parallels vs Fusion - Is there a big difference?

parallels lets you run windows and so does fusion?

 

In a sense, yes. Both are the same concept; run Windows virtually. But there are some minor advantages and disadvantages between the two.

The sticky that I wrote highlights differences between Parallels and Fusion. The answer to your question is there.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=145917

 

I was previously on Parallels but now Fusion. Fusion is definitely faster, especially since it allows you to run both cores within Windows. Never saw an option for this with Parallels and based on what I read, Parallels only uses one core for Windows. Check out the sticky though, the benchmarks speak for themselves I think.

 

Its impressive to see Fusion run intensive tasks about 3 times faster than what Parallels can muster (according to CNET's review).

One thing I did notice with Fusion is that you can do is put a Windows application icon in the Dock, and when you want to run that application it will go ahead and startup Windows and launch the application after. Awesome.

 

Does it bypass all the excess procedures that Fusion must endure giving the user the experience that you're simply opening a Windows application as you would any other OSX application?

Or does clicking on the apps icon open up Fusion first? I'd ideally like both Fusion and Parallels to be completely transparent to the experience.

 

It opens up Fusion, and I think it goes straight to Unity.

I actually like the app launcher tool in VMWare when using Unity. I think there's a menu item in the menu bar that gives you access to the Start Menu as well. Its kind of hidden, but that would be one thing VMWare should make more readily available to the user.

 

It opens up Fusion in the background. So yes, you either have to have Fusion already open or by clicking that Windows app on the Dock you open Fusion as well.

And just a note, dbam, the "drag a PC app on the Dock" is also available for Parallels .

 

I've used both. Fusion runs much better.

 

I also like how Fusion doesn't appear to litter all of your Windows apps on the Mac's dock with its own proprietary sub-branding like Parallels appears to.

I know, it's an incredibly minor detail, but I know that having the Parallels logo slapped all over the place would really irritate me.

 

Keep in mind that Fusions Unity mode and launch-from-dock don't work perfectly yet, especially for some of the "weirder" applications in Windows. For example, certain "applications" drag to the Dock as simply "Windows Explorer" and others don't drag at all. Also, depending on the program and how you set up your taskbar, you might end up with a pseudo-Windows task bar at the bottom of your screen - this might be a good thing depending on what you're doing though. The Sidebar in Vista in particular tends to do this (actually you can even keep it up in OSX - it actually traps an image of that portion of your Windows desktop as well).