VMware intros Fusion 3, Windows on a Mac solution

VMware, the maker of desktop and server virtualisation tools has announced VMware Fusion 3, a way to run Windows on the Mac.

VMware Fusion 3 comes with more than 50 new features and enhancements, delivering a better-than-ever Windows on Mac experience insists the company.


Fusion 3 comes optimised for Snow Leopard, with a new 64-bit core engine and native support for the 64-bit kernel.

Fusion 3 also supports the full Windows 7 experience, complete with Windows Aero and Flip 3D.

Switching has been made easier says VMWare, with users able to bring their entire PC to their Mac in a few easy steps, either wirelessly or via Ethernet cable.

The update comes with improved graphics and better gaming support for OpenGL 2.1 and DirectX 9.0c Shader Model 3, which will enable users to run their favourite 3D Windows games and applications without rebooting.

A new full screen menu bar gives you control over your virtual machine and can be moved to any side of the screen to make guest user interfaces - such as taskbars and menu bars - more accessible.

The software comes with a link to 10 video tutorials and adds a 12-month complimentary subscription to McAfee VirusScan Plus. Automatic snapshots allow you to roll Windows back to a safe state if something goes wrong.

VMware Fusion 3 will be available online store and authorised retailers worldwide on from Tuesday, 27 October for $79.99 or $39.99 for those looking to upgrade. Currently Amazon lists the software at 58.99.

VMware intros Fusion 3, Windows on a Mac solution

System requirements are Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later and a copy of Windows.

Supported 32-Bit Guest Operating Systems include:

Mac OS X Server v10.5 Leopard (experimental)Windows Vista Business, Enterprise, Ultimate, Home Basic, and Home Premium EditionsWindows Vista Business, Enterprise, Ultimate, Home Basic, and Home Premium SP1 EditionsWindows XP Professional SP2, Home Edition SP2Windows XP Professional SP3, Home Edition SP3Windows 98 SEWindows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, R2 Enterprise EditionWindows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition SP2Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition, Standard Edition (experimental)Windows 2000 Server SP4, Advanced Server SP4, Windows 2000 Professional SP4Windows NT 4.0 Server SP6a, Workstation SP6aWindows Me, Windows 3.1, Windows 95 SP1, MS-DOS 6.xSUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10, 9 SP3SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Desktop 10 SP2SUSE Linux 10.1, 9.3Novell Netware 6.5 SP7Novell Linux Desktop 9 SP2Novell Open Enterprise Server SP2Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.0 Update 2 (Advanced Server, Enterprise Server, Workstation)Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 Update 6, 3.0 Update 9Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1—stock 2.4.9-e3 (Advanced Server, Enterprise Server, Workstation)Red Hat Linux 9.0—stock 2.4.20-8, upgrade 2.4.20-20.9Red Hat Linux 7.0—stock 2.2.16-22, upgrade 2.2.17-14Solaris x86 10 (Update 5)Ubuntu Linux 8.04, 7.10, 6.10, 5.10Mandriva Linux 2008, 2007, 2006FreeBSD 7.0, 6.1, 5.5Turbolinux Enterprise Server 8Turbolinux Desktop 10

Check out our new Macworld Mobile site.

Follow Macworld UK on twitter: www.twitter.com/macworlduk



Kevin Federline owes $110,000Extensis Suitcase Fusion 2 adds Snow Leopard compatibility