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VMware Releases Virtualization Software for Mac

VMware has the latest entry in the growing market for software that allows Windows to be run on a Mac.

The Palo Alto, Calif.-based maker of virtualization software announced Monday the release of VMware Fusion, which allows Windows to be run in a virtual environment on a Mac computer.

"VMware Fusion was designed for Mac enthusiasts looking for a seamless way to run Windows applications on the Mac," Dan Chu, vice president of emerging products and markets at VMware, said in a press release. "VMware Fusion combines a very clean and intuitive interface that Mac users expect with the world's most trusted desktop virtualization platform to allow users to run Mac applications seamlessly alongside PC applications on Intel-based Macs."

VMware stated that there have been more than 250,000 downloads of the beta version of Fusion since it was released in December.

VMware fusion supports USB 2.0, both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems (such as the 64-bit version of Windows Vista) and more than 60 operating systems, VMware states in the release.

The Mac virtualization software niche continues to grow. The leading product in the space is Parallels Desktop for Mac, which is on version 3.0. And there have been rumors for some time that Mac may include built-in virtualization software in Leopard, its next OS due in October. Microsoft's own answer for running Windows on a Mac is Virtual PC, now at version 7.

The suggested retail price for Fusion is $79.99. That matches the price for Parallels, while Virtual PC comes in at $129.

About the Author

Keith Ward is the editor in chief of Virtualization & Cloud Review. Follow him on Twitter @VirtReviewKeith.

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