Parallels / VMWare / Virtualbox

Hades · 19 Jan 2010 at 23:48

Is there any significant reason why I'd want to run Parallels or VMWare over Virtualbox, considering that VB is free? I've been using VB on a Windows machine for some time and am very familiar with it.

Feek · 20 Jan 2010 at 06:29

Performance. It's quite possible to game in Parallels (I run an Eve client in it at 60fps) and that can't be done in VB, I tried!

Hades · 20 Jan 2010 at 06:38

Is Parallels as fast as Bootcamp?

JediFragger · 20 Jan 2010 at 07:49

I tried VMWare and wasn't impressed with its lack of speed, will give Parallels a try before buying/going Bootcamp. Trying to avoid both at present if possible lol

Rambaud · 20 Jan 2010 at 08:02

Hades said:
Is Parallels as fast as Bootcamp?

No, it (or any VM) should not be as fast.

However, I have never used Bootcamp as I have only a few accountancy and tax programs which are only Windows based - and I don't do any gaming.

Dewotter · 20 Jan 2010 at 08:07

Parallels allows for complete application integration through cohesive mode. In that virtual machine applications can be launched without having to startup the virtual machine each time, similar to XP Mode in WIndows 7. Not sure if VMware Fusions unity mode can do that aswell so will stand happily corrected.

Hades · 20 Jan 2010 at 09:29

Thanks so far.

The Macbook I'm getting isn't really powerful enough for gaming so I will be keeping my gaming PC too. Virtualbox has supported 'seamless mode' for quite a few years which sounds similar to the coherence/unity mode for Parallelis/VMWare.

mikeh501 · 20 Jan 2010 at 12:18

yep all three do seamless mode et al.

xJcBx · 20 Jan 2010 at 13:53

I can make my VM on my iMac (2gb ram 2.4 duo) play games at decent settings.
Have you set it all up right?

Paralells looks great, but at the time I got VMware cheap becuse of a friends licence ect. If I were to but any at full price I would have done the Bootcamp route.

I have tried bootcamp and Paralells, and I do prefer Paralells, however I would reccomend VM because of its massive forums with loads of people that will help you if anything goes wrong (Which all 3 will).
I'm trying to put across both sides of the argument, so I don't sound like a bias n00b, but I think that VMware is best for somebody that isn't gaming. I use it for VB work abd to test programs out on, and it works above + beyond the COD for it.
There's very little in it atm.