vmware

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed in by our readers.

This week people wrote in with questions about OWC's SSD firmware updaters for Mac systems, the chances of Apple offering Snow Leopard for virtualization, and details on 16GB RAM support in MacBook Pro systems. We continually answer e-mail questions, and though we present answers here, we welcome alternative approaches and views from readers and encourage you to post your suggestions in the comments.

NOTE: The "contact us" box for e-mailing us will hopefully be back soon, but until then please use the … Read more

Recently VMware released version 4.1 of its Fusion virtualization software for OS X, which in addition to offering a number of bug fixes and speed improvements has lifted its restriction on virtualizing the Client version of Snow Leopard.

In the past, and as is the case with other virtualization options, when you tried to install Snow Leopard or another operating system that is restricted from virtualization by its EULA, Fusion would issue an error message notifying you of this restriction. Now VMware appears to have changed this so its software only requests that you abide by the operating system's EULA, … Read more

When it comes to virtualization on OS X there are three basic solutions: Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, and VirtualBox from Oracle. While VirtualBox is developed more as a free hobby and experiment package by Oracle, the other two are commercial packages that have been neck-and-neck in competition in the areas of speed, stability, and compatibility.

In its past few versions, Parallels Desktop has been significantly faster than VMware Fusion for a few tasks, which Parallels has regularly blogged about.

Today VMware released a new version of its Fusion virtualization software (available through its built-in updater) that in part offers a … Read more

If you’re sick of having to carry around two smartphones, one for work and one for your personal life, there are options coming that will save you grief and the need to carry multiple devices everywhere.

One such product is the VMware Horizon Mobile solution. Basically, this platform enables a user to run a “phone-in-a-phone,” meaning both work and personal mobile environments separately on the same device. Users would be able to have two phone numbers and data accounts on the same smartphone.

Think of it like a partition on a computer hard drive, but in terms of virtualization … Read more

VMware reported strong third quarter results and upped the outlook for the fourth quarter.

VMware reported third quarter earnings of $178 million, or 41 cents a share, on revenue of $942 million, up 32 percent from a year ago. Non-GAAP earnings were 53 cents a share.

Wall Street, which bases its estimates on non-GAAP earnings, was looking for third quarter earnings of 50 cents a share on $929.4 million.

As for the outlook, VMware projected fourth quarter sales between $1.03 billion to $1.06 billion, up 23 percent to 27 percent from a year ago. That range is … Read more

Virtualization's benefits--server consolidation, improved resource utilization, faster application deployment, and overall flexibility--have made it one of IT's most important tools.

Earlier this year, a Gartner survey of more than 2,000 CIOs indicated that virtualization was one of their highest priorities in 2011 (eclipsed only by cloud computing).

But given the benefits and the rapid adoption of virtualized environments, can we expect virtualization will be extended to 100 percent of applications? If not, what are the barriers to increased virtualization footprints with the enterprise?

Tintri, a provider of VM-aware storage appliances, recently conducted a survey of 126 virtualization … Read more

The Open Virtualization Alliance, a consortium committed to fostering the adoption of open virtualization technologies, today announced total membership of more than 200, up from 65 in just over three months. New members include CA Technologies, DataStax and Jaspersoft.

I spoke with Scott Crenshaw, VP and GM of Cloud for Red Hat, who told CNET that infrastructure as important as virtualization needs an open alternative. And Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) has emerged as a strategic initiative at many large companies, including Intel and HP. KVM is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware that provides for multiple virtual … Read more

When it comes to running alternative operating systems such as Windows or Linux on the Mac there are several options. The first is to use Apple's Boot Camp, which runs Windows natively on Apple's hardware, without OS X running at the same time. Because of the dedication of all the systems resources to the OS this is the fastest and most compatible method of running Windows; however, it does come at the cost of not being able to access your Mac applications at the same time.

The second option is to run a virtualization program, which takes advantage … Read more

VMware today launched its Fusion 4 software optimized for Apple's Mac OS X Lion.

The company's Fusion software, which is used to run Windows on a Mac, is in a dogfight with Parallels, which recently rolled out its rival Desktop 7 software.

VMware said it added 90 features to Fusion 4, which comes via a USB key and has a promotional price of $49.99 before jumping to $79.99. Along with Fusion 4, VMware also launched the latest WorkStation software.

Pat Lee, director of end user computing clients at VMware, said the company's aim is to &… Read more