Comments on: Parallels Desktop 5 vs. VMware Fusion 3

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:00:31 +0000

Probably all true, but after 30 days, try to get some free tech support from Parallels!
I upgraded to Parallels 6 and lost my WIndows 7.1 virtual machine and cannot get anyone from parallels to help.

By: Hrq

Hrq — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:14:04 +0000

Prallels Desktop 5 vs VM Ware Fusion 3:
Allow me to tell you that i use Parallels too and i know it’s faster than VMFusion in common tasks such starting up, shutting down, whatever… which makes us to save precious time, i know! However how’s the performance working on heavy software, such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks, 3D stuff, etc.? Well, i don’t want to be disappointing, even because i’m using parallels for a long time just because of the easier interface and common task “maneuvre”… but i must say that VM Fusion kicks Parallels ass working in AutoCAD. Try moving the cursor around the screen and you note the difference straight away. No lag on Fusion. (end point). The same with SolidWorks. However, it’s so strange i can work better on SolidWorks using virtual machines than using BootCamp even! The same doesn’t happen with AutoCad. Amazing and strange, respectively! Well, both Parallels and fusion are great, but i’m sure if you want performance running AutoCAD, just go VMFusion, even if you can still do it on Parallels but with some lag…
Cheers to all.

By: SaRaH

SaRaH — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:17:29 +0000

Thanks. I thought that I’ll never make AutoCAD 2010 works (on VMware fusion)…I guess i’ll have to change for Parallels.

By: mihail

mihail — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:07:18 +0000

Parallels 5 is not currently compatible with Firewire yet

By: Flip

Flip — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:22:33 +0000

I’m currently running Windows in Bootcamp. Can Parallels be installed in a way that I don’t have to re-install Windows? Thanks.

By: Bradley Bruce

Bradley Bruce — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 17:32:13 +0000

Hey Chris…

I have had almost the exact experience as you. I used VMware 3.0 for close to a year and loved it and then one day noticed that Apple was advertising/Selling Parallels 5 on their site so I figured if Apple is recommending it (as I know they do extensive testing of all software with their OS and hardware before ever endorsing), I’ll give it a try and man was I surprised at the improvement in a number of things. Most of all speed and stability. I love how much more stable it is So regardless of having had recently payed to upgrade to the version 3 of VMware I went ahead and spent the money to go Parallels Desktop 5.

Love it!

By: Colette

Colette — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:34:49 +0000

I also have a 15″ MacBook Pro and have run both Fusion and Parallels on my computer as I am an Interior Design student so I have to run AutoCad, which is only supported by Windows. Upon buying one of these systems, I researched it and at the time found no information supporting one being better than the other. I also asked at the Apple store, and the employees all said that it made absolutely no difference, but they all seemed to prefer Parallels. HOWEVER, after many long hours on the phone with AutoDesk (AutoCad support), Parallels, and Apple, it turns out that if you are running Fusion with AutoCad, AutoCad is NOT supported. The man from AutoDesk read me a list of logs that customers had filled with the same problems and it can cause major issues. Upon speaking with the Apple store, they were sure they could “make it work”. However, I chose to then just change to Parallels 5 (there is a student price as well – 50 rather than 80), I have noticed a HUGE difference. Not only does it work, but its also much faster and in my opinion more seamless.

The bottom line: AutoCad 2010 and VMware Fusion are NOT compatible. Go with Parallels 5!

By: Mike Maughan

Mike Maughan — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:23:27 +0000

Thanks for the in depth review/comparison. It sounds like I’ll be going over to Parallels. after a year of Fusion and not having the options I would like and the less than stellar performance, it will be nice to have my ‘Windows’ perform like I want it to. One thing that was left out was gaming performance, Not that I have time to game in Dental College;however, it’s always nice to know what it can do if I were to desire a game.

By: Chris Lentz

Chris Lentz — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:13:09 +0000

I am not much of a gamer, so I don’t have any benchmark specs for gaming performance.

By: atlchris.com_Chris

atlchris.com_Chris — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:17:33 +0000

What about game performance with OpelGL? For example a Game with UT3-Engine.