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: With more than 90 new features and now optimized for today's multi-core Macs and OS X Lion, key features in VMware Fusion 4 include:
- Built for OS X Lion -VMware Fusion 4 is designed to provide the best Windows experience on OS X Lion. Add Windows programs to Launchpad, experience them in Mission Control, view them in full screen or switch between them using Mac gestures.
- Better Performance and Faster Graphics - VMware Fusion 4 has been engineered to run Windows and Mac applica... See all new features
More Popular System Utilities downloads
- Disk Drill
7,197 downloads
- NTFS-3G
1,300 downloads
- Screen Movie Recorder
1,026 downloads
- Alarm Clock
945 downloads
- Temperature Monitor
785 downloads
-
All versions:
4.0 starsout of 42 votes
-
Current version:
3.0 starsout of 2 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-2 of 2
-
"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.
-
"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.
Results 1-2 of 2
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
Previous Versions:
