VMWare or Parallels?

[MTsoul]

So I've decided to soon reformat my computer, install Windows XP or Vista, and KEEP IT CLEAN. I install way too much crap on my computer and that usually has me installing and formatting every few months.

My solution is that once I reformat this time, I'll emulate another copy of Windows inside my Windows XP or Vista. A lot of the times, I want to try out some software, but just don't want to clog my computer. With the virtual Windows, I can do whatever I want without messing my main system.

So my question is, VMWare or Parallels? The most important thing is that whatever I install inside the virtual machine should not touch anything in my real system. And I should be able to drag & drop files from/to the virtual Windows. So I guess the choice between VMWare and Parallels comes down to, which of these 2 programs clogs the system less? And compatibility. And Internet. And how easy it is to set up and everything.

Price is not a problem. I'm upgrading a lot of stuff, so I can probably throw this into my budget.

// oh and I would probably be installing a few distro's of linux or bsd, so yeah.

[lorren.biffin]

well, i know this doesn't follow along with your question but have you considered just setting up a computer for "testing" stuff and network the two together?...

Might not cost much more(if anything more) and you wouldn't have to worry at all about messing with your working machine.

[hl]

@SlicDiggy, the environment in the virtual PC is controlled (you can change the RAM and specs as necessary).. making it a better choice. Plus, you wouldn't have to afford another (crappy) computer.

My vote's on Parallels. I used VMWare on my Windows box once and didn't like it so much. It would kill everything. Parallels seems to work better, but I've only used it on my Mac.

[MTsoul]

@Diggy: I've thought about it, but I just don't have the physical space here in my room. It would be way too much of a hassel. Thanks for the suggestion though.

@hl: 1+ for Parallels. I've only used VMWare actually, cause the player is free. I never got the internet to work...

I can't find any comparison between VMWare and Parallels on Windows. Everything is about the Mac the Mac the Mac.

[hl]

Well, I didn't hear about Parallels till the Intel Macs came along. Mac + Parallels = fame.

[Jolly_Fat_Man]

I've always thought Parallels was for Mac and VMware was for Windows.

I go with VMware as I've never even seen Parallels. I know you have to pay for it.

I've heard that VMware server is free if you have Windows Server 2003.
Maybe you can get a hold of a friend who has that version of windows.

The internet in VMware has worked for me when bridged.
Don't know about the drag'n'drop situation you asked about earlier...

As for another computer.
Mac mini. Small and, if you need to install more stuff on Macs it's good for ya.
After using, you can unplug it and throw it under your bed.

[hl]

Hm, so you say he should buy windows, a 500 dollar computer, and a few extra components (keyboards and such perhaps) versus about $100 in software + windows?

[kirupa]

You can also look into ghosting your entire drive using Norton Ghost. You can always restore an exact copy of your hard drive the way it was at the time you ghosted :gm:

[MTsoul]

Hm.. I'd be doing a LOT of it. Maybe a few installs a week. Doing that would be a pain since I want to keep my documents too...

[kirupa]

In that case, VMWare would work well. I've been using the free Virtual PC 2004 (the 2007 version should be out soon) by MS for doing compatibility testing with other OS'es, so you can look into that also if you want: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

MS also provides a VPC image with XP on it, and there is info on using that here: http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/11/30/ie6-and-ie7-running-on-a-single-machine.aspx

:)

[MTsoul]

Yeah I've been using Virtual PC for IE6 testing actually. Does it support Internet? I never got that to work. (Or does the 2007 version support it?)

[Soul814]

vmware is better for windows and parallels is better for a mac, however parallels is quickly stepping up their game on the windows side, soon it might be better then vmware