VMware Tool Allows Macs to Run x86 OSes

Virtual machine developer VMware will unveil software on Aug. 7 that will allow Intel-based Macintosh computers to run x86 operating systems.

The announcement, first reported on Aug. 4, will take place during the first day of Apples Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco.

/zimages/1/128936.gifVMware President Diane Greene talks about the companys announcement to offer a virtualization solution for the Mac on the Intel platform. Listen here.

The software will allow Macs to run operating systems such as Windows, Linux, NetWare and Solaris on virtual machines at the same time as the Mac OS X, the Palo Alto, Calif., company said in a statement.

The beta version is expected to be available later this year, the company said.

“This announcement brings our desktop platform and add-on capabilities to Mac users, and it will allow them to run a wide variety of operating systems without rebooting,” VMware President Diane Greene said in a statement. “Mac users who also use the PC will be able to use this product to consolidate onto the Mac.”

The company is expected to give a demonstration of the new software a few hours after Apple CEO Steve Jobs gives his keynote address at the WWDC.

The VMware virtual machine is expected to be a strong competitor to Parallels Parallels Desktop for Mac.

/zimages/1/28571.gifClick here to read eWEEK Labs review of VMware Server 1.0.

There has also been speculation by industry columnists and bloggers that VMware will show Windows Vista running in Mac OS X under VMware, but the companys statement made no mention of Vista.

On Jan. 10, Jobs unveiled the new iMac and MacBook Pro with Intels new dual-core Core Duo processor. The MacBook and the Mac Mini also use the Intel processor.

Apple is expected to announce during the WWDC that all of its computers will have Intel processors by the end of 2006.

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