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DESCRIPTION
VMWare Fusion... Seamlessly run your favorite Windows applications and devices, on any Intel-based Mac. Built from the ground up for the Mac, VMware Fusion is the easiest way to switch to Mac, letting you bring all of your Windows applications with you, making the most of your Windows software investment, while providing the perfect safety blanket for the switch.
Break Down the Walls Between Windows and Mac With the powerful Unity feature, VMware Fusion seamlessly integrates your Windows applications with your Mac. Instantly launch Windows applications from any Mac file, the Dock, and more. Minimize Windows applications to the Dock and even quickly switch between Windows and Mac applications with Expose.
Safest Way to Run Windows on the Mac
VMware Fusion makes your Windows-on-Mac experience the safest possible with a suite of features to keep Windows safe and sound. From automated, timed snapshots, to embedded antivirus and antispyware software, VMware Fusion keeps Windows on your Mac sparkling.
Mac-like and User Friendly
Built from the ground up for Mac users, with an obsessive eye towards being a "good Mac citizen" VMware Fusion is the easiest, most Mac-friendly way to run Windows on the Mac. A Mac-first user interface ensures that users get the features they expect, like customizable tool bars, searchable Apple help, Boot Camp support, dock notification integration, and more.
Power to Burn
Based on the most advanced virtualization engine the world has ever known, the result of more than a decade of development, VMware Fusion brings all the power of VMware's enterprise-proven technology to the Mac.
Why Choose VMware Fusion?
Thanks to its superior power, flexibility, and pedigree, VMware Fusion is the right choice for anyone looking to get the most out of their Mac by running Windows applications side-by-side with Mac applications.
WHAT'S NEW
Version 3.0.1:
Highlighted New and Improved Features
- Faster 3D performance, with Windows Experience scores 20-80% faster than before on Mac OS X Snow Leopard
- Reduced time for resuming virtual machines
- Supports import of standalone VHD disks into VMware virtual machines
- Supports import of Parallels Desktop 5 virtual machines into VMware virtual machines
- New 64-bit native networking subsystem to match the 64-bit native engine
PC Migration Agent and Migration Assistant Improvements
- Adds support for Windows Server 2008 R2
- Installer localized into all supported languages
- Shows progress that VMware Tools are being installed in last step of migrating the PC
- Does not automatically show the PC Migration Agent application in the resulting virtual machine
- Adds only one network adapter to imported PC virtual machines
Unity View Improvements
- "Always On" Applications menu defaults to the active virtual machine, and if more than one virtual machine is running, the menu defaults to the one that has focus
- Fixes a problem in which the "Always On" Application menu was not populated in some cases
- Improves the Aero-in-Unity experience with better interactive performance and easier readability of window titles
- Improves Unity view interactive performance for 32-bit Windows applications running on 64-bit Windows operating systems
- Ability to dismiss system tray menus in Unity view with only one click
- Small mouse wheel scroll increments work correctly in Unity view
- Fixes keyboard focus issues in Unity view when multiple windows are opened and closed
- Fixes a problem in which Adobe Fireworks, Photoshop, and some other applications would drop out of Unity view, causing the Waiting for Unity window to appear
- Fixes a problem in which VMware Fusion would fail when processing very large icons from Windows applications
- Fixes a problem in which VMware Fusion could not create Windows applications in the dock for those with really long application names
Shared/Mirrored Folders Improvements
- Outlook 2007 preview works with Mirrored Folders enabled
- Applications no longer crash when saving exceedingly long path and file names with mapped drives
- Saving files in shared folders with a PC using ZoneAlarm antivirus software no longer causes Windows to fail
WDDM (Windows Vista and Windows 7) Graphics Improvements
- Windows Experience graphics scores are 20-80% better than VMware Fusion 3.0
- Greatly improved HD video playback for Windows Vista and Windows 7
- Older games (including Diablo II, Homeworld, and others) play now on Windows Vista and Windows 7
- Windows Media Player no longer stretches video
- Fuzzy text in Windows Aero is fixed
- Interactive performance on ATI video cards with Aero is greatly improved in combination with Mac OS X 10.6.2
- Windows 7 no longer boots to an incorrect resolution
General Graphics Improvements
- Fixes fuzzy text in WPF applications
- Improved 3D performance
Linux Improvements
- Adds support for Ubuntu 9.10 32-bit and 64-bit editions, including Easy Install and Unity view
- Fixes choppy sound problems with newest Linux guests with kernel version 2.6.30+
- Fixes Easy Install problems when double quotes were used in password
- Improves Tools support for latest 2.6.z kernels
FreeBSD Improvements
- Prebuilt modules for FreeBSD 8.x
Mac OS X Server Improvements
- Faster boot times for Mac OS X Server guests
Other Fixes and Improvements
- Multicore support for Windows 7 works correctly for all editions of Windows 7. Previously it did not work for Windows Home Premium, Home Basic, and Starter editions
- Fixes a performance problem in which Spotlight would continually search the Mac for virtual machines when the Virtual Machine Library was left open, causing slow downs
- Fixes a problem in which the VMware Tools included with VMware Fusion 2.0.5 would not be updated correctly
- Fixes a problem in which it was not possible to use a CD drive on certain hardware-specific versions of Mac OS X 10.6.1. This is also fixed by upgrading to Mac OS X 10.6.2
- Fixes a problem in which the ThinPrint driver would cause printing problems in 64-bit Windows Boot Camp partitions
- Favorite virtual machine opens correctly when launching VMware Fusion 3
- Contains a fix for Link State Propagation for bridged networking that previously failed, in some cases, after installing VMware Fusion 3.0
- Fixes a problem in which you could not switch Spaces desktops away from a full-screen virtual machine if the Full Screen view title bar was hidden
- Fixes miscellaneous memory leaks in the VMware Fusion UI and during AutoProtect snapshots
- Speeds up navigation in the Virtual Machine Library when you have 10 or more virtual machines
- Removes console log spew by VMware Fusion Helper
- In the Preview window, the View mode buttons show enabled and selected state
- Fixes black flash when suspending a virtual machine in Single Window view
- Virtual Machine Library and Preview window previously had poor quality for European language users
REQUIREMENTS
- Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later.
- A copy of Windows (if you'll be installing Windows)
| SCREENSHOT
| Developer: | VMware |
| Downloads: | 163,040 |
| - Version d/l: | 6,476 |
| Utilities: | System |
| License: | Demo |
| Date: | 11 Dec 2009 |
| Platform: | Intel |
| Price: | $79.99 |
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| VMware Fusion User Reviews (120 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Feb 9 2010 |
MISHA MacTech has just published their comprehensive head-to-head comparison between Fusion 3 and Parallels 5 (3,500 benchmarks performed). "In the majority of overall averages of our tests, Parallels Desktop 5 is the clear winner running 30% faster than VMware Fusion 3.0.1 with Windows XP, and 43% faster with Windows 7." More: http://www.mactech.com/articles/special/1002-VirtualizationHeadToHead
(Version 3.0.1) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
 | Feb 5 2010 |
MACLORNEBEYN Perhaps it should be mentioned that it may not be a very good idea to update VMWare Fusion from version 2 to 3 without recreating the virtual machines... I'm using a WinXP VM for work both on my MacBook and MacPro and updated Fusion the day it was released. Instead of the promised increase in speed, the performance of the VM on both Macs decreased gradually and after some hours I was forced to reboot the VM (and sometimes the Mac too) to be able to work again. I have downgraded Fusion to version 2.0.6 two weeks ago (which fortunately was not much of a problem), now everything (I'm still using the same VM!) works smooth again. Until I find the time to spend several evenings to fully recreate my VM under version 3, the upgrade fee was wasted money...
(Version 3.0.1) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
 | Dec 29 2009 |
STEVE FRAWLEY Converting a physical PC is hell! I switched from Parallels 4 and my VMs converted fine, but when a friend I recommended Fusion to tried to convert a physical PC over Ethernet could not it was because the software that ships with it does not work much of the time. Searching for solutions on the support site and forums was not helpful but showed many others had the same problems. When support responded to my problems, they never addressed the problems with the software that came with the product, but suggested a backdoor method that would be difficult for all but gearheads. I finally got the PC converted without having to reinstall over 50 programs again; not with VMware help, but with Parallels help! I used the Parallels Transporter to convert the physical PC over Ethernet, completed the transfer with Parallels on the Mac and then converted the VM to Fusion. Parallels could do the conversion but VMware could not. It runs OK finally, but I will never recommend it to a friend or customer again (one I like anyhow). Tax, Accounting and Computers Services since 1984
(Version 3.0.1) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
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| Dec 29 2009 |
STEVE FRAWLEY Comment received from VMware support I apologize for the experience that you have had attempting to convert your PC. Our developers are aware that the migration assistant is not working correctly for some customers and they are working towards a resolution.
(Version 3.0.1) | |
| Dec 11 2009 |
GGORE Basically no difference between this version and the previous, performance-wise. Vista 64-bit on my 21.5" iMac still has terrible Aero display,, with windows fading in and out in a 3-degree fade process. No other performance differences whatsoever.
(Version 3.0.1) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
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| Dec 11 2009 |
ST00P!D M0NK3Y You should seriously consider upgrading to 64-bit Windows 7. That alone is a giant boost in performance over Vista. Vista is an abomination of software.
(Version 3.0.1) | |
| Dec 11 2009 |
VIRTUALRUFFY Why does the program only version list at 170 megs but the version which includes anti-virus weigh in at a whopping 415 megs!?!? It lists ONLY antivirus as the difference. WTF!!
(Version 3.0.1) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Nov 11 2009 |
ICONZ113 I've used both vmware fusion 3 and parallels 5. I used vmware 3 for a few days then when parallels 5 dropped I used that for a while. After using parallels I felt it might be a tad bit snappier. I tried getting in touch with someone at parallels to find out information about offers for educational licenses and some other information I was interested in. I tried getting in touch with someone for days and not once was able to speak with someone. I called every number on that website. A few times I called, an automated machine answered, press 1 for this, press 2 for that, and so on. No matter what number u chose the message would just repeat lol. and another number called some other company in india that acts as the call service for many companies because the first question they ask is what vendor are you calling about, and the most they could do was give me the website address of parallels lol. After all this I just gave up on parallels. I was literally unable to make a purchase with both a credit and a paypal account. I received errors on both types of transactions. I was able to open a support ticket with an ETA of 3 days. Afterwards I called vmware to find out about an issue involving connecting my firewire drive and I was able to get in contact with someone within 5 minutes. Someone actually answered the phone number I called, it wasn't a machine, and I was able to get answers right away. Also I believe vmware listens to what their customers want, as far as feature requests, as opposed to their competitor. In the end I decided to stop pursuing information about parallels and continue to use vmware. Even though I felt parallels was a a little bit snappier in some situations, I think the ability to get support makes up for it. If something happens where I need my license key or something like that, I like to know Ill be able to get in contact with the vendor and the information I need. other issues that factored into my decision was that vmware has been involved in virtualization from since 1998 and the company seems more established by being involved in many different aspects of the field. from what I understand parallels workstation just focuses on the mac desktop application. To this day I haven't received a response from parallels and if I were still wanting to purchase parallels I would still not be able to do so. This was actually a blessing in disguise, and I probably saved myself a headache down the road.
(Version 3.0) | |
| [ 2 Replies - Reply ] | |
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| Nov 15 2009 |
ZERODARK30 Wow - thanks for your review! I to decided to continue with Fusion - I've used Parallels also - up until this Version 5. "Snappier" - yes, but . . . For me, it's about function and form. When I had Fusion and Parallels (I started with Parallels from its beginning) side-by-side, I ended up using Fusion more and more. This is in an environment of supporting multiple OS platforms in the field, where/when reliability is a crucial factor. I currently have 5 VMs on my MacBook, including XP and Vista along with Fedora, Ubuntu, and Kubuntu. I'm upgrading to Fusion 3 because it looks to make even easier to import my cabal of Parallels VMs (Win XP/2000/2000AS/ME/98/95) along with this *really* intriguing idea of "backing up* PCs into a VM via Ethernet - Wow. I'm also interested in this OS testing ability - that'd be just kewl to play before I pay. Getting support for me is important, too - I absolutely hate "The Phone Tree" and dealing with my tax dollars hard at work in some foreign country with operators who have a cursory understanding of English - though I didn't think to switch to French or Japanese . . . . . . I intend to include this "support variable" when discussing comparison with my Clients. Live humans - that either know their product, or know who/what to connect you up with is just mandatory - even during these difficult economic times. I agree with the thought that it's "comforting(?)" that VMWare is a seasoned and experienced VM solutions provider. | |
| Nov 17 2009 |
GORDON142 See my earlier comment about improved Aero performance in Parallels 5. I to have decided to stick with VMware anywhere. For me it was the fact that Parallels just installs too much crap along with Parallels tools, which is annoying especially when using it with a boot camp partition. It installs a theming programme, for instance, for the sole purpose of the "Maclook" appearance (regardless of whether you use this option or not). Not only does this program slow down Windows, but it is NOT removed when you uninstall Parallels Tools, and in the uninstaller for it does not even work (I had to install the full version - twice, then run its uninstaller to finally remove all the processes of the themer). It's just little obnoxious things like that that make me prefer VMware overall.
(Version 3.0) | |
| Nov 5 2009 |
GORDON142 I've found the Aero support in 3.0 (arguably the biggest new feature) very disappointing. Yes, it's aero, but it's sluggish and glitchy, and makes the entire Windows system maddeningly slow. In other words, it's there but not really usable. I've generally preferred VMware over Parallels for a number of reasons, but I just tried the version 5.0 demo, and Parallels definitely has a much better implementation of Aero. Animations are smooth, and the system remains zippy with Aero enabled. It doesn't cause the case fan to turn on full blast either like VMware with Aero. Clearly, this is something VMware needs to work on.
(Version 3.0) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Oct 29 2009 |
MRGANDO Ok, I have been using this piece of software for a while, I bought 3.0, I'm a believer that one should buy software that uses. I use VMware for work, light gaming ( MTGO ) and more stuff... yeah boot camp is faster ( obviously , it's not virtualized ) , but what is more comfortable that having Windows/Linux VM when I need it ?
(Version 3.0) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Oct 29 2009 |
ACURAICE of Course I'm on Drugs! And I don't know about you but, VMware and Parallels both blow. Yes, they appear to be emulating windows flawlessly on the surface, but under the hood, they are slow,bulky pieces of software. They also only support older pixel shader and direct X 9.0 technology, what that means is if you even attempt to run a game that from 2001 or newer, if you get past the loading screen, it will most surely be choppy and display an errors and most definitely crash ! If your a hardcore gamer like me, you can easily download any copy of of a windows installation cd and be up and running boot camp in about 25 mins! Boot camp is flawless, since your running windows natively, not some cheesy,RAM hungry emulator! Trust me, Boot camp rocks, and performs dramatically better. And as for the side by side thing, what could you possibly be doing that you need to run both operating systems side by side for???? Do you work at a hospital? All you have to do with boot camp is simply drag and drop any file on your bootcamp partition icon, and viola, it appears on your windows desktop the next time you run it! simple as pie...for us more advanced people!
(Version 3.0) | |
| [ 3 Replies - Reply ] | |
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| Oct 30 2009 |
VGOKLANI agreed, 1000% correct
(Version 3.0) | |
| Oct 31 2009 |
ITISTODAY I'm confused, are you outraged at VMware or your own inability to understand why someone could have a legitimate use for it? I know I have a legitimate use for such technology: I sometimes need to be able to test and develop software for two different systems at the same time. The only way I can do that is by using virtualization (in my case, Parallels, though I'm sure VMware is great too). I'm sure other people have other legitimate reasons for paying the $80. So please, chillax, if you don't have a use for it, that's great, but no need to flip out about it.
(Version 3.0) | |
| Dec 22 2009 |
SIXTYNINER If you were really a "serious gamer" as you claim, you wouldn't have bought a mac at all. And no, virtualization software isn't designed for gamers. And I couldn't give a damn if the windows-exclusive database software I use takes full advantage of shader model X.0 or whatever, but it's pretty nice that I can use it without having to reboot my laptop.
(Version 3.0.1) | |
| Oct 29 2009 |
MOELLER3D Now I tried it too, the normal way to upgrade doesn't work, but with the link to this side, I could upgrade here http://store.vmware.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayPage&Env=BASE&Locale=en_US&SiteID=vmware&id=ProductDetailsPage&productID=168242500 Here is no former SN nescessary. When I installed, the new SN is acceepted.
(Version 3.0) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
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| Oct 29 2009 |
FARIBORZ Thank you very much for your help. I could finally make it. Cheers.
(Version 3.0) | |
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