VMware Releases New Mac Desktop Virtualization Beta

By Michelle Savage

May 7, 2008 —  VMware yesterday released a public beta for Fusion 2.0, virtualization software that allows Intel-based Macintosh computers to run Linux, Windows and other operating systems.

According to VMware, the free beta download includes several industry firsts for Macintosh virtualization, including multi-display support for virtual machines and experimental DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 2 acceleration for 3D graphics.

The release brings the first multi-display support for anyone using multiple Macintosh monitors, making it easier to switch from competitors’ virtual machine programs, said VMware. Users with virtual machines can see additional displays attached to the Macintosh as individual displays. It also adds easier conversion tools to retrieve a virtual machine from Parallels Desktop or Virtual PC, as well as older VMware VMs.

The beta release allows users to take their Boot Camp partition and convert the Windows piece into a full virtual machine, eliminating the need to dual boot.

It also provides support for DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 2, allowing users to play select PC-only 3D games in Windows XP virtual machines. However, VMware cautioned that DirectX 9.0 Shader Model 2 support in Beta 1 is considered experimental, and performance will vary based on hardware and applications in question.

Fusion 2.0 will be a free upgrade to all Fusion 1.x users when the final version is released.



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