There are various virtualization software available in the market. But to choose the one that is best for your office or home, you need to do a comparative analysis of these available solutions. In this article, I will compare VMware Fusion 5 with Parallels Desktop 8 - the two most popular options available today for running an operating system on Mac. VMware Fusion 5 is an application that was designed by VMware for Mac PC’s that uses Intel processors. It is recommended for home users who would like to have a most dependable platform to run Windows on Mac. Parallels Desktop 8 is also an equally tested solution that allows users to run both Mac OS X applications and Windows at the same time without rebooting. Here, I compare the two options in detail.
Ease with installation
As mentioned earlier, both VMware Fusion 5 and Parallels Desktop 8 allow users to run Windows along with Mac OS applications. However, the ease in initial setup and installation is something that we need to compare within the two applications. Parallels Desktop can be easily downloaded in a short span of time. On the other hand, VMware Fusion 5 makes the process little difficult because of the slow download and complicacy involved in the process. Thus, if you are looking for an easy and fast installation, Parallels is definitely a safe choice.
Performance in switching between operating systems
Users who are looking to migrate between Windows 7 and Mac quite often, Parallels has proved to be a more effective program than VMware Fusion. The migration can be done at a faster speed without any interruption. It also provides with an excellent support system in case an issue comes up. Furthermore, it has a troubleshooting system that improves the performance of the program. VMware Fusion 5 does not offer such performance effectiveness as compared to Parallels. Its slow speed makes it a less effective solution.
Privacy Settings
Parallels and VMware differ in their privacy settings. Parallels value social networking links like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and so on and adds these on its launch. It also approaches the Address book for details. VMware on the other hand does not interfere with this process.
Compatibility with Mac OS X Lion Integration
According to reports submitted by consumers, Parallels has proved to be a better option for Mac OS X Lion integration. It can do the task much easily. The new release of Parallels 8 has further streamlined the integration process with the help of its effective Launchpad, full screen and mission control support and access to Lion animation support.
Ease in Handling
Since Parallels Desktop 8 was designed keeping in mind new users, the level of handing the software is much easier as compared to VMware Fusion 5 that caters to experienced users. This makes Parallels more accessible program. The components provided can be executed effectively.
Cost aspect
Parallel Desktop 8 can be purchased at a price of $79.99. Since the software is constantly upgraded with new features, users can pay just $49.99 for the upgraded version. VMware Fusion 5 is also available at $79.99 but does not offer the same upgrade cost. In fact, the company offers promo codes or coupon codes that can be used by the buyers for getting huge discounts which can go up to 75%. With all this said, Parallels Desktop 8 is definitely a better software platform than Fusion 5 considering the usability and performance.
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