VMware vs. Parallels: Macintosh users now to decide

VMware launches the VMware Fusion for the Mac OS X and thereby they are set to take on Parallels in the Mac virtualization world. The software is similar to desktop virtualization software already available from Parallels, which also lets Mac users run Windows on the Mac OS. It is very good news for the users running Macs alongside PCs that the best-selling virtualization software is now available for Apple's OS X. But any corporate appeal may be lessened by the news that VMware is limiting the scope of Fusion and that it will only support two virtual machines per user.

The VMware claims that technically, the standard VMware product can support tens and more virtual machines in one system. "We have only delivered what people have asked for," said VMware's director of product marketing Reza Malekzadeh. In demonstrations, VMware was able to show almost seamless movement across multiple windows running from virtual PCs and Macs on the same screen. "We have put a lot of work into getting that right," the representative said. As for corporate customers, "…small companies may well use it and we will wait and see if there is demand from corporate users." VMware Fusion is entering a busy market, with the market leader, Parallels Desktop for the Mac, dominating the market for virtualization on a Mac. Microsoft has its own virtualization product. However, as expected, Parallels has downplayed any threat from VMware. Benjamin Rudolph, director of Parallels, said: "With more than 600,000 active users around the world, Parallels is, without question, the leader in the desktop virtualization market," "We're confident that we will maintain our leadership role by continuing to respond to the needs of our customers by introducing new ground-breaking technologies that make working with multiple operating systems easier, faster, and more productive than ever before."

David Marshall wrote ...