What Is VMware Fusion for the Mac?
Apple's Boot Camp brought Windows to the Mac, but the software's designers overlooked one thing: Rebooting your computer every time you want to switch between them can be slow. That's where VMware Fusion comes in.
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What is VMware Fusion?
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VMware Fusion is an application for Mac that allows users to simultaneously run Windows and Mac OSX, among other operating systems (like linux and ubuntu). These programs are often called "Virtual Machines," which is where the "VM" comes from. The "Fusion" part of the name comes from the Fusion feature in the program, in which Windows programs and Mac applications are shown on the same desktop. The software costs 80 dollars.
Who's it for?
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This program is ideal for anyone who has a Mac, but wants to use a few programs better suited for Windows (like Excel or Outlook). Virtual Machines are not recommended for gamers or video editors because running both operating systems at the same time takes power away from those processes.
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Alternatives
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Three prominent Virtual Machine programs are available for the Mac. VMware's main competitor is Parallels, which costs the same and has roughly the same features. Neither program is clearly better. The third option, VirtualBox, is free and can get the job done.
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