VMware Workstation vs. VirtualBox vs. Parallels 289
snydeq writes "InfoWorld's Randall Kennedy takes an in-depth look at VMware Workstation 7, VirtualBox 3.1, and Parallels Desktop 4, three technologies at the heart of 'the biggest shake-up for desktop virtualization in years.' The shake-up, which sees Microsoft's once promising Virtual PC off in the Windows 7 XP Mode weeds, has put VirtualBox — among the best free open source software available for Windows — out front as a general-purpose VM, filling the void left by VMware's move to make Workstation more appealing to developers and admins. Meanwhile, Parallels finally offers a Desktop for Windows on par with its Mac product, as well as Workstation 4 Extreme, which delivers near native performance for graphics, disk, and network I/O. 'There's some genuine innovation going on, especially in the areas of hardware support and application compatibility,' Kennedy writes. 'All support 32- and 64-bit Windows and Linux hosts and guests, and all have added compelling new VM management capabilities, ranging from automated snapshots to live VM migration.'"
Everyone forgets VMware server (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:VirtualBox lost... (Score:2, Insightful)
Free has nothing to do with cost. It's free as in freedom, which is an important feature to many.
Re:Everyone forgets VMware server (Score:5, Insightful)
"Normal" users play games in their VM?
Actually now that you raise that point, it's not as bizarre as it sounds. I was getting ready to ridicule it but giving Linux the ability to play Wine unsupported games and Windows 7 the ability to play WinXP-dependant games with decent performance may be one of the main consumer drivers of virtual machines. Though I'm not holding my breath on it being widespread just yet.
Re:VirtualBox lost... (Score:5, Insightful)
That is one way to look at it.
I have used Virtual Box and I find that it getting bumped down for ease of use is a bit silly. It isn't hard to use at all. It maybe slightly more difficult to install but once installed it is trivial to use.
So lets drop ease of use and "value" from the matrix.
If you do that they tie at 8.6 for the top spot.
Before you dismiss Virtual Box out of hand take a good look at the matrix.
The only area outside of ease of use that VirtualBox got less than a 9 on was VM management where it got an 8.
Also take a look at the weights of each column. Ease of use is 25% while cost is only 10%.
I think the cost and the Ease of use are both interesting metrics. With a cost of Free I can see no reason not to try VirtualBox first. If you find the ease of use and VM management good enough for your task then you have a huge win. The other may have demo systems you can try for a limited amount of time but they will still cost you money so VirtualBox really should be the first system on anybody's list to try.
Re:Everyone forgets VMware server (Score:5, Insightful)
VMware Player is also free, and as of version 3.0 includes the capability to create and edit virtual machines. It also has support for 3D, Unity (seamless mode), and Aero in Vista/7.
James Joyce Would Be Scratching His Head (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Everyone forgets VMware server (Score:5, Insightful)
Because with a dual-boot system, you have to reboot to switch between games and work. With a virtualised second OS, you just kill off (or suspend) the VM when you want to do some work again. Also, if you've suspended the VM, you can carry on right where you left off, no save-games necessary (which more often than not leave you at some arbitrary place in the level, rather than where you were when you saved).
Maybe I'm just lazy...
Re:Everyone forgets VMware server (Score:3, Insightful)
I worry about your attention span and quality of life if you can't even take some time to play a game without having to browse facebook at the same time.
Re:Everyone forgets VMware server (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, you can even create multiple snapshots, and so if you have to make a big descision in a game, you can actually choose to go both ways! I call that a great function! :)
If only VMs weren’t so horribly slow.
Re:Everyone forgets VMware server (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Everyone forgets VMware server (Score:1, Insightful)
If you use PC for gaming and work together you don't need 3d in a VM. Just install gaming system and virtualize the one you use for work. It also makes it much easier to save and backup work data. Why everyone forgets this scenario?