ANTenna Blog -- Hardware & Software

VMware has announced that version 3 of its Fusion virtualization software, which enables Macs to run Windows, will support "the full Windows 7 experience." Fusion 3 will be available October 27.

Fusion is one of the two leading products for running Windows on a Mac, and VMware is apparently determined to beat Parallels out of the box with its new version. The company is already taking preorders for Fusion 3, which is scheduled to ship on October 27 (just five days after the debut of Windows 7), while Parallels 5 is still in beta. Further, VMware says that Fusion 3 will support Windows 7 fully, including the Aero and Flip 3D interface elements. (Parallels 5 will also reportedly support Aero.)

Besides getting the drop on Parallels with Windows 7 support, Fusion 3 has also improved the "Unity" interface that integrates the Windows environment with the Mac desktop. Fusion 2 can already minimize running Windows applications to the OS X Dock and store Windows programs in the Dock for one-click, Maclike launching; version 3 will make Windows apps behave even more like native Mac ones.

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The new version also increases its graphics capabilities, with support for both the open API OpenGL 2.1 and the Windows-specific API DirectX 9.0c. VMware claims that this support will let users play 3D Windows games and run 3D applications.

Fusion 3 can be preordered at the VMware site or at the Apple store or Amazon. The price is $80, with upgrades from previous versions available for $40.