AppleInsider Staff
Oct. 27 is the worldwide launch date for VMware Fusion 3, now available for pre-order. VMware has said that the latest version will include more than 50 new features and enhancements, including greater support for graphics-intensive games in Windows.
"For more than 10 years, VMware virtualization has given users the choice of where to run their favorite applications. We're excited about the rapid adoption of VMware Fusion in the Mac community since its introduction just over two years ago, making it the No. 1 choice to run Windows on a Mac," said Jocelyn Goldfein, vice president and general manager, desktop business unit. "VMware Fusion 3 builds on our proven platform and makes it even easier for users to run Windows applications on the Mac."
VMware Fusion 3 has been optimized for Snow Leopard and takes advantage of the 64-bit architecture in Mac OS X 10.6. The new version will have a new 64-bit core engine to allow the "ultimate Windows 7 experience," offering Windows Aero and Flip 3D.
In addition, 3D graphics support will extend to OpenGL 2.1 and DirectX 9.0c Shader Model 3. Gamers will be able to run their favorite titles through Fusion 3 without rebooting.
The company has also touted that Fusion 3 will make it easier for users to migrate from PC to Mac, either wirelessly or with an ethernet cable.
"VMware Fusion has been designed from the beginning to make it easy to run Windows apps like Mac apps," the company said on its official blog. "VMware Fusion 3 makes it even better with the 'Always On' Applications Menu that banishes the Windows Start menu from your Mac and let’s you find and launch Windows apps like Mac apps, even when VMware Fusion is not running. Cycle through open Windows apps with 'command', quit individual Windows applications with 'command q', and use Dock Exposé with Windows apps."
VMware Fusion 3 has a retail price of $79.99 and will be available on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Those upgrading from previous versions of the application can do so at the discounted price of $39.99. Those who bought version 2 from Oct. 1, 2009 through the end of November will qualify for a free downloadable upgrade after filling out an online form and providing proof of purchase.
Andrew Orr
Wesley Hilliard
Christine McKee
Malcolm Owen
57 Comments
I've been in the Beta program and running the Version 3 Release Candidate for some time. Up until now I haven't been able to say anything under NDA. Now I can, and one word can sums this up: "Spectacular".
It's just like running Boot Camp in Snow Leopard - the speed, full Aero implementation.....it just blows version 2 and the competition away.
Sweet! That feature set looks really nice. I'm just wondering how it can let you access and run Windows apps without having Fusion loaded. A bit lower upgrade price would be nice too, maybe $29?
I've been in the Beta program and running the Version 3 Release Candidate for some time. Up until now I haven't been able to say anything under NDA. Now I can, and one word can sums this up: "Spectacular".
It's just like running Boot Camp in Snow Leopard - the speed, full Aero implementation.....it just blows version 2 and the competition away.
That's great news - even better than Vmware's press release - I quite like Fusion but it does have it's issues (especially when hard drive space gets a bit low). Still this sounds great - I cannot wait.
I've been in the Beta program and running the Version 3 Release Candidate for some time. Up until now I haven't been able to say anything under NDA. Now I can, and one word can sums this up: "Spectacular".
It's just like running Boot Camp in Snow Leopard - the speed, full Aero implementation.....it just blows version 2 and the competition away.
Interesting. I have been suing Parallels for some time because I had heard that it was best, but I have had multiple problems with it using my boot camp partition. In particular it has caused me to have to call Microsoft to re-authenticate several times. Maybe I will switch.
Hopefully VMWare doesn't go down the path that Parallels did a year or so ago and load up on features at the expense of quality.