Come and Get It – VMware Fusion 3 “The Best Way to Run Windows on the Mac”
We are pleased to announce that VMware Fusion 3, the best way to run Windows on the Mac, is now available.
VMware Fusion 3 makes it easier and faster than ever to run Mac and Windows applications side-by-side without rebooting. VMware Fusion 3 is available in a single, all-inclusive edition that includes everything you need to switch to the Mac for just $79.99.
Buy VMware Fusion 3 NOW!
VMware Fusion 3 is now available at the VMware Online Store, the Apple Online Store® (apple.com), Apple Retail Stores, Amazon.com, and other select US resellers starting today.
I want to upgrade to VMware Fusion 3 NOW…
Upgrades from previous versions of VMware Fusion to VMware Fusion 3 cost only $39.99 and are available exclusively from the VMware Online Store, so you can download and start using VMware Fusion 3 immediately!
When will VMware Fusion 3 be available at online resellers and retail stores in Europe or Asia?
VMware Fusion 3 will be available at authorized retail and online stores in Europe and Asia starting Tuesday, November 4th.
Is there special academic/student pricing for VMware Fusion 3?
For qualified students and teachers, VMware has academic pricing that is available from the VMware Academic Store, so you can download and start using VMware Fusion 3 immediately at an even lower cost!
What if I bought VMware Fusion 2 recently?
Customers who purchase VMware Fusion 2 from October 1, 2009 through end of November qualify for a free downloadable upgrade to VMware Fusion 3.
- If you bought VMware Fusion 2 from the VMware Online Store from October 1st through October 26th, there is nothing for you to do and you will receive a free downloadable VMware Fusion 3 upgrade by e-mail in the next week.
- If you bought VMware Fusion 2 from a retail or other online store, you need to go to the VMware Fusion Technology Guarantee website, fill out the online form, and mail in or fax your proof of purchase of VMware Fusion 2. Free downloadable VMware Fusion 3 upgrades will take up two weeks to deliver after receiving a valid proof of purchase.
What if I bought VMware Fusion 2 with the 12-month Subscription option?
If you have an active subscription only contract (purchased 12 months ago or less), you will receive a free downloadable VMware Fusion 3 upgrade by e-mail in the next week.
My business bought VMware Fusion 2 with the Site Support?
If you have an active Site Support contract (purchased 12 months ago or less), you will receive a free downloadable VMware Fusion 3 upgrade for your covered licenses by e-mail in the next week.
My business bought VMware Fusion 2 with the Site Support?
If you have an active Site Support contract (purchased 12 months ago or less), you will receive a free downloadable VMware Fusion 3 upgrade for your covered licenses by e-mail in the next week.
What’s new in VMware Fusion 3?
VMware Fusion 3 has over 50 new features and enhancements including:
- Easiest, Fastest Way To Switch To The Mac. With the new built-in Migration Assistant for Windows, VMware Fusion 3 makes it easy for users to bring their entire PC to their Mac in a few easy steps – wirelessly or with a simple Ethernet or FireWire cable – allowing customers to protect investments in existing Windows software, and to keep using the programs they still need ! More important, VMware Fusion 3 is more than two times faster than other “Switch to Mac” solutions without the 20% price premium of dedicated “Switch to Mac” solutions.
Leverage Apple’s Bonjour for the most Mac like way to migrate your PC to the Mac
- Ultimate Windows 7 Experience. VMware Fusion 3 is the FIRST virtualization product for the Mac to provide the full Windows 7 experience, side-by-side with your Mac, complete with Windows Aero and Flip 3D. Run 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 -- it is your choice.
Only VMware Fusion 3 Supports Windows Aero with Flip 3D
- Optimized for Snow Leopard. VMware Fusion 3 leverages Mac OS X Snow Leopard’s advanced architecture with a new 64-bit core engine and native support for the 64-bit kernel to deliver an even better Windows on Mac experience.
CPU usage running Windows Live Writer on Windows 7 x64 while writing this blog post
- Best-in-Class 3D Graphics. VMware was the first to provide virtual 3D graphics and is the first to support Windows Aero in a virtual machine on the Mac. VMware Fusion 3 is also first to support DirectX 9 Shader Model 3.0 3D graphics and now adds support for OpenGL 2.1 for Windows virtual machines to enable more Windows applications and games.
Playing Left 4 Dead in a Windows 7 VM!
- Run Windows Apps, The Mac Way. VMware Fusion has been designed from the beginning to make it easy to run Windows apps like Mac apps. VMware Fusion 3 makes it even better with the “Always On” Applications Menu that banishes the Windows Start menu from your Mac and let’s you find and launch Windows apps like Mac apps, even when VMware Fusion is not running. Cycle through open Windows apps with “ command ` ”, quit individual Windows applications with “command q”, and use Dock Exposé with Windows apps.
Kick the Windows Start Menu to the curb with the new “Always On” Application Menu
- Maximum Performance. Finely Tuned. Building on the proven reliability and performance of VMware Fusion 2, the new 64-bit native core engine and 4-way multi-core SMP make VMware Fusion 3 perform even better especially on the Nehalem-based Mac Pro and the new iMacs, especially on the new iMac and Mac Pros. In addition, many smaller refinements increase overall performance from better disk and graphics performance on Snow Leopard, improved 2D interactive performance, faster scrolling in Windows applications, faster to enter Unity view, improved application launch times, up to 2X faster resume time for a suspended virtual machine, and much more. VMware Fusion 3 is finely tuned to make Windows run even better than before on the Mac.
We hope you enjoy VMware Fusion 3!
Team Fusion has been working long hours for almost a year to bring you VMware Fusion 3 and we hope you enjoy it!
What if when I bought Fusion 2 I purchased the subscription? Your website doesn't seem to acknowledge that when I log in. You need to update your guidance for those who forked out for the year long subscription to the software, as I can't currently see any way I can upgrade without having to pay full price?
Posted by: Adam Young | October 27, 2009 at 01:37 AM
I'm eligible for the free upgrade because I recently bought Fusion 2, but when I entered my serial number on the upgrade page, nothing happened. What's up with that? I just sent in the form/receipt too, though, so I'm hoping that I'm OK.
Posted by: Dylan V | October 27, 2009 at 01:49 AM
I also purchased Fusion 2 directly from the VMware online store a few days ago, making me eligible for a free upgrade to 3.0. However, I've just noticed this portion from up above after sending a message to customer support:
"If you bought VMware Fusion 2 from the VMware Online Store from October 1st through October 26th, there is nothing for you to do and you will receive a free downloadable VMware Fusion 3 upgrade by e-mail in the next week."
So I suppose there is nothing to do except wait. However, I find it strange that having already paid for a product (the only reason I bought Fusion 2 was so I would be able to upgrade to 3, as I only have Windows 7 and Fusion 2 is therefore of no use to me) I apparently have to wait longer than others who are going ahead and purchasing it today. Is there any real benefit to the customers who purchased 2.0 during the campaign?
Posted by: John Mc | October 27, 2009 at 02:40 AM
I'm just going to upgrade on a 30 day full functional trial until my new version 3 licence key arrives.
Posted by: Luke | October 27, 2009 at 02:48 AM
Screw that, I have just upgraded my paid version to a free trial without key. It has picked up my old key telling me to upgrade but when I click upgrade, it wants me to pay! I can't even bypass the licence screen now and use the product on a 30 day trial until I get my key!
Warning - don't upgrade until you get your new key!
Posted by: Luke | October 27, 2009 at 02:53 AM
Well, I hope I'm not the only one feeling a bit cheated that I bought Fusion 2 in advance, specifically to get 3, and now I have to wait; may as well have bought it today.
Posted by: Bob | October 27, 2009 at 03:15 AM
Clear false advertising - the email I bought Fusion 2 from said:
Be the first to get VMware Fusion 3
Buy VMware Fusion 2 today for immediate use and automatically get a free upgrade to VMware Fusion 3 on October 27, 2009.
Where is my upgrade? And clearly I'm not among the first to get 3.
Posted by: Bob | October 27, 2009 at 03:20 AM
This is just poor.
No upgrade, so I try the trial (twice, with 2 different email addresses) -- no key.
So I try to *pay* for the upgrade, and not even that worked -- "Our records indicate that you have no eligible registered products to upgrade. To complete your upgrade order, please register a compatible product."
Posted by: Bob | October 27, 2009 at 04:23 AM
They wrote:
"VMware Fusion 3 will be available at authorized retail and online stores in Europe and Asia starting Tuesday, November 4th."
Someone probably didn't have the calendar, either not Tuesday or not 4th.
Posted by: YZ | October 27, 2009 at 04:26 AM
"If you bought VMware Fusion 2 from the VMware Online Store from October 1st through October 26th, there is nothing for you to do and you will receive a free downloadable VMware Fusion 3 upgrade by e-mail in the next week."
in the next WEEK?
Posted by: Matt | October 27, 2009 at 05:20 AM
Yes, it seems like it was a poor choice to buy early. Not a choice I'll make again with VMware if this is typical of how they treat customers who are willing to pay early for their newest product.
Posted by: John Mc | October 27, 2009 at 05:35 AM
I could get the trial serial.
I did not receive an email after the download?
Anybody there keen to help?
Posted by: Yee Suan | October 27, 2009 at 05:39 AM
I've also been locked out of VMware fusion for daring to upgrade to v3 on release day. NOT a good experience!
Posted by: RH | October 27, 2009 at 05:54 AM
Has any received a confirmation/serial number email from VMWARE? I downloaded the disk image ok, but never received the email. Any one here with better luck?
Posted by: Eric Matthews | October 27, 2009 at 06:02 AM
No, I've tried with my paid account and newly created one.It seems like this launch has not been well executed at all. And I'm never pre-ordering from vmware again - they clearly stated we'd be the first to get v3 at launch and now it looks like we'll be the last! I'm going to have to reinstall 2.0.6 just to get on with my work. Ridiculous.
Posted by: RH | October 27, 2009 at 06:05 AM
Wow. This launch is so botched. Went to purchase upgrade and it told me I have not valid products to upgrade. Fine, I see they are having issues. I'll just download the trial and use it until they get things fixed.
Uninstall Fusion 2 and then install Fusion 3 trial. Uuhhh, still haven't gotten my evaluation key via email. Waiting, waiting, still waiting.
Now I am left with reinstalling 2 if I need to run Windows.
Way to go.
Posted by: Chris | October 27, 2009 at 06:19 AM
Upgrade has gone perfectly for me. I purchased the upgrade and the license key was in my license center immediately.
Posted by: djlaube | October 27, 2009 at 07:15 AM
Yes, I also was eager to get the upgrade and was denied by the online store because they can't find my serial number...even though they have it linked to my user profile. My VMWare Fusion 3 launch party was a fiasco!
Posted by: Ken | October 27, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Ive been trying to upgrade since this morning and everytime I try to register my version 2 key, it tells me that no products have been found that are eligible for upgrade :(
Ive tried 3 times now, waiting a couple of hours each time between attempts in case its just a busy day but still nothing and havent saw any, "please be patient posts, we're swamped" any where, so not sure if the system is broken or if theyre busy.
Anyway, vmware, if youre reading this, I would like to give you money but please dont make it this awkward or at least let us know whats going on.
Cheers
Posted by: aproudlove | October 27, 2009 at 08:23 AM
Just upgraded, but the registration mail (it did let me choose to upgrade my 2.x version) has a blank for the new serial number. That makes it sort of tough to ender in the Licensing panel now when running 3.0. Nice.
Ummm... so where's the 3.0 serial number if not in the email order confirmation I got?
Posted by: mrstep | October 27, 2009 at 09:04 AM
For some reason my Fusion 2 serial appears as Fusion 1. Still no luck upgrading. :( I sometimes can log into my account and sometimes not. I cannot seem to purchase an upgrade license. I hope this is resolved within 5 days before I get locked out. I better go through the inconvenience of moving important files to a USB drive just in case I lose access.
Posted by: Minh Nguyen | October 27, 2009 at 09:08 AM
Fxxx that! I thought I was PRE-ORDER for VMware fusion 3!!! Then I bought Fusion 2 two days ago. Why I have to wait for NEXT WEEK? I should wait for today if this shXt happened to me.
Posted by: Guile Kao | October 27, 2009 at 09:20 AM
Add me to the list of another who can't seem to upgrade due to the website breaking.
First it doesn't recognize my old serials so I can't upgrade via the discount price. Once it does recognize it, the site is so borked that I can't move forward to the next stage. I just want to get the stupid serial so I can run this thing.
Com'on!
Posted by: Wei | October 27, 2009 at 09:21 AM
HEY VMWARE,
You really should post an update somewhere on your site about the problems with the store and the upgrades, and when you expect to be back up. I am sure you guys are working frantically to get things running again, but I don't see an official company statement anywhere.
Posted by: robert99b | October 27, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I really hope VMware posts something to their blog, or their twitter feed, or SOMEWHERE within the information flow of excited early adopters, to let us know some updates. Sorry Murphy's Law got you, guys. :) As it is I am going to try to call their customer service number to see if they have a notice on their phone tree.
Posted by: Matthew Scott | October 27, 2009 at 10:13 AM