VMware Launches 'Fusion 5' Virtualization Software, Parallels 8 Coming September 4

[anonymouslurker]

I love using Coherence in Parallels for the handful of Windows applications I have to use.

But, at work we use VMware to save off particular development setups on a system, so I also have Fusion on the mac so I can just copy a VM that I'm using at work, and run it at home.

Both work great for me.

 

[Yebubbleman]

I wonder what is meant by "Create Restricted VMs", or "Limit Access to USB devices in Windows" in describing features that VMware Fusion 5 Professional will have over the standard version. Unless VMware Fusion 5 Professional is all about using VMs in a managed/corporate environment, in which case, I'll just pony up the $50 for the standard version and call it a day.

 

[Mr. Milk]

I use my 2012 Macbook Air to run Windows 3.11 and MSDOS 6.22 under VirtualBox. Word for Windows 2.0 and Harvard Graphics for DOS does everything I need.... I can even use Archie and FTP to transfer the documents to my Windows 95 desktop. I also write my own software with VB 1.0 for DOS and Borland C++ without the bloatware of Xcode.

I have also been waiting for Microsoft to come up with something really attractive since the Z-80 CP/M board. Currently, I'm on a MacBook Air 2011 with an Sinclair ZX-81 VM where I can write my own games (my master piece is Hangman) in assembler. For the office part I mainly use another VM with Apple IIe, Visicalc, Visiplot and Visitrend and a custom word processor written in Applesoft BASIC. I just really miss Wordstar, CTRL-KC, CTRL-KV, CTRL-KS, etc...

 

[arkmannj]

I wonder what is meant by "Create Restricted VMs", or "Limit Access to USB devices in Windows" in describing features that VMware Fusion 5 Professional will have over the standard version. Unless VMware Fusion 5 Professional is all about using VMs in a managed/corporate environment, in which case, I'll just pony up the $50 for the standard version and call it a day.

I did the upgrade for 50.00 and the license key they gave me was for Pro. Not sure if that helps your decision any.

But yes those are for managed features.

 

[faroZ06]

Looks like the expensive software has finally passed the free VirtualBox significantly.

 

[pdjudd]

Yes, I know, but it seems to support it according to:

VMware Compatibility Guide
http://partnerweb.vmware.com/comp_guide2/search.php?deviceCategory=software&testConfig=16

They refer to the Server versions which explicitly allow for virtualizing. None of the major VM products will allow the client OS's below Lion. They literally will not allow it to install.

 

[CountSessine]

This is the most awesome feature imo:

Image

You can finally create virtual networks!

This has actually always been possible, even with the free VMWare Player on Windows. VMWare Player, VMWare Fusion, and VMWare Workstation have all always been capable of setting up advanced network topologies. It's just that only Workstation had a nice GUI for accompishing this. On Fusion and Player you have to manually edit the .VMX file that describes your VMs.

Not that that is at all user-friendly, though...

 

[Spicedham]

just installed fusion 5 and the retina support they claim is misleading just like parallels. the windows and icons for the program itself is retina resolution but when you run the actual OS the view is fuzzy.

 

[arkmannj]

They refer to the Server versions which explicitly allow for virtualizing. None of the major VM products will allow the client OS's below Lion. They literally will not allow it to install.

I believe this is a licensing thing from Apple, VMWare actually "forgot" to block Snow Leopard in one of the VMWare 4 versions. I stuck with that version for quite a while (after installing Snow Leopard Client) and tried launching the Snow Leopard VM in Fusion 5 and it won't even let it run now (even though it is already installed) it gets about 1/2 through the boot process the comes up with this error:

(Sorry it got cut off, I was trying to select that part of my screen before the error went away as it only stays up for a few seconds)

 

[PeterSharp]

just installed fusion 5 and the retina support they claim is misleading just like parallels. the windows and icons for the program itself is retina resolution but when you run the actual OS the view is fuzzy.

That's not what they claim on the website:

Clearly shows Windows in retina res not only Fusion app.

Are you sure you're running full 2880x1800 res?

 

[pdjudd]

I believe this is a licensing thing from Apple,

Indeed it is, I pointed out the EULA is different. Server explicitly allows for virtualization, Client only at Lion and above and only on Fusion.

 

[Tilpots]

I've never upgraded Parallels before. What's the process, is it a pretty simple upgrade or do I have to reinstall my XP and reconfigure the whole thing?

 

[GoSooners]

That's not what they claim on the website:
Image
Clearly shows Windows in retina res not only Fusion app.

Are you sure you're running full 2880x1800 res?

I was hoping for the same - true retina support within the VM. Windows can run in retina via bootcamp but when running Parallels 7, everything was fuzzy. I believe this has to due with the graphics driver being called upon.

Maybe Parallels 8 will support retina MBP

 

[pdjudd]

I've never upgraded Parallels before. What's the process, is it a pretty simple upgrade or do I have to reinstall my XP and reconfigure the whole thing?

Simple. The install is fairly straightforward and the VMS will update on first run. The most you have to do is upgrade the VMware tools in the OS itself and you get reminded to do that.

 

[Glenny2lappies]

What advantages do VMWare or Parallels have over free solutions, like VirtualBox? I've been using VirtualBox for a couple of years - it works well and does everything I need (e.g., Windows in a VM).

In a word, none.

I'm damned if I'm going to upgrade and I encourage everyone else to show VMWare what they think of being treated like a cash cow. If you want VMWare to treat you like Parallels and Adobe--and, truth be told, Apple--then carry on and pay them for this "upgrade". For those of us who don't want this, just vote with your wallet.

What really annoys me is that VMWare player -- the PC version -- is free. Just like VirtualBox.

Just... say... no.

 

[iMacian]

I'm not sure how sustainable a business model it is for VMWare and Parallels to release minor updates for $49 every year. It would be nice if Fusion 5 and Parallels 8 were instead released as "4.2" and "7.1" at no charge for existing Fusion 4.1 and Parallels 7 owners. Upgrading an OS every year is one thing if it is going to be $20, but $49 is a bit much.

And they will break with every new version of either Windows or OS X. Parallels in particular takes the opportunity to require a new version if one or the other is updated. Fortunately Mountain Lion is an exception, but I have not forgotten.
Stay away from it if you can!

 

[iLunar]

So for anyone in the purchase window that just bought Fusion 4, when do we get the upgrade keys to 5?

 

[dyn]

What advantages do VMWare or Parallels have over free solutions, like VirtualBox? I've been using VirtualBox for a couple of years - it works well and does everything I need (e.g., Windows in a VM).

An enormous increase in OpenGL and CPU performance:

• VMware Virtualization With OpenGL Still Smacks Oracle VirtualBox
• VMware Fusion Stuns VirtualBox In CPU Tests

Not to mention that the code isn't of a very high quality: The VirtualBox Kernel Driver Is Tainted Crap. I do hope Oracle has improved this since October last year.

 

[Spicedham]

That's not what they claim on the website:
Image
Clearly shows Windows in retina res not only Fusion app.

Are you sure you're running full 2880x1800 res?

Read the heading. It's misleading because they claim its fully optimized for the retina display. no that resolution isn't even an option for windows 7 and at that resolution I would need a magnifying glass to read the text.

 

[elgrecomac]

A more important question is HOW MUCH RAM you will need

Weird question coming in hot, I've never owned a Mac before.
I need Windows for work, but I'm getting the MacBook Pro(lowest possible storage space). How much space do these programs(VMWare/Parallel) take up along with Windows 7(or 8). I need Windows to run a program for my job, so it is vital.

😕

Windows 7 with MS office, project and visio will take less than 30Gb. BUT both Fusion (which I own and love) and Pralllels like a lot, repeat A LOT of RAM for the virtual machine to run smoothly. Typically I set aside 4 GB of RAM for just the Windows environment, so you need to have at least 8 GB of RAM on the macbook pro.

Have fun!

 

[seanerixon]

Windows 7 with MS office, project and visio will take less than 30Gb. BUT both Fusion (which I own and love) and Pralllels like a lot, repeat A LOT of RAM for the virtual machine to run smoothly. Typically I set aside 4 GB of RAM for just the Windows environment, so you need to have at least 8 GB of RAM on the macbook pro.

Have fun!

That will be no issue, I have to get 16GB of RAM. I do a lot of video work. I'm slowly growing concern if I should try and sell my iPad by tomorrow to get like $400 so I can add the extra storage space on the MBP. If I can just buy a external storage device and hook it up with thunderbolt connection(10GB/perchannelorwhatever), then I'll just go with the smaller space.

 

[D.T.]

Windows 7 with MS office, project and visio will take less than 30Gb. BUT both Fusion (which I own and love) and Pralllels like a lot, repeat A LOT of RAM for the virtual machine to run smoothly. Typically I set aside 4 GB of RAM for just the Windows environment, so you need to have at least 8 GB of RAM on the macbook pro.

Have fun!

Yeah, the storage requirements are basically the same as if the VM was just a standalone install. In fact, my VM I've been running for several months was a ported over Windows 7 install from my previous HP notebook.

I just recently upgraded my Parallels to 7 (had to with my upgrade to ML) and it's faster than 6 (or using ML as a host OS is faster ... or both 🙂 ), I should be in for the free (or "free") PD8 update.

When my machine had 8GB, I did a 4/4 split, now with 16GB I'm doing a little more in the Winders© VM, ~6GB (sometimes I even have a Linux VM running too if I'm moving between projects at the same time).

One thing I always suggest: go OSX native where you can. i.e., for Mail, Browser, iTunes, MS Office, etc., if the OSX is an option (as in, price and feature set).

I run "windows only" apps in windows and nothing more.

 

[shadowfax]

I was hoping for the same - true retina support within the VM. Windows can run in retina via bootcamp but when running Parallels 7, everything was fuzzy. I believe this has to due with the graphics driver being called upon.

Maybe Parallels 8 will support retina MBP

Fusion 5 DOES support retina within the VM. Just not by default. Try enabling it, you'll see why. it makes everything very, very small. I thought things looked still-too-small at 150% scaling, and 200% scaling was just wonky and slow for some reason.

Anyway, open your VM and click on the Settings icon, then go to the "Display" section, and click the "Use full resolution for Retina display" checkbox. Done.

 

[NedBookPro]

For anyone that's used this before, how well does it run? I always wondered if you ran something like this all the programs would run a lot slower than they would on an actual PC machine.

For what it's worth, it runs flawlessly for me.
I use XP, Win 7 and Server 2003 VMs and it runs absolutely great without problem.

If 5 continues to work as well, I certainly will upgrade.

 

[waldobushman]

I did the upgrade for 50.00 and the license key they gave me was for Pro. Not sure if that helps your decision any.

But yes those are for managed features.

The upgrade from Fusion 4 to for $50 was for Fusion 5 Pro also. I didn't expect that but I'll take it. Get it now before the offer expires -- or is found to be in error. My guess is that this upgrade to Pro for $50 is an error.