parallels or fusion?

[robby818]

Vmware Fusion is my preference.

As for the flavor of Windows, I'd recommend Windows XP because it is faster and smaller than Windows 7. Assuming you need Windows for basic programs then XP is the way to go. I tried 7 on a variety of Macs, and I was only satisfied with it on very fast hardware (iMac i7). After using 7 for a few months on my MacBook Pro I realized there was no real point to having a fancy version of Windows on my laptops, so I went back to XP Pro and got back performance and saved some space on my SSD.

 

[davebach172]

I use VMWare workstation extensively at work, so bought Fusion for my MBA. I've given XP 512mb and it works really well - I only really use it for Bloomberg and havent noticed any slowdowns.

However, it doesn't offer the vm image tools that their PC tool does - mainly cloning. Does anyone know if Parallels does? I'm keen to be able to clone and trash images as I do on the PC.

 

[Meric]

Vmware Fusion is my preference.

As for the flavor of Windows, I'd recommend Windows XP because it is faster and smaller than Windows 7. Assuming you need Windows for basic programs then XP is the way to go. I tried 7 on a variety of Macs, and I was only satisfied with it on very fast hardware (iMac i7). After using 7 for a few months on my MacBook Pro I realized there was no real point to having a fancy version of Windows on my laptops, so I went back to XP Pro and got back performance and saved some space on my SSD.

Thats probably what i am gonna do.. Where can I download xp pro?

When I use parallels..do I still have to bootcamp?

 

[aberrero]

Same 3D acceleration support
Same Seamless window mode
Same fullscreen support

Free.

Seriously, why anyone would waste money on Fusion or Parallels is a mystery to me.

++ Virtualbox works great. I have been using it for years on linux and windows and the mac version works just fine as well.

 

[linuxcooldude]

Seriously, why anyone would waste money on Fusion or Parallels is a mystery to me.

I tried putting ubuntu on my mac using virtualbox. I could never get it to go all the way to full install. Using Vmware fusion worked the first time. Virtualbox is a great program, but not always. It worked fine when I put Vista on my ubuntu box though.

 

[MikePA]

And honestly, how many people really boot in bootcamp and in Fusion/parallels often enough to justify the money ? Not to mention all the issues it can cause with suspending the VM's state, not to mention all the hardware suddenly changing between boots...

I'm not arrogant enough to presume to know how other people use Bootcamp, VMWare or Parallels not to mention pass judgment on their decisions.

I use Parallels on my MBA to run Windows programs I still need to use.

I used VMWare to be able to run a web server (Windows or Red Hat) along side a desktop in order to do web site development/demonstrations without the need to have multiple devices.

 

[KnightWRX]

By definition, all virtualization programs are memory hogs.

Nitpick here, the hypervisors are very lean and efficient in their use of memory. It's the guest operating system that needs the RAM. You're basically running 2 OSes at the same time. You could run DOS in 1 MB of RAM and with the hypervisor overhead, you'd probably be sitting at 4 MB of RAM usage. Yes megabytes aren't typos here.

I use VirtualBox when I'm messing around or running Linux. It's OK, not as good as parallels or vmware but it works.

You don't actually explain why. You just say it is so. Seriously, VirtualBox is every bit as good as the other 2 and is seeing such fast releases that any features missing are almost instantly added.

In my experience, VirtualBox, VMWare, Parallels, they are all the same. BTW, one doesn't really use more memory than the other, it all depends on how much you allocate to the guest operating system. If you allocate 1 GB of RAM + 32 MB of video framebuffer to a guest, the memory overhead between the 3 will be negligible.

I tried putting ubuntu on my mac using virtualbox. I could never get it to go all the way to full install. Using Vmware fusion worked the first time. Virtualbox is a great program, but not always. It worked fine when I put Vista on my ubuntu box though.

I dunno how you messed up in Virtualbox, but the hypervisor has nothing to do with it. I installed about 3 dozens flavors of Linux with it and never had a problem. Your post is of course light on details, as all the Virtualbox detractor posts are.

Again, just trying to save the OP some coin.

I'm not arrogant enough to presume to know how other people use Bootcamp, VMWare or Parallels not to mention pass judgment on their decisions.

I use Parallels on my MBA to run Windows programs I still need to use.

I used VMWare to be able to run a web server (Windows or Red Hat) along side a desktop in order to do web site development/demonstrations without the need to have multiple devices.

Funny how you call me arrogant and then state what you did with VMWare/parallel only to not prove my point more. You didn't use it at all for Bootcamp booting (which again, has the issues I named, which no one addressed). And both your uses of both software could have been accomplished for 0$ with VirtualBox.

Again, you people justifying spending money are trying too hard. VirtualBox. 0$. At minimum everyone should download it, install it, try to see if it works for them before even thinking of spending cash.

 

[AV8TOR]

do any of these apps help moving from Windows? like moving files etc...

Yes VMware Fusion allows you to drag and drop files from the Windows window to a Mac folder. They also provide you the option to create a shared folder that you will see in Finder as well as Windows Explorer.

 

[MikePA]

Funny how you call me arrogant and then state what you did with VMWare/parallel only to not prove my point more. And both your uses of both software could have been accomplished for 0$ with VirtualBox.

Clearly, it doesn't occur to you that some people want to use a commercially supported product.

You didn't use it at all for Bootcamp booting (which again, has the issues I named, which no one addressed).

No one addressed them since this thread wasn't about BootCamp.

At minimum everyone should download it, install it, try to see if it works for them before even thinking of spending cash.

We got your point on your first post. Glad you're happy with VirtualBox.

 

[KnightWRX]

Clearly, it doesn't occur to you that some people want to use a commercially supported product.

How many times do people even use the "commercial support" from these companies ?

No, I'm betting it's more out of ignorance and disdain (what ? A free product can't be as good as what these other guys charge me money for!).

 

[silverblack]

Yes VMware Fusion allows you to drag and drop files from the Windows window to a Mac folder. They also provide you the option to create a shared folder that you will see in Finder as well as Windows Explorer.

I use Fusion too, and I like the drag and drop feature very much, which I believe is missing from Virtual box. Not a big deal, but definitely an inconvenience.

By the way, Fusion and Parallels came out before virtual box was available. Many of us just didn't bother switching even though it's free. Also, the paid-version usually have better support for new OS, say when Windows 7 first came out.

 

[KnightWRX]

I use Fusion too, and I like the drag and drop feature very much, which I believe is missing from Virtual box. Not a big deal, but definitely an inconvenience.

VirtualBox does support the shared folders though.

 

[maflynn]

I can't say for the current version of virtualbox, but I found its performance to be sub par, lack of drag and drop and the polish/finish of the product to be lacking, i.e., not has refined as VMware.

Parallels offers the best performance but at a cost of stability. Parallels has a reputation for rushing updates out the door before they're really tested and so it tends to crash a lot. Customer service is down right horrid.

Vmware, I love the customer support, I've needed it a few times and I've gotten my problem solved within a few hours of logging a ticket. The product is rock solid, and feature rich.

While the question of why buy something when there's a free alternative. I believe that free is not always free if you're lacking features, or not having a good level of support. Vmware is a great tool, offers good performance and outstanding support. I'm willing to pay for those attributes.

 

[MikePA]

No, I'm betting it's more out of ignorance and disdain

Whatever makes you feel important.

 

[KPOM]

When I use parallels..do I still have to bootcamp?

You don't need to use Boot Camp, but you can. The alternative is to create a virtual machine from within Parallels and install Windows within that. The advantage there is that you can "suspend" the guest OS (essentially put it into deep sleep or hibernate) and open it up whenever you want it. The disadvantage is that you don't have the ability to boot into Windows natively for faster performance.

If you use Boot Camp, you can boot into Windows, but the downside is that you won't be able to use the "Suspend" feature in Parallels (you'll need to shut down Windows when you don't want to use it), since a "suspended" Windows virtual machine could cause issues if you tried to boot up into Boot Camp.

 

[kyleen66]

I've use both on two different computers.

On my 11inch MBA with 4 gig of ram I'm using the newest Fusion with XP. I only need it for a couple of things and really don't tax it. It works spiffy enough for my simple needs in windows.

 

[KPOM]

do any of these apps help moving from Windows? like moving files etc...

there is a deal on Parallels now... its buy the version 5 and free upgrade to version 6.. costs only $ 16...

fusion is like 45 bucks...

should I get the parallels before the promo ends?

Sounds like a plan. Note you need to scan in your receipt and register on a Parallels website. They usually send you the activation key for V6 along with a download link for V6 within a few days. However, for some reason, their e-mails to my sbcglobal.net/yahoo.com e-mail address got lost (it never made it to my account or even Yahoo!'s spam filter), so I had to give them a different e-mail address.

 

[gwsat]

How many times do people even use the "commercial support" from these companies ?

Vmware, I love the customer support, I've needed it a few times and I've gotten my problem solved within a few hours of logging a ticket. The product is rock solid, and feature rich.

While the question of why buy something when there's a free alternative. I believe that free is not always free if you're lacking features, or not having a good level of support. Vmware is a great tool, offers good performance and outstanding support. I'm willing to pay for those attributes.

You are right, of course. I migrated my MBP's setup, including Windows 7 in a Fusion 3.1 virtual machine, and set it up on my MBA. Unfortunately, when I opened Fusion and Windows 7 in the MBA,, I saw that Fusion Tools was still looking for its shared folders on the MBP. Because I had upgraded to Fusion 3.1, I was entitled to 18 months of telephone support. I called VMware and talked to a Fusion specialist who quickly told me how to reconfigure the shared folders setup in Fusion Tools. The whole exercise, from the time I placed the call until I finished reconfiguring Fusion Tools, took less than an hour. I won't even consider how long it would have taken me to clean up my mess if I had been running a freeware virtualization program, for this way lies madness.

 

[Pipper99]

Here you go. I got this deal at staples yesterday. 14.90 for parallels 5, register the product, request the free upgrade to 6. I got my upgrade license key this morning. There is also a $20 mail in rebate that will cover the cost of the version 5 purchase. On top of that, once you have version 5 of parallels, you can buy vmware 3.1 for $10 if you want it. The instructions are in the link. I had to ask the staples employee to show me where the close out bin was: he said that he had hidden the last copy because he wanted to buy it, but since I asked for it, he took me right to it. Run to staples today if you can.

https://slickdeals.net/deals/desktop/

 

[KnightWRX]

I won't even consider how long it would have taken me to clean up my mess if I had been running a freeware virtualization program, for this way lies madness.

Probably 0 minutes. My shared folders "just worked" on VirtualBox after migrating my VM to my MBA from my MB. Commercial isn't always better.

 

[gwsat]

Probably 0 minutes. My shared folders "just worked" on VirtualBox after migrating my VM to my MBA from my MB. Commercial isn't always better.

I'm glad you're happy and will just leave it at that. On another issue, though, the foregoing was your sixth post, I counted, extolling the virtues of VirtualBox and expressing your opinion that it is superior to either Fusion or Parallels. We get it, I promise! Why will I not be surprised, though, if you tell us the same thing for the seventh time?

 

[cleric]

I've use VirtualBox on linux server and it works pretty well I was really impressed.

On my MBAs I've used Fusion and Parallels, I don't like some ways that Parallels handles interface stuff but they are pretty similar. I use fusion however for most people virtualbox would probably work, and as they update it, it has been gaining on vmware fusion/parallels.

 

[bobm]

Virtualbox

For what it's worth, virtual box hash a nasty bug in the Linux 3d support that will lockup my iMac, it's present in fedora 11 through 13.

It's rather sad that this thread has been turned into a flame fest, all of the vm's work, start cheap if you want and move up if it doesn't work for you.

I just upgraded to parallels 6 yesterday and it's pretty nice. No real benchmarks yet but the app works for me.

Also note that on most of my vm's I use truecrypt for full disk encryption which adds yet another bit of CPU usage. Running Oracle Linux on parallels (5) vs Virtualbox, parallels feels faster. Again, it depends on what you are doing.

 

[gollum]

Fusion always works great for me.

 

[maflynn]

It's rather sad that this thread has been turned into a flame fest, all of the vm's work, start cheap if you want and move up if it doesn't work for you.

Agreed, there is no one right answer on which is the best. Find which product fits your needs the best, regardless if its free or not.