentioned apple:
Logic Pro X: 200 Swiss Francs or 199.99$, a difference of about 9%, which is easily explained by 8% taxes and some buffer for currency volatility and neater rounded numbers.
Final Cut Pro: 299.99$ or 300 Swiss Francs. Again about the same.

And VMWare asked for only the 8% tax and didn't even include any currency conversion costs.

Even Amazon doesn't change the price of goods (other than REMOVING the german taxes from their prices, and expecting I pay the swiss ones myself)

Conclusion: Parallels try to cheat. And they FAIL at it.
 
maflynn said:
http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?258991-Turn-off-ads
http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1163771
http://www.redmondpie.com/parallels...ull-support-for-retina-display-and-windows-8/

Just google it and you'll see a lot of hits. I can't speak for the current version but there has been a lot of discussion over the net about Parallels using advertisements in their commercial app.
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These links revert to 2011 and 2012, I have used version 8 and 9 since begin of August this year and have nevers seen an ad.
 
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If you follow the links you'll see they do NOT cost the same and it wouldn't make sense if they did. Full price costs more than upgrade (not that much more currently). The only problem is that for upgrade you need to have a Fusion license (4.x or 5.x or 5.x professional). There currently doesn't seem to be a Parallels cross upgrade version available. Probably because the full version plus discount is lower than the cross upgrade version (iirc the discount for cross upgrade is about 20%, this discount is 35% so it would make sense not to have a cross upgrade version).
 
dyn said:
If you follow the links you'll see they do NOT cost the same and it wouldn't make sense if they did. Full price costs more than upgrade (not that much more currently). The only problem is that for upgrade you need to have a Fusion license (4.x or 5.x or 5.x professional). There currently doesn't seem to be a Parallels cross upgrade version available. Probably because the full version plus discount is lower than the cross upgrade version (iirc the discount for cross upgrade is about 20%, this discount is 35% so it would make sense not to have a cross upgrade version).
Click to expand...

Wrong.

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Oldmanmac said:
That seems to be the case……
There isn't a clear way to cross upgrade.
Click to expand...

Follow the second link I gave above, click on the button labeled "Upgrade from Parallels and Save". I tried this yesterday and the price was exactly the same as that of a full version (which is now discounted due to this cyber monday thing).
 
cbreak said:
Wrong.
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I merely summarised what's on link #1. If you think it is wrong then remove that link and contact VMware about their incorrect information.

Follow the second link I gave above, click on the button labeled "Upgrade from Parallels and Save". I tried this yesterday and the price was exactly the same as that of a full version (which is now discounted due to this cyber monday thing).
Click to expand...
I did overlook that button but like I said, the cyber discount makes buying the full version a better idea (the wording on the site and yours seem to be supporting that). It wouldn't be the first time buying the full version of Fusion to be the cheapest option (neither for Parallels; keep an eye for deals on Amazon).

Anyway, if you want more info about price and licensing check out the official KB article about it (prices in USD!): VMware Fusion 6.0 sales, licensing, and compatibility FAQs (2032855) .
 
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maflynn said:
I also don't like the idea that Parallels shows ads, being a paid app - bad precedent and one that I don't want to reward with giving them my money.
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I am using Parallels since 7 years, presently Parallels 9 on a MBP and I have never seen any ads. The only thing they show is a when there is a major new version, which happens about once every 18 months or so. Is that what you mean with the ads?
The only thing I do not like is that it is a license for 1 machine and this might be a reason for me to move someday to VMware.
 
Parallels vs. Fusion question

Hi,
I am about to buy an iMac, but have been a Windows user for 20+ years. So I am used to Windows. I think I'd like to run some of my Windows applications at least for a while on the iMac.

I've read on this forum that there are ads on the Parallels product. True? Why?

Which one uses more CPU resources, memory, etc? Are these environments big hogs? Just curious what people think?

I've used VMWare at work where we run Linux in a window on PCs. So I'm familiar with VMWare's products. But I'm sure the VMWare Fusion product must be totally different.

I would run Windows 7 Professional or some other variant.

Thanks in advance.
Steve

Thanks,
Steve
 
Both products offer trial versions I recommend you try both. They each of their own advantages/disadvantages.

Parallels is a faster for games but has a reputation of being less stable. Fusion, slower but stable. When I say slower, I mean for games, all other tasks you'll not see any issues.

I personally like Fusion, as it has superior support and it works as advertised.
 
If you are familiar with VMWare, then I would just buy that. I do no recommend installing each demo and trying them both out.

I run VMWare and am amazed at how it runs. I get slightly faster Speedtest.net results with WinXP on VMware 5. CPU tasks are pretty much passthrough for what I have done. There is some IO overhead, but having tons of RAM on the host machine really helps there.

I have heard Parallels might do games better.

B
 
Thanks
Do Parallels have ads? I read that somewhere.

I'll have 8GB of RAM, an i7.

Should I have any issues with Quicken Deluxe for Windows for example. I've used it for decades going from version to version. I read the Mac version isn't as good and lacks features, etc.

Thanks
Steve
 
saz25 said:
Thanks
Do Parallels have ads? I read that somewhere.

I'll have 8GB of RAM, an i7.

Should I have any issues with Quicken Deluxe for Windows for example. I've used it for decades going from version to version. I read the Mac version isn't as good and lacks features, etc.

Thanks
Steve
Click to expand...

I use Parallels and there are no ads that I am aware of.

Glennsan
 
Quicken will zip along in VMware or Parallels.

You should get the max ram, 16GB. Order from Apple or http://www.datamemorysystems.com Cheap, worth it.

Historically, with all the computers I have owned, at some point after purchase, I have added more ram. Now I just buy and max out of the gate.

Possibly with Mavericks memory compression, ram not quite as important, but it can't hurt.


B
 
Try both trial versions to see which will suit your needs. Both work well. I have tried both and ended up using Parallels because I prefer its interface better and its ease of use. Not that VMware is bad in any way at all. Just my personal preference.

As for ads on Parallels, I am running the current version 9 and have yet to see an ad. When I was running version 8, only time I saw an ad was to update to version 9 so I would be compatible with Mavericks. And I could turn that ad off and never see it again if I so desired.
 
Thanks for all the great comments.

Once I decide on Parallels or Fusion, I then need Windows. I see on Amazon and other places online I can buy a Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64bit OEM System Builder 1-DVD pack. Can I use the OEM edition or do I need the more expensive retail version?

I have been using on my Windows PC, Windows 7 Professional. With my new iMac I assume I can get away with the more basic Windows 7. Correct?

Windows 7 Pro is about $50 more but might be overkill for the few applications I'll be using Windows for. Correct?

Does VMWare or Parallels care about which version I choose?

Thanks again,
Steve
 
saz25 said:
Thanks
Do Parallels have ads? I read that somewhere.
Click to expand...

Not so much ads but in the program they are trying to sell other services and products from partners. Really not a fan.

Also, the latest version installs this startup item which is meant to tie in to their ridiculous "Access" service:
http://www.parallels.com/au/news/id,28732

It didnt ask me to install and its not immediately apparent how to remove it. That REALLY rubbed me the wrong way and right there and then removed it and installed VMWare, never looked back.

----------
saz25 said:
Does VMWare or Parallels care about which version I choose?
Click to expand...

No, but exactly what Windows programs do you need to run other than Quicken? We might be able to suggest native Mac apps that are just as good.

Also, if I hadn't gotten free copies of both Fusion and Parallels desktop, I would have just used the free (but still very good) Virtualbox:
https://www.virtualbox.org/

It's the same type of app just not as optimised but I find it runs plenty fast enough anyways.
 
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I just had an online chat with Parallels purchase assistance support.
They said this:

you need to purchase Windows 7 , not a OEM system builder.

I than asked: The Windows 7 OEM system builder will not work?

They replied: It will not work, because it is designed to run on Physical PC's

Now what? Was the rep wrong? I was about to buy an Win7 OEM version on Amazon but I thought I'd check with them first.
Steve
 
I switched from Parallels, which I used for many years, to VMWare and never looked back.

Download the trial.
 
saz25 said:
I than asked: The Windows 7 OEM system builder will not work?

They replied: It will not work, because it is designed to run on Physical PC's

Now what? Was the rep wrong? I was about to buy an Win7 OEM version on Amazon but I thought I'd check with them first.
Steve
Click to expand...

Even if it did work it would definitely be in breach of the Windows license to run an OEM copy in a VM.
 
saz25 said:
...

Does VMWare or Parallels care about which version I choose?
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter if you use Home Premium or Professional - just check the differences between the 2 versions and make sure that Professional doesn't have something you need. As for the OEM version, I think people have been using it. Why don't you ask the same question of VMware and see what they say.

SlCKB0Y said:
Even if it did work it would definitely be in breach of the Windows license to run an OEM copy in a VM.
Click to expand...
Why? It would only be one copy running on one system. The real question is if the OEM edition from Microsoft would work, and I think it would because it's not been tailored by a company to a specific system or set of systems.
 
Don't do it unless you 100% must do it. Find a mac alternative to the windows program you are using. Save your money.
 
I've found Parallels to have the edge in performance ( both, speed and CPU consumption ).

The best you can do is try the both yourself, use the free trials like other people have mentioned.

saz25 said:
I just had an online chat with Parallels purchase assistance support.
They said this:

you need to purchase Windows 7 , not a OEM system builder.

I than asked: The Windows 7 OEM system builder will not work?

They replied: It will not work, because it is designed to run on Physical PC's

Now what? Was the rep wrong? I was about to buy an Win7 OEM version on Amazon but I thought I'd check with them first.
Steve
Click to expand...

Give it a try regardless. Nothing to lose.
 
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