VMware makes Workstation and Fusion free for everyone

[MrBcx]

I downloaded the Windows and MacOS versions in November 2024.

I don't own a MAC at this time nor have I been compelled to install the Windows version yet.

But if the need or urge hits me then I'll be ready.

[jbk]

hello MrBcx and Mr. airr 
have downloaded and tried VMware yet?
in case that you haven't, there's a download link bottom of page at https://www.neowin.net/software/vmware-workstation-pro-1763/

[nagrom]

good news

[jbk]

I have been using the commercial version of VMware workstation for many years, last week I tried to register at Broadcom who bought the VMware company and the registration seemed to trough but they don't recognize me as a longtime customer, not only that they won't allow me to download version 17.6.1
I haven't tried to contact support, all you get nowadays is an infinite loop in the automated answering system
so I spent several days updating the Windows VMs and found some really terrible performance issues, so I spent some more time converting a VM to VirtualBox and after some trial and error I got it working in VBox, looks to me that I will be ditching VMware and use VBox instead

[jbk]

for the past several days I have been battling with VMware, I upgraded my Windows 10 VM to Win 11-24H2 and after finishing all the updating the bootup time was between 6 and 10 minutes then today I found a workaround from this site https://www.reddit.com/r/vmware/comments/17w68hw/slow_virtualization_on_windows_11_vmware/?rdt=59909
running VMware as Administrator cut the bootup time to 1 minute
<edit>
the only drawback of running under admin is that drag&drop doesn't work anymore but you can copy&paste files, I can live with that but I can't live with a 10 minute bootup time

[jbk]

I could never get drag&drop to work and a shared folder is tricky to get working

[nagrom]

it has drag and drop.
i tried vmware in the past.
much prefer vbox.

[jbk]

I've tried Virtual Box off and on over the years, but it never quite felt 'finished' to me.

AIR.

my sentiments exactly, I have tried Virtual Box numerous times but never stuck with it, main issue for me is the lack of interoperability with the host, I always had a hard time transferring files from the host to the VM and back, you can't beat a simple drag&drop

[airr]

I've also used VMWare products for years; the biggest advantage is that I can run the same VMs (stored on a portable SSD drive) across Mac, Linux, and Windows hosts.  Can't do that with Parallels (which I also have but will be dropping once my subscription runs out).

I've tried Virtual Box off and on over the years, but it never quite felt 'finished' to me.  On Linux, I think KVM is better anyway, it being a Type 1 Hypervisor.

AIR.

[MrBcx]

This table shows the edge that Parallels has over Fusion.

https://www.parallels.com/compare/vmware/fusion/

If I was a Mac user, I would prefer Parallels feature set too.

[jbk]

I have been using VMware Workstation Pro for many years, there is a product for Mac only not related to VMware called Prallels Desktop which is really good, too bad that they have adopted a subscription model

[MrBcx]

FYI

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/software/vmware-makes-workstation-and-fusion-free-for-everyone/


This required me to create a free personal account, to download the Windows and MacOs versions but it is completely legit.

I've used VMWare in the past and I preferred it over Oracle's VirtualBox.