Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

VMware Workstation vs. VirtualBox vs. Parallels

Posted by timothy on from the can't-you-be-content-with-the-actual-box? dept.

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.'"

11 of 289 comments (clear)

  1. Everyone forgets VMware server by drinking12many · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If cost is an issue why do these reviews forget the free VMWare Server it does most everything most users would need at no cost vs workstation

    1. Re:Everyone forgets VMware server by dlanod · · 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.

    2. Re:Everyone forgets VMware server by nxtw · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If cost is an issue why do these reviews forget the free VMWare Server it does most everything most users would need at no cost vs workstation

      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.

    3. Re:Everyone forgets VMware server by NotQuiteInsane · · Score: 4, 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...

    4. Re:Everyone forgets VMware server by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Booting into the "other OS" prevents me from easily switch back and forth between the game and my usual browser, apps, plethora of addons, etc.

      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.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    5. Re:Everyone forgets VMware server by Hurricane78 · · Score: 2, 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.

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
    6. Re:Everyone forgets VMware server by Trahloc · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Be a living example of why helpdocs have to be written as if your 80 year old grandmother was the target audience.

      --
      The Goal: A long simple life filled with many complex toys.
    7. Re:Everyone forgets VMware server by Anonymous Coward · · 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?

  2. Re:VirtualBox lost... by Hatta · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Free has nothing to do with cost. It's free as in freedom, which is an important feature to many.

    --
    Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  3. Re:VirtualBox lost... by LWATCDR · · 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.

    --
    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  4. James Joyce Would Be Scratching His Head by timkar · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wow. I see that they've stopped teaching good sentence and paragraph construction in college. Is it possible that this "paragraph" was cobbled together from several tweets?