VMware Workstation 7

VMware Workstation 7 is the right choice for developers and power users. It is the latest version of VMware’s desktop virtualization tool and it gives premium technology to developers.

VMware Workstation 7 was released in October 2009 and costs $189. VMware Workstation 7 is fully compatible with Windows 7 and Windows XP Mode. This latest version also supports running VMware enterprise virtualization platforms as virtual machines.

VMware Workstation 7 can also run on older hardware that does not have CPU virtualization extensions and robust Windows graphics virtualization. It also does not have vast Microsoft support for VMware’s own top-of-the-line server virtualization products.

Windows 7 Support

In this latest version of VMware Workstation, the chief among the new features is support for Windows 7 and Windows 7 Aero interface.

Both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 Enterprise editions work fine as virtual machines running under VMware Workstation 7. A test was performed on Lenovo T400s, which is equipped with an Intel P9600 Core2 Duo CPU and 4GB of RAM. The Lenovo T400s was installed with Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit as the base OS and the physical host was equipped with an integrated USB-based fingerprint scanner, a four-point touch-enabled trackpad and the usual classification of USB and eSATA ports found on Lenovo’s current line of business-class computers. The system was also equipped with an SSD hard drive.

VMware Workstation 7 also supports the Aero interface in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. For improved CAD, game and 3D interface experiences; the latest version of VMware Workstation also adds Microsoft support for OpenGL 1.4 and Shader Model 3.0.

Windows XP Mode is a virtual machine which has Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3. If you want to install and run Windows XP productivity applications on a Windows 7 computer then Windows XP Mode will be handy for you. VMware can directly import a Windows XP Mode file and use it in VMware Workstation 7.

It is possible to simultaneously run an instance of Windows XP Mode under Windows 7 Virtual PC and an instance of Windows XP Mode under VMware Workstation 7.

Posted in: microsoft support,windows 7 support,windows xp