Las Vegas (Nevada) - VMware officially released its Fusion
2.0 virtualization software for Apple Macs. Version 2.0 is a free
download and upgrade for existing 1.x users and $79.99 for new
purchasers. It contains more than one hundred new features, including
Unity 2.0 which allows Windows-based programs to run like Mac programs
without the Windows desktop being shown.
Additional user features include significant enhancements to data sharing, allowing either OS to launch the appropriate application in either OS from the document icon. Folders are also mirrored, such as Mac's Documents folders and Windows' My Documents, as well as Mac's Desktop, Music and Pictures mating up with Windows' Desktop, My Music and My Pictures.
A new feature called AutoProtect, which VMware describes as a "time machine for your virtual machine," provides a similar functionality to OS X's Time Machine. The software also comes bundled with a 12-month subscription to McAfee VirusScan Plus (to help keep your Mac free from damage due to any Windows' viruses). VMware's press release uses the word "safe" four times to indicate that while more interoperability between Mac OS X and a Windows OS is exposed, there is also additional security.
Fusion 2.0 allows 32-bit and 64-bit OSes to be run, provides multi-processor support for up to four CPUs, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth, DirectX 9.0c, up to 10 displays a host of guest operating systems simultaneously, including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Vista, all in 32-bit or 64-bit modes. Notably absent from the supported technologies list is Firewire.
This new release is available for Intel-based Mac users and requires OS X 10.4.11 or later, at least 1 GB of RAM with 2 GB recommended, and 400 MB of hard drive space for the virtual machine host. It can work with BootCamp and initial benchmark data indicates it is slightly slower than a native Boot Camp instance, although the additional features probably make it far more usable to the average user.
Additional user features include significant enhancements to data sharing, allowing either OS to launch the appropriate application in either OS from the document icon. Folders are also mirrored, such as Mac's Documents folders and Windows' My Documents, as well as Mac's Desktop, Music and Pictures mating up with Windows' Desktop, My Music and My Pictures.
A new feature called AutoProtect, which VMware describes as a "time machine for your virtual machine," provides a similar functionality to OS X's Time Machine. The software also comes bundled with a 12-month subscription to McAfee VirusScan Plus (to help keep your Mac free from damage due to any Windows' viruses). VMware's press release uses the word "safe" four times to indicate that while more interoperability between Mac OS X and a Windows OS is exposed, there is also additional security.
Fusion 2.0 allows 32-bit and 64-bit OSes to be run, provides multi-processor support for up to four CPUs, USB 2.0 and Bluetooth, DirectX 9.0c, up to 10 displays a host of guest operating systems simultaneously, including Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Vista, all in 32-bit or 64-bit modes. Notably absent from the supported technologies list is Firewire.
This new release is available for Intel-based Mac users and requires OS X 10.4.11 or later, at least 1 GB of RAM with 2 GB recommended, and 400 MB of hard drive space for the virtual machine host. It can work with BootCamp and initial benchmark data indicates it is slightly slower than a native Boot Camp instance, although the additional features probably make it far more usable to the average user.