Found Footage: VMware gets schooled by Parallels in MacTech benchmarks

When has crashing been a problem on Windows? I have Win 7 Ultimate x64 gaming/workstation box (used to have Vista Ultimate x64) and it runs 24/7. It doesn't crash and only gets a reboot when updates request it or when I load new video drivers. Back when I was still using XP I can't say I've had much to complain about it either, but comparing to Vista and 7 it was less stable. If that's the only reason you're using Mac, I suggest you take another look or do a fresh Windows install on your computers. As for Parallels, I think it's overall best VM for Mac. It is nice to have ability to run 3D in it if needed.

Why didn't they show a THIRD screen showing the Macbook Pro running Windows via Bootcamp?

If they did, people would realize that running games (o these tests) via virtualization is a joke. No one in their right mind would run a graphics intensive 3D game in virtualization.

This video smells fishy. Looks like a marketing promo for Parallels.

Well... i like VMware... i used it since it first come up for Windows... 3 years ago i switched to Mac and i used again VMware for the first day they released Fusion...
But... same time I hate Parallels because they are greedy and rude... and i don't talk only about Parallels Desktop but about all their services and products... and BTW, God help you if you need support... and don't be surprised to find your email registered in they spam database (i have proof of this one)... So, i hate them for what they are like company, but yea, their Parallels Desktop can be better, i dunno =)
But if you want play Windows games then go native.

Will Parallels let me run the exact same virtual machine image under Mac OS X, Windows, Linux and a virtual server farm?

Didn't think so...

If you're gonna game, Bootcamp. Period.

Besides,VMWare Fusion is a much more streamlined solution in my experience, I virtualise a number of operating systems on a daily basis..

I started using parallels with version 1, then switched to vmware up till about a month ago. I was looking to upgrade from vmware 2.x and did a test with parallels 5 and was very impressed. I don't do games but mostly Office, Eclipse and stuff like that.

Parallels just seems to run better.

Nits: I can't map Cmd-W to Ctrl-W to easily close windows in firefox

Note that with VirtualBox the keyboard mapping is worse, you are either passing all keycodes or none the best is the way vmware handles it.

Pluses: I like to run the same image on my macbook and imac, with vmware I'm not able to do that due to XP having to re-activate each time I move the image. With Parallels that doesn't seem to be happening.

rebooting is a pain in the arse. People shouldn't be expecting to run the latest and greatest crap via virtualization, but if you're playing games 3 or 4 years old on the most modern apple hardware, the games should be playable.

If you all read the article, you'd see that Portal performs quite ably in parallels...more than playable

For me, I don't want to reboot my computer to play a game...one of the reasons I use a Mac is that I don't crash/reboot as often as Windows. I may have browsers open or work open and I may just want to jump into a game for 30 min or so without blowing away my session. If Parallels gives me a playable fps around 25 or 30, then I don't really care that BootCamp can give me 60fps. For all of you here bashing Parallels because "real gamers don't virtualize", I think you are missing a huge market of casual gamers. BootCamp for me is a last resort.

...OR we could just reboot, hold down the option key, click on windows, and have the games run perfectly...

Aside from the odd DOS game, I would not run a (3d) windows game in a VM. It's great that vmware and Paralells are pushing what is possible, but even with HW support, there's always going to be a performance hit.