VMware Workstation Player for Windows

User Reviews

• A techie`s dream!

  JexthothOctober 31, 2012

  Pros

  Great program

  Cons

  None that I know of

  Summary

  Use when working on a way to fix issues.

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• The Pro Choice

  TheScogJune 6, 2012

  Pros

  Very easy to set up and use. Better than dual boot for multi platforming.

  Cons

  Can't think of anything. It is very close to perfect.

  Summary

  I chose to use the VMware player for my laptop as we already use VMware to virtualize all our servers at work. The software has never let me down and it just makes it so easy to install and reconfigure different machines. I can run multiple platforms and test things in a safe sandbox environment and under a wide variety of configurations without having to worry about having to rebuild my laptop every time something goes wrong.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Jun 6, 2012<p/>I can even take copies of virtual machines created at work to run on my computers in order to test new configurations without killing the live servers.

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• Not released fully yet (2 Feb 2012)

  nospambozFebruary 3, 2012

  Pros

  Good XP Mode Very Quick (with tools)

  Cons

  No Tools available (2 Feb 2012) Very bad support

  Summary

  The VMware Player 4.0.2 release is incomplete at this writing (2 Feb 2012). The Tools are not available on the VMware Software Update Server. This makes it impossible to create new proper virtual machines and update existing ones. Theough this issue has been discussed on the VMware Community Discussion forum for VMware Player since the release, and attempts have been made to inform VMware through tech support and other means, VMware has not yet corrected this glaring omission. In fact, VMware tech support actively ignores the issue if you try to tell them. If this negative experience continues much longer, many people will be turned off VMware Player onto other free alternatives such as VirtualBox.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Feb 28, 2012<p/>As of 27 Feb 2012 the Tools are available through the application GUI, so I'll update my VMware Player 4.0.2 rating to four stars, certainly the best option for the price (free). (I tried to click on four stars, but it said I "broke the internet" by clicking on a "borked" link.)

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• The Best Hands Down!

  popeye1128September 3, 2011

  Pros

  It is very easy to setup. It has 3D video acceleration and you can go full screen very easily. With my Win7 64 host I am able to move the cursor from host to quest quite fluidly, I don't have to use the keystrokes to switch, it just does it.

  Cons

  All VM's have some kind of flaw. This one uses a lot of horsepower if trying to run 3D games but if you have at least a 2.1ghz dual processor you should be OK.

  Summary

  I can now run XP on my Win7 64 bit laptop. Not a fan of dual boot personally, this works for me. Better than Windows VPC and VirtualBox in my opinion, I tried them too.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Sep 3, 2011<p/>After considering this one against the competition, I should have given it five stars. My bad. Oh, it's also free for personal use. Be sure to download the tools, it updates the video and other things.

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• Best virtual machine maker.

  TietkenJuly 22, 2011

  Pros

  Supports 3D games. Easy to set up.

  Cons

  Wont install 32bit drivers in my virtual 32bit xp machine (I have win7 64bit).

  Summary

  Its better than virtualbox and windows virtual pc. I wanted something like this for my old games which only can run in xp.

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• Jaw-dropping

  weeblesJuly 15, 2011

  Pros

  Extraordinary ease of use.

  Cons

  None so far

  Summary

  I had specialized scanner software and a legacy digital voice recorder that would not run on my new computer under Windows 7 64 bit (came with the computer). Installed VMware Player, then Windows XP Home 32 bit. I expected a sophisticated operation like this would be difficult, but it was drop-dead simple. The toughest part was doing all the updates to Windows. The scanner and DVR software work perfectly.

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• Life Saver!!

  godivaridesJune 29, 2011

  Pros

  Easy install, easy run, works like a charm - GREAT customer service ESPECIALLY for a FREE product!!!!

  Cons

  Laptops have a different keyboard than desk tops and I entered an incorrect email address ... no place to EDIT it ... called the company and they were GREAT!!

  Summary

  System crashed, 1 hd had all info, 2nd registers zero, all software worked on XP, but Win7 is the new kid. I couldn't run programs that MY files or 15 years of work was located in. After being told to move on, I persisted in searching .... obviously MANY others felt the same. Finally found HowToGeek and they listed, the very precise, step by step process to set up the VMware player ... absolutely beautiful, everything works well including setting up a shared folder system for both systems. Life Saver! Thanks VMware for a great FREE product that works as it says and your excellent customer service!

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• Excellent software that can be indispensable!

  brucehathotmailJanuary 5, 2011

  Pros

  Used it on Windows 7 to install Windows XP, and Ubuntu. Needed XP to continue to use HP Precision Scanjet Scanner for which there are no drivers that run Windows 7. This was very easy to install &#38; use, and works perfectly.

  Cons

  Ubuntu installed very easily, and almost perfectly, but failed to file share with the host platform. This problem has been observed by others, but at present I don't know the solution, and need to research it further.

  Summary

  If VMplayer (version 3.1.3) hadn't existed, I would have probably been forced to throw away my HP scanner, which still functions very well, but cannot run directly on Windows 7. VMplayer is extremely well documented, and has an excellent user interface. I also like the ability to install another operating system like Ubuntu, knowing that it cannot possibly interfere with the host Windows 7. The player is useful in other ways too. For example, I can test my Windows 7 backup disc by trying to install it within the VMware environment. The proper use of the guest operating system depends on the ability to share files with the host environment. Hence, I am surprised about the failure of my Ubuntu installation to share files, even though this problem had already been observed by others.

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• WARNING- DONT WHAT EVER YOU DOWNLOAD THIS PRODUCT-

  andreabormanNovember 25, 2010

  Pros

  None-it nearly destroyed my computer as after I downloaded it my keyboard no longer worked.

  Cons

  After downloading VM ware player my keyboard no longer worked and neither did the touch pad.

  Summary

  After I downloaded VM ware player,which did not install anyway,my computer keyboard and touch pad no longer worked. So I had to perform a system restore-recovery.To set my computer a Netbook back to an earlier time before I downloaded VM ware player. It was lucky my plug in mouse still worked,as the keyboard did not nor did my touch pad after downloading this product. With the plug in mouse I was able to get to system restore to do a recovery and thank god,this saved my computer. As it put it back to 2 days ago before I downloaded VM ware player and now my keyboard and everything else on my laptop is back to normal. But I had to reinstall Google Chrome Canary again as VM player destroyed the browser,which I had use to download VM player with. But if it had not been for system restore I would not have a computer now,as I would not have been able to use it without the keypad.So my warning is don't download this product what ever you do. Unless you want to wreck your computer.VM ware player is a dangerous download.

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• Quite good

  llamalucasOctober 4, 2010

  Pros

  It does its job with decent performances, it is free, it is stable.

  Cons

  GUI is quite minimal.

  Summary

  The payload of virtualization is still high in terms of performances, IMHO WMP is on par with other entry level solutions.<br /><br /><span class='notifyMsg'> Updated </span>on Mar 8, 2011<p/>Only viable free virtualization solution from VMWare now that they completely ruined VMWServer and were not capable of recovering the situation after months of disgruntled user's protests

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