VMware 6.5 DirectX support

Anyone else try the latest VMware Workstation?  Even though the DirectX features are still "beta", they're pretty darned impressive.

Running WinXPsp3 inside of a virtual machine under Linux, I was able to play CounterStrike: Source with all of the options set to max.  Now, if you get crazy with changing resolutions and jumping back and forth between fullscreen/windowed, you *will* crash VMware.  But, it's very nice to see it working as well as it does in a virtual machine.  Also, the microphone didn't seem to work, but I usually have to fiddle with the settings to get it to work under Linux/Wine too, so it may suffer no more deficiencies than Wine.

If it wasn't for the fact that VMware cost $189... plus you have to pay for the Windows license...  it might be worth it.  Still, as someone who uses QEmu and Sun's VirtualBox, VMWare is really a step ahead in emulating a Windows desktop system.

USB support is one thing that doesn't seem to be easily (if at all for non-serial devices) useable under Wine, but it works well under VMware.  It also works great under VirtualBox too though.  I've never tried it with QEmu, so can't comment there.

I have. It works quite well.I wish we could get this to work with a linux guest.

Hi, What exactly is VMware? (Sorry, I've never heard of it before)

tanka12345:

Hi, What exactly is VMware? (Sorry, I've never heard of it before)

Its a program that lets you run a OS inside of another OS. You can run Windows and inside a program run Linux or OSX. Best part of is that VMware sever is free and you can do almost anything a casual user would need.

Thanks Bob, now I get it.

bob_on_the_cob:

Best part of is that VMware sever is free and you can do almost anything a casual user would need.

The VMware viewer is free... the workstation costs the moola.  VirtualBox has an Open Source Edition that's just missing a few features, and has a "free" non-opensource version with all features.  QEmu is totally free.

Microsoft is looking to run VMware out of business, with their new hypervisor offerings.  I think VMware has about two more years in them (Though I will be happy if I can look back on this post in five years and see that I was wrong).  If all else fails, MS will add undocumented APIs to DirectX that allows them to virtualize it better.

It certainly makes it easier for those folks that want to know the ins and outs of another os before they take the plunge and for those network gurus its a great way to learn a network config or test diffrent enviroments before taking a new setup live.

warlord:

It certainly makes it easier for those folks that want to know the ins and outs of another os before they take the plunge and for those network gurus its a great way to learn a network config or test diffrent enviroments before taking a new setup live.

Yeah I use it to test out new Linux Distros, but there are many awesome uses such as bug testing a website or program without the cost of extra hardware.