Parallels or VMware

[GraemeUK]

Hi guys,

I have a MacBook which I'd like to run Vista and XP on.

Which would be best to buy parallels or vmware? Or Bootcamp?

Are there any advantages/disadvantages one over the other?

Cheers in advance

 

[NickK]

So far I've only used vmware server on XP, so I'll be interested in this too.

I have the beta for vmware fusion but I've not had chance to try it out on the mac.

 

[Big-Mac-Please]

I've used parallels for ages and it seems fine

The only problem I have is Nokia PC Suite wount work on it but thats about it!

 

[AJUK]

My recommendation would be VMWare Fusion as I think it will eventully be the better product. It is still in beta at the moment and so is free which is fantastic because it performs just as well as if not better than Parallels, it is certainly better in 3D and USB support.

I have 1 Windows only application ( ) and I used to use Boot Camp but then tried Parallels and it installed fine but becasue it needs a USB dongle I couldn't get it to work plus (as with all emulators) Win XP will require activation and will fail if it is OEM. What I did was to install Win 2k under VMware and the USB dongle worked perfectly with the program. So, for me, VM has the edge.

Try both to see what is the best for you, they are both great solutions and leaves us Mac users spoilt for choice.

 

[JimmyEatWorms]

I don't suppode VMWare Fusion has a nice easy way of using my current Paralles install of XP?

 

[Deleted member 651465]

I've just updated the sticky to contain everything you could need to know plus a setup guide for each one

 

[ilikedthecore]

Hi, if you don't want to do anything really fancy i.e. play games etc. then it might be worth taking a look at Virtualbox (http://www.virtualbox.org/) its free and runs ok here on my 2GHz Macbook. It doesn't have some of the nicer features of Parallels etc. like coherence but the price can't be beaten.

--
Russell

 

[nero120]

I'm using VMWare Fusion to run server 2003 on a MBP and it is awesome. Had absolutely no problems with it!

 

[ringo747]

i have tried both parallels and vmware and have decided to go with vmware fusion. It works really well. The only thing is that it raises my MBP temperatures because of the high CPU usage but maybe thats as its still a beta and maybe the app isn't fully optimised.