VMware Workstation 7

VMware Workstation is a well-written work-horse and accompanied by one of the finest user manuals I have ever read. For those whose work needs are enhanced through the use of a variety of Guest operating systems shared with a Host, this is the premier product. For those whose interest might be, for example, to take advantage of a newer operating system (i.e., Windows 7) as host and loading an earlier system (i.e., Windows XP) so that they can continue to run legacy, non-64 bit applications. . . .I suggest going to a Dual Boot set up which can be established without too much difficulty if you follow all of the caveats. If you overlook these, your Windows XP boot system will overwrite Windows 7 boot manager leaving you with some clean-up issues. Voice of experience here.I give VMware 5 stars out of 5 stars.June 27, 2013. I DO NOT RECALL PROVIDING THIS REVIEW ...OR ANY REVIEW... OF THE VMware Workstation PRODUCT. I LOADED IT. IT WAS A PROBLEM AND I NEVER CALLED IT UP AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. I WAS UNEASY ABOUT DELETING IT SO I JUST LEFT IT UNTOUCHED. /S/ JOHN HEBBE

This type of software is completely new to me. My application for this software is to archive factory automation type projects. Some of the systems we integrate require matching hardware/software revisions (for a lot of reasons). With VMWare this is no problem. We simply archive the template that was used to program a project. It's fabulous.The only drawback I have found is that some of our software connects to hardware using older legacy PCMCIA (68 pin connector). VMWare does not play nicely with any type of PCMCIA connections. In fact, not only is the PCMCIA hardware not recognized in the VMWare environment, you can't even have VMWare running in the background on your machine and use PCMCIA. However, USB type connections seem to work okay.

Good quality/price. Very easy to install and use in a 32 or 64-bit OSes. Absolutely user-friendly. Up and running in no time.

I use VMWare workstation 7.1 on a Windows 7 64-bit machine so that I can run various Linux distributions as virtual machines.VMWare works OK, but there are some problems. For instance, I cannot connect (at all) to a USB thumb drive on a Linux VM. This is a well known problem for VMWare 7 on a win 7/64 machine. And the mouse is very flaky. When the pointer is near the edges, it bounces all over the place. Sometimes the mouse is non-responsive. And many times this erratic behavior results in actually clicking the wrong button causing an unintended delete, shutdown or whatever. This makes it very frustrating to work with.I've used VMWare over the years. I've found each new release brings more features and faster performance, but gets buggier. I'll be looking at some of the free virtual machines. This is the last time I am paying money for VMWare's workstation unless they start offering a more reliable system.