Easy-to-Use
Feature Parallels Desktop 3.0 VMware Fusion 1.1
Installation Assistance & Express Windows Set-up [?] + +
VM Migration Tools [?] PC-to-VM (Bundled),
VM-to-VM (Bundled),
Boot Camp-to-VM
(Bundled)		 PC-to-VM,
VM-to-VM (Beta)
VM Management & Maintenance Tools 5 1
Support for Dual Monitors + +
Fast & Easy USB Connection Wizard + –
Run Multiple VM Sessions + +
Multi-Product Line Compatibility – +
Shutdown, Suspend, Pause or Restart a VM + No Pause
Stand-alone VM Player – +
Pre-built Virtual Appliances + +
Performance
Windows XP Virtualization Benchmark
Tasks
Resources: MacTech Virtualization Benchmark		 Parallels Desktop 3.0 vs. VMware Fusion 1.0
One-Step Tasks: Launch applications, scroll through and print documents. Parallels Desktop is 17% faster than VMware Fusion
Multi-Step Tasks: Cross-platform tasks that focus on interaction between Mac OS X and Windows. Parallels Desktop is 6x faster than VMware Fusion
Application: Internet Explorer Parallels Desktop is 60% faster than VMware Fusion
Application: Outlook for Office 2007 Parallels Desktop is 18% faster than VMware Fusion
Application: Word for Office 2007 Nearly identical performance between Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion
Application: Excel for Office 2007 Parallels Desktop is 21% faster than VMware Fusion
Seamless Integration
Feature Parallels Desktop 3.0 VMware Fusion 1.1
Open Mac files with Windows apps
and Windows files with Mac apps 		+ –
Complete Shared Folders between Windows
and Mac OS X [?]		 + –
Guest Disk Explorer Tool for Accessing an
Offline VM [?]		 Bundled Tool –
Windows Application Integration in the Mac Dock [?] Coherence
(Customizable)		 Unity
• Windows Start Menu Integration in the Mac Dock [?] + –
• Support for Windows Applications in Exposé [?] + –
• Support for Transparent and Overlapping Windows + +
Drag-and-Drop Files and Folders between Windows
and Mac OS X 		+ +
Copy-and-Paste between Windows and Mac OS X + +
Windows and Linux Tools for Guest OS Support + +
No Hassle Management
Feature Parallels Desktop 3.0 VMware Fusion 1.1
Snapshot Back-ups to Restore Windows Guest OS [?] Unlimited snapshots with
management console		 Single Snapshot
Disk Image Compression Tool [?] + +
Disk Image Management Tool to Add or
Expand Virtual Disks [?]		 Bundled Tool –
Disk Image Clone Tool for copying a VM Built-in Tool –
Kaspersky Internet Security for Windows Guest OS [?] 6-month Trial –
Granular Security Control between Windows
and Mac OS X [?]		 + –
Built for a Mac
Feature Parallels Desktop 3.0 VMware Fusion 1.1
Support for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard + +
3D Graphics Support to run select 3D games
and applications 		DirectX 8.1,
OpenGL 1.5		 DirectX 8.1
Boot Camp Support for Windows XP
and Windows Vista [?]		 + +
Supported Guest OS Virtual Machines [?] More than 25 Supported OSes More than 60 Supported OSes
Supported x86 Operating Systems 32-bit 32- & 64-bit
Maximum Intel CPU Support Up to Core Duo 2 Up to Xeon Quad-Core
Maximum Performance from Intel Core 2 Duo CPU Intel VT-x optimized 2-way Virtual SMP
Guest OS Memory Allocation Up to 2GB RAM Up to 8GB RAM
Shared Host OS Devices with Guest OS + +
USB 2.0 Peripherals and Device Support [?] + +