CNET Editors' review
VMware Fusion is a virtualization program that lets you run Windows applications on any Intel-based Mac--and quickly switch back and forth between Windows and Mac apps. This app's Unity feature alone makes it worth trying VMware Fusion's 30-day trial. With Unity, Windows apps appear right alongside Mac apps as windows in your Mac OS, as well as in the Dock and Exposé. You can also get to your Windows apps directly from the Apple Menu bar, even when VMware Fusion isn't running. You can also set your preferences so that your Mac and Windows apps use the same user data (your Documents, Music, Pictures, etc.), and it interacts well with most printers and multiple monitors.
This version has made great strides at boosting speed and performance, with faster start-up and launch times, and it brings full support for Snow Leopard and Windows 7. This update also lets you take better advantage of both multiple processors and greater Windows graphical power, with support for Windows Aero and Flip 3D animations, and it's easier than ever to migrate a physical PC (or a Boot Camp partition or other virtualization app) to a virtual machine on your Mac. You can also use VMware Fusion to run Ubuntu or over 140 other supported operating systems. Still just under $80--with a free year of McAfee anti-virus and a year and a half of e-mail support--this is one of the cheapest ways to "buy" an easy-to-use Windows box. (And all without cluttering up your desk with ugly, non-Apple hardware.)
Publisher's Description
From VMware:
VMware Fusion is the most seamless way to run Windows applications on your Mac. VMware Fusion combines a clean and intuitive Cocoa-native interface that Mac users expect with a virtual platform trusted by millions of users today. VMware Fusion allows you to launch your Windows applications from the Dock and switch between Windows and Mac applications using Expose. With the industry's most advanced virtualization technology VMware Fusion lets you leverage all the hardware available on your Mac to simultaneously run 32- and 64-bit operating systems, use two processor cores at the same time, run select 3D games and utilize USB 2.0 devices.
What's new in this version:
VMware Fusion 3.0.2 is a maintenance release of VMware Fusion 3. It is a free upgrade for all VMware Fusion 3 customers, and provides the following fix:
Fixes a problem so that the latest release of Mac OS X 10.6 Server (Snow Leopard) can run in a virtual machine.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 42 votes
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Current version:
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"You will need to pay extra for customer support later."
Version: VMware Fusion 4.0.2
Pros
It worked for 10 months.
Cons
It is supposedly the cheaper option for fusion products, but don't buy it....Mine worked for the first 10 months and now it is cactus...You try finding how to get support on the VMWare Fusion website! It is an absolute minefield and these guys don't have a clue how to do business.
Summary
Don't buy this! You will regret it. I have had problem after problem with it.
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"PRINTING ISSUES"
Version: VMware Fusion 4.0.1
Pros
No pros I can think of. I have reverted to version 3
Cons
Major issues with Windows 7 and printing. The program selects a different printer than my default Mac printer and after changing and printing one page Windows becomes unusable and I get a nasty message from Windows.
Summary
I downloaded Parallels 7 this morning, converted my Windows 7 VM virtual machine and everything is working beautifully.
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"Watch out for upgrade"
Version: VMware Fusion 4.0.1
Pros
Excellent virtualization software
Cons
Only at the bottom of the FAQ page will you find that the upgrade is only for recent buyers (since Lion). All others have to buy new at full price ($50 for a ltd time). If 4.0.1 is installed then a link to buy goes to a broken page @ Digital River.
Summary
I am not being critical of the pricing, as it is time to collect some money for development. My complaint is that the pricing policy is not readily available for existing users. And as of this date I (as a registered user) have not received any email announcement of the upgrade or its pricing. And as noted above, it is difficult to find it on the web site. And I did not find "limited time" for $50 defined anywhere - so how much time do I have before the price increases? I got burned this way with iStat Menu's last upgrade, as the price expired before the trial did. It would be nice not to be kept in the dark.
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"The best Windows (or Linux) visualization software."
Version: VMware Fusion 3.1.2
Pros
It is more stable than Parallels Desktop and just looks better. The new unity mode puts a very handy launch bar in the system tray that allows searching. It supports Ubuntu Linux (even Unity and the Launch bar!). It's also cheaper than parallels...
Cons
I really haven't found any yet...
Summary
VMWare fusion is by far the best virtulization software for mac on the market.
virtualization whoops typo
Updated on Mar 13, 2011 -
"couldn't survive a few windows' needs without it"
Version: VMware Fusion 3.1
Pros
flawless to my needs
Cons
none to my needs
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"Wow!"
Version: VMware Fusion 3.1
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I am running Win7 off of a Boot Camp disk, and everything just seems dramatically faster. The UI is snappy and windows took about half the time to load.
Great product which just gets better. -
"Update"
Version: VMware Fusion 3.1
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Fusion 3.1 installed perfectly and without any issues. XP seems to boot faster and runs reasonably quickly. Must qualify that however as XP has never been fast. IE and software Update started and worked quite quickly. Windows Explorer opened in about 5 seconds on a 2.4GHz macBook. Word opened in its normal lethargic rate. Overall seems slightly faster. -
"Fusion excels on USB connections"
Version: VMware Fusion 3.0.2
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
Fusion excels on USB connections. In cases where Windows-only applications are needed to control USB-connected machines to the Mac, only Fusion works without a hitch. Other alternatives like Parallels just cannot deliver on such scenario, crashing and losing the USB connection with the machine all the time. -
"Quality update"
Version: VMware Fusion 3.0
Summary
This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.
I had no trouble downloading & installing this update. Didn't even mind having to pay for it.
Been using Fusion since version 1, and it's always worked great. I've got WinXP, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and a few linux virtual machines. Never had a problem.
Top quality software, unlike Parallels. -
"Bait and Switch"
Version: VMware Fusion 2.0.6
Pros
it does what it says it does
Cons
underhand sales tactics
Summary
There is a rumble of discontent amongst Mac users who purchased VMWare's Fusion recently.
VMWare ran a special offer towards the end of September were they sold it at 'half retail price' on the MacUpdate site MacPromo. Sales were so great that the site ran out of serial numbers, and delayed sending new serial numbers while it frantically obtained more.
It transpires these sales are not eligible for the free upgrade. The paid upgrade is exactly the original price of the discounted version two price.
It doesn't seem like such a good deal anymore.
Like many customers this has left a bad taste in my mouth, and I don't feel like I can do business with VMWare any more.
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