Filed under: OS, Software, Apple
VMware announces Mac client
We knew this was coming, but it is nice to see official confirmation. VMware has just posted pre-registration for their VMware client for Intel Macs. What does this mean? Parallels will have some competition in the Mac virtualization space (remember that virtualization is the technology that allows you to run 'virtual' copies of other OSes on your Mac), amongst other things.
This is a big deal because VMware is a heavy hitter in the Enterprise space, and it is always good to see those kinds of companies come to the Mac. Not to mention this might mean that OS X virtual machines running on non-Apple hardware might soon be possible.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ben said 9:15AM on 8-07-2006
"Not to mention this might mean that OS X virtual machines running on non-Apple hardware might soon be possible."
Ha! Not over Steve's dead body...
(legally, that is)
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Chris Meisenzahl said 9:22AM on 8-07-2006
A great bit of news imho.
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Edward said 9:44AM on 8-07-2006
So, do we, Mac users, going to pay for VMWare Player when Windows and Linux boys get it free? Or is it just for the Workstation version and we'll have the free Player?
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Chris said 9:49AM on 8-07-2006
I love how they have an icon for Parallels in the dock in the VMware screenshot
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Brainy said 9:51AM on 8-07-2006
I don't get it. Unless I'm missing something, what with VMware being a big(ger)company...they're not doing anything Parallels isn't doing already. Why wait until WWDC for a big reveal when your competition has products on the shelf?
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kumaw said 10:01AM on 8-07-2006
"Not to mention this might mean that OS X virtual machines running on non-Apple hardware might soon be possible."
So just how exactly are the two even remotely related? VMWare releases a virtualization product for Mac OS X so that means that you'll soon be able to run Mac OS X in a VMWare virtual machine on Windows/Linux (i.e. non-Apple hardware)!? Somebody's logic chip isn't working properly, the two things have absolutely nothing to do with one another. It's like saying Microsoft will soon release Vista so Windows users will soon be able to run Linux on their PCs - they're not related and it's just plain stupid.
Mac OS X on Intel is tied to Mac hardware - any support for virtualization (unfortunately) will likely require not only Apple's help but their blessing as well.
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Eric B. said 10:39AM on 8-07-2006
This is awesome! Our entire infrastructure is VMWare! I have a PC hanging around so I can build images on them and upload them to production when they are ready. Now I can finally do that on my MBP. HELLA.
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John Laur said 11:01AM on 8-07-2006
Great news. VMware is awesome. I use all their stuff from the free stuff all the way up to ESX Enterprise!
I was also going to mention how funny it is that they have a parallels icon in their screenshot. Parallels should call them out on it.
I still think Parallels will be the better solution for the average joe though -- they seem to be more in tune with the pulse of the little features that people really want in the software - witness the integration of the full-screen transistions for example. Even if the virtualization might not be as good as VMware, I think they have their ear to the groudn with what mac users expect. Knowing very well how VMware sometimes lumbers along, I would not expect them to fare quite as well...
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follerec said 12:19PM on 8-07-2006
I wish VMware would create an interface for Mac OS X that can access VMware Server remote machines. This would be the best option for older PowerPC machines. I can imagine it now... access to my Linux server VMs using my Mac iBook.
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mightyman said 1:02PM on 8-16-2006
I'm wondering, what is the performance decrease running windows on this verses parallels?
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