Hi Chris, Again, thanks very much for the feedback.
Yes, I really appreciate the benefits of using a VM image. To avoid filling up my Time machine drive, I exclude the VM images from the TM backups - instead I use the VM clone function make a backup VM image whenever I do any significant work in Windows (including updates etc) - I prefer to keep control of this myself. OK, so it sounds to be pretty well covered between VMware Fusion and Parallels - did you also try this with VirtualBox - ie converting a Parallels/Fusion machine for use with VirtualBox and/or convert a VirtualBox machine for use with a Parallels/Fusion machine? Cheers Neil -- Neil R. Houghton Albany, Western Australia Tel: +61 8 9841 6063 Email: n...@possumology.com on 22/9/09 6:06 PM, Christopher S at c...@iinet.net.au wrote: > Hi Neil, > > Yes, I've been lucky enough to test them out. Initially I started off using > Bootcamp on a dedicated partition. We then got hold of Parallels and used > that with that with the Bootcamp partition so I didn't have to create an > image - one of the downsides here is that you can't "suspend" Windows ie you > have to wait for it to startup everytime - I think that is still the case. > When using an image though you can suspend to your hearts content, which is > a bit faster. I also used Fusion the Bootcamp image - though not at the same > time... > > I then decided I wanted the benefits of using an image ie the suspend > function and easy backup you can just copy the image file and there is your > complete backup - apps, OS, everything. So I used the VMware Converter app > (which is free) to create an image of my Bootcamp partition for VMware > Fusion. I started that process just before knockoff time and it was ready > the next morning. I think all I had to do was install the VMware fusion > tools on the image and it worked perfectly. That step is pretty important > for all three VMs (Parallels, Fusion and VirtualBox) so you can do things > like drag and drop from the VM to your desktop and the graphics drivers are > set correctly etc. > > We then received a new version of Parallels so uninstalled the Vmware > Fusion tools and converted the Fusion image using the Parallels Transporter > (also free). I installed the Parallels Tools and again it all worked well. > It did take awhile to do the conversion so be prepared for that. > > So the bottom line is VMware Fusion and Parallels have image converters, > Converter and Transporter respectively that can convert vm images from each > other. Each have instructions on use - follow them closely. Usually you have > to uninstall the vm "tools" first then you can convert and reinstall the > correct "tools". And be prepared to wait if your image is big. > > Regards, > > Chris. > > >> From: Neil Houghton <n...@possumology.com> >> Reply-To: WAMUG Mailing List <wamug@wamug.org.au> >> Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:31:01 +0800 >> To: WAMUG <wamug@wamug.org.au> >> Subject: Re: VMWare Fusion $41 till 11.30am today >> >> >> Hi Chris, >> >> Thanks very much for that feedback. It sounds like you have swapped back and >> forth between Parallels & Fusion a bit - do you move VMs around when you do >> this (ie import pre-existing VMs created in another program) or do you set >> up a new VM from scratch each time? >> >> Do all three actually allow you to import VMs from the other two or are >> there restrictions on this? (that's how I went from VPC on a PPC Mac to >> Parallels on an Intel mac and it was relatively painless in that case). >> >> If you have imported VMs from other programs I woud be interested in your >> thoughts as to how well this works between Parallels/Fusion/VirtualBox >> >> >> Cheers >> >> >> Neil >> -- >> Neil R. Houghton >> Albany, Western Australia >> Tel: +61 8 9841 6063 >> Email: n...@possumology.com >> >> >> >> on 21/9/09 6:40 PM, Christopher S at c...@iinet.net.au wrote: >> >>> >>> Well I've been using Parallels and Fusion on and off from the beginning >>> initially as my main work PC running Office 2003/2007, corporate apps, Adobe >>> design apps and for the testing of apps like SketchUp and SolidWorks. Each >>> version of each app gets better and in some cases overtakes the other one. >>> So earlier this year Parallels was slightly faster at most tasks than Fusion >>> see this review: >>> >>> http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.25/25.04/VMBenchmarks/index.html >>> >>> That was with VMware Fusion 2.0.1. Fusion is now up to 2.0.5 so it's >>> probably slightly faster than Parallels. >>> >>> In terms of features they are so similar. In the early versions Parallels >>> interface was a bit nicer - kinda Tonka Toyified. Fusion has certainly >>> caught up now though. Similarly VirtualBox is improving all the time, there >>> was an update just the other week. >>> >>> Speaking of VirtualBox it is straightforward to use if nothing goes wrong. >>> If it does you may have to do a bit of searching on the net or playing >>> around to sort it out. I suppose this is where its downfall is. Parallels >>> and VMware's support is pretty good - I've had to contact both and both have >>> responded quickly. With VirtualBox being a free product you're on your own a >>> little bit - but hey did I say it's free, and really impressive for a >>> freebie. My colleagues set up VirtualBox on a complete novice to VMs iMac >>> and he's really happy with it. >>> >>> Currently I'm running Parallels 4.0.3846 with Windows 7RC on Snow Leopard >>> 10.6.1 and it's running really well. The only reason I'm using Parallels >>> over Fusion is that it came as part of a MacUpdate Promo. Otherwise I would >>> have gone for the Fusion offer this morning. >>> >>> I wouldn't consider gaming with these VMs however using Bootcamp on a MacPro >>> is awesome... >>> >>> Hope this is helpful in some way - sorry for the lack of specifics I'm not >>> in IT anymore. >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Chris. >>> >>> >>>> From: Neil Houghton <n...@possumology.com> >>>> Reply-To: WAMUG Mailing List <wamug@wamug.org.au> >>>> Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:47:44 +0800 >>>> To: WAMUG <wamug@wamug.org.au> >>>> Subject: Re: VMWare Fusion $41 till 11.30am today >>>> >>>> >>>> Hi Peter, >>>> >>>> Out of interest, did you use all three just to compare the different >>>> applications - or do you use different VMs for different tasks. >>>> >>>> What, if any, would you rate as the particular pros/cons or points of >>>> difference of the three approaches - other than the obvious cost advantage >>>> of Sun's VirtualBox. >>>> >>>> I've only ever run Parallels 3.0 - just because it seemed to be the one >>>> everyone recommended at the time that I purchased it - I had a lot of >>>> trouble at the time upgrading my XP Pro VM (imported from Virtual PC) to >>>> SP2 >>>> but once I got that sorted (thank you Peter Hinchcliffe!) it seems to do OK >>>> so I didn't look any further. >>>> >>>> >>>> However, I suppose that at some point (SL upgrade?) I will need to look at >>>> upgrading from Parallels 3.0 - so I suppose that will be a good time to >>>> also >>>> look at the alternatives. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Neil >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Neil R. Houghton >>>> Albany, Western Australia >>>> Tel: +61 8 9841 6063 >>>> Email: n...@possumology.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> on 21/9/09 10:12 AM, Christopher S at c...@iinet.net.au wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi Peter >>>>> >>>>> I've used the current versions of Parallels and Fusion and Sun's >>>>> VirtualBox >>>>> (which is free) and they are all pretty good virtual machines. Unless you >>>>> are talking the latest Windows games I would think any of the above would >>>>> be >>>>> fine for most apps. Games may run best in Fusion but BootCamp is probably >>>>> the better option - that is of course debatable. >>>>> >>>>> There is a big caveat with all three and that is that you need to own a >>>>> copy >>>>> of Windows to install in the virtual machine. >>>>> >>>>> If it's only a couple of apps that you need like the ATO Tax App then I'd >>>>> probably suggest Sun's VirtualBox. >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> >>>>> Chris. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> From: Peter Curtis <pcur...@aapt.net.au> >>>>>> Reply-To: WAMUG Mailing List <wamug@wamug.org.au> >>>>>> Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:57:06 +0800 >>>>>> To: WAMUG Mailing List <wamug@wamug.org.au> >>>>>> Subject: Re: VMWare Fusion $41 till 11.30am today >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi >>>>>> I need to run windoze for a couple of applications that can't be run >>>>>> on a Mac and currently use a small windows laptop. Now that I've >>>>>> bought a intel Mac I intend to run windoze on it but haven't got >>>>>> around to choosing which program to use. This email suggests now might >>>>>> be the time to make up my mind. The question is: Is VMWare Fusion a >>>>>> reasonable program to use for someone who wants to run a couple of >>>>>> windoze programs on their Mac? or should I be more careful in choosing >>>>>> what program I use? >>>>>> Thanks in anticipation. >>>>>> Regards >>>>>> Peter >>>>>> On 21/09/2009, at 9:38 AM, Christopher S wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi Guys, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Just a heads up Vmware Fusion 2.0.5 is US$34.95 till 11.30AM Monday 21 >>>>>>> September at this site: >>>>>>> http://www.mupromo.com/deal/960/4438/vmware-fusion >>>>>>> this is quite a saving if you¹re in the market for Fusion/Parallels. >>>>>>> >>>> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au>
