Parallels Desktop 10 For Mac Vs Vmware Fusion 7

Compare Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion side by side to find the best virtual machine software for Mac. Discover reviews, free trials and special offers for Mac virtualization software.

Parallels Desktop 10 is a hardware and operating system virtualization program designed for the users of Mac Operating System to enjoy the most of the versions of Windows operating systems in their machine. In is for those who want to enjoy the software and programs of Windows in the Mac but are unable to do so because of no support for the same… read more

12 Parallels Desktop 10 Alternatives & Similar Software

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VirtualBox

VirtualBox (also known as Oracle VirtualBox) is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor for x86 hardware, and it is under development by Oracle Corporation. It is a comprehensive solution and may be installed on numbers of operating systems such as Linux, MacOS, Windows and OpenSolaris, etc.
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VMware Workstation

VMware Workstation is a multiple operating system handler to easily evaluate the any other type of new operating systems. VMware Workstation is that kind of hardware virtualizer that in addition to supporting for the running of other operating system on the guest operating system also support for the running of patches, reference programs and even the software programs and applications.
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QEMU

QEMU is an open source hardware virtualization software that allow the users of one operating systems to enjoy the features and functions of the other operating systems by giving them permission to be virtualizing installed on the host operating systems.
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coLinux

coLinux is basically a port of the Linux operating systems distributed under the distro of Kernel. It is designed for the purpose of allowing the users of Windows and Linux operating systems to run and operate the both operating systems at once in a parallel mode.
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Windows Virtual PC

Windows Virtual PC is an advanced level of virtualization technology by the Microsoft Windows operating system for the Windows operating system users only. It is designed for the purpose of making the users of Windows operating system able to enjoy any version of the Windows operating system on that version that they are currently using.
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VMware Fusion

VMware Fusion is a virtualization program for the Mac OS X operating systems that allow the users of Mac to enjoy the features and functions of any Windows operating system by simply running it on their Mac device.
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VMware Workstation Player

VMware Workstation Player that was once known by the name of Player Pro is a streamlined PC virtualization program for the personal and business purpose that is expert in dealing with multiple operating systems for the purpose of virtualization.
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Portable VirtualBox

Portable VirtualBox is a software package. It is free and open tool that makes you to run any operating system with it from just a USB stick, no separate installation is needed for operating system to run.
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Kernel Virtual Machine

Kernel Virtual Machine is a highly advanced and professional level of virtualization program designed for the Linux operating system based on the x 86 hardware systems. Kernel Virtual Machine contains the various functions in shape of loadable kernel module that provide the users with the system of core virtualization infrastructure and make them able to run multiple virtual machines and operating systems.
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Xen

Xen is an open virtualization program designed for dealing with multiple machines and operating systems. Xen project is based on the hypervisor and allow the users to operate the multiple operating systems from a centralize platform.
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Windows XP Mode

As Microsoft has officially discontinued support for the Windows XP versions so most of the users of the Windows XP are looking for the ways to operate their XP programs. Here is a program for these users named Windows XP Mode that will make them able to run XP programs and software in the Windows 7 operating system.
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MobaLiveCD

MobaLiveCD is a virtualization back system for running the LiveCD of the Linux operating system in the Windows operating system. MobaLiveCD is not an independent program as it uses the emulator of the Qemu for the purpose of testing the LiveCD of Linux in the Windows operating system.

More About Parallels Desktop 10

Parallels Desktop 10 is a hardware and operating system virtualization program designed for the users of Mac Operating System to enjoy the most of the versions of Windows operating systems in their machine. In is for those who want to enjoy the software and programs of Windows in the Mac but are unable to do so because of no support for the same. The main advantage of using Parallels Desktop 10 is that it will never ask you for rebooting your Mac system for the purpose of inviting Windows as a guest operating system. After installing the Parallels Desktop 10 on Mac, it will provide you the support for all kind of functionalities like running of apps, Windows programs, browser bookmarks at once in a parallel mode. For those program that are not available for Mac OS X can be run easily via Parallels Desktop 10 by inviting the Windows system as a guest operating system and then enjoying the running of non-compatible programs and software. This program is suitable for those developers, quality assurance teams, IT professionals, technical sales professionals, teachers and tutors, who have to deploy software by running multiple operating systems similarly on the same computer.

If you need to run Windows inside OS X, you have three options: VirtualBox, VMware, and Parallels. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses, and different use cases where one’s better than another. Let’s break down when each is best and for what.

The Contenders

Virtual machines allow you to run operating systems like Windows inside of OS X, alongside your normal Mac setup. Once you set up a virtual machine, you install the operating system you want and you can use it right from your Mac desktop, no rebooting necessary. There are three popular options for doing this:

  • VirtualBox (Free): VirtualBox is easily the nerdiest of the three options we’re comparing here. It’s packed with all sorts of customization options for your virtual machines, but doesn’t have any fancy integration features like Parallels and VMware. Essentially, VirtualBox allows you to create a virtual machine that’ll run Windows, and that’s about it.
  • VMware Fusion($79.99 for unlimited Macs): VMware Fusion walks the line between Parallels and VirtualBox, offering up a ton of options for tweaking your virtual machine, but still providing plenty of hand-holding for the initial setup process.
  • Parallels($79.99 for one Mac): VMware Fusion and Parallels are very similar, but Parallels guides you through the installation process more closely. It also focuses on home users, who simply need an easy way to use Windows on their Mac without rebooting or getting another computer.

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We’d be remiss here not to also mention Boot Camp, which runs Windows on a separate partition of your hard drive. Unlike virtual machines, Boot Camp requires rebooting your computer, and you can’t use both operating systems at the same time. It’s a bit less convenient, but it means your Windows installation can take full advantage of your Mac’s hardware, giving you better performance. We won’t be including it in today’s showdown—which is specifically about the different virtualization options out there—but it’s worth mentioning as an option for running Windows on a Mac.

Now let’s dig into some of the specifics of each.

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Ease of Setup

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Virtual machines aren’t like other apps. Setup goes beyond just installing the app, so the ease of the process is pretty important.

Let’s start with VirtualBox, since it’s the most hands-on of the bunch. You start by creating a virtual machine and selecting the operating system you plan to run (Windows, Linux, etc). From there, you’ll need to tweak a bunch of system settings, including how many processor cores the virtual machine gets, how much memory and video memory it gets from the total installed in your system. Thankfully, we have a guide to help you through the whole process. Once you have all of that configured, you’ll install the operating system just like you would on any computer. That means you’ll need an installation disc, USB drive, or ISO file to install from.

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Both VMware and Parallels have setup wizards that guide you through the process a little more. Beyond simply installing a virtual machine, both allow you to import your Boot Camp partition if you have one, or migrate an old Windows PC to your Mac. Parallels (pictured above) guides you through the installation process a lot more, and you’ll get the option to automatically optimize Parallels for productivity or gaming. Of course, you always can move past that screen and install Windows from scratch if you prefer.

They’re all simple, though Parallels has a bit of an advantage for new users since it holds your hand throughout the process. In terms of user friendliness, Parallels was consistently the strongest of the three we tested. That makes it a great solution for anyone not interested in screwing around with settings.

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Additional Features That Make All the Difference

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While each of these three programs do fundamentally the same thing, a handful of small features set them apart from one another.

All three apps feature some type of windowed mode support (see image above). This allows you to run a single Windows application in its own window on your Mac desktop, so it feels a little more like a native Mac app. VMware calls this Unity, Parallels calls this Coherence, and VirtualBox calls it Seamless Mode. When an app is in windowed mode, you can copy and paste information between Windows and Mac apps, move and resize them, and close an app without shutting down Windows.

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Parallels and VMware both allow you to open up individual Windows programs directly from the Dock, which makes the whole process very easy. VirtualBox doesn’t support this feature, instead requiring you to open up the whole virtual machine to pick our your app of choice.

The similarities don’t stop there. If you’re running Windows 10, Parallels and VMware both give you access to Cortana to issue voice commands, even if Windows isn’t in focus. They also both support DirectX 10, which means they can run most games, though good performance isn’t guaranteed (more on that in the next section). VirtualBox doesn’t support any cool little tricks like this. Instead, it merely performs the simple task of running Windows as a whole.

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Microsoft Remote Desktop 10 For Mac

The feature differences between the Parallels and VMware are pretty subtle. For example, Parallels supports OS X’s Quick Look feature in Windows, while VMware doesn’t. Conversely, if you happen to have a fancy new iMac, VMware supports 5K monitors natively. Most of this stuff is pretty minor though, and honestly if you stripped away the logos, I’d have a hard time telling a difference between the two.

If you want a full comparison of everything in VMware Fusion and Parallels, Wikipedia has a handy chart that’s worth a look, though it’s not completely up-to-date.

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Performance and Benchmarks

Since virtual machines have to share resources with the host OS, performance is very important. Thankfully, TekRevue has benchmarked all three programs for a variety of tasks. The current version of VMware outperforms the others in nearly every category, while VirtualBox is way behind its competitors. Of course, there’s more to it than just that.

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In 18 different tests, VMware took top honors in 11, most notably in the graphics benchmarks. Performance margins were typically pretty close and as a whole, Parallels tends to do best in CPU-related tests where VMware does best in graphics-related tests.

The general trend of CPU versus graphics runs throughout their tests. Parallels tends to boot faster than VMware, transfer files faster, and saves battery life better than VMware. In turn, VMware benchmarks much higher for 3D graphics and for gaming, especially with OpenGL. VirtualBox consistently lags behind in both CPU and 3D performance.

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The Verdict: VirtualBox for a Free, Bare-Bones Experience. VMware or Parallels for an Easy-to-Use, More Integrated One

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If you just need Windows to run that one old app that doesn’t require a ton of 3D rendering or other complicated processing, VirtualBox is what you want. Beyond that, feature-wise, the two paid options are very similar, and the difference is mainly price and how many Macs you need to install on. If you’re planning on running anything in 3D or want to install Windows on more than one Mac, then go with VMware. If you’re more interested in productivity software and battery life, and don’t mind the one Mac restriction, then Parallels is your best bet.

Parallels Desktop 10 For Mac Vs Vmware Fusion 7

All of this changes from year to year, too. Parallels and VMware both require that you buy an annual license every year to get updates that pack in performance gains and feature improvements. These annual updates are great in theory, but they’re not cheap, and they come every year without fail. This is a bit tiresome, especially when they lock out newer versions of Windows behind those paid upgrades. Provided you don’t need to be on the cutting edge, they’re usually pretty incremental, though, and you’re okay skipping one or two—as long as a new version of Windows doesn’t come out.

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Parallels Desktop 10 For Mac Windows 10

Regardless, the good news here is that while VirtualBox is free, even VMware Fusion and Parallels have trial periods so you can check them all out. We definitely recommend doing so before you drop the cash. You don’t have to try out all three options, but if your needs are pretty limited, start with VirtualBox before considering VMware or Parallels.