The real question is…how much longer will we really need Parallels, Fusion or any other desktop emulator? Well, I still use one application for work that requires WinXP. No workaround has worked around this so far. SO I’ll probably keep one or the other around. But the primary reason for bootcamp, fusion, parallels, etc., in my mind is to run Pokertracker, the venerable wizard of poker stats. And rumors abound that an OS X version is coming out soon.

Until then.. $44 for a parallels upgrade sounds worth it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So you’re a gambler. And although you like to consider all of the angles before laying odds on anything, you’ve come to trust the Apple franchise to such a degree that you’ve installed Snow Leopard without hesitation.

What now.

Will you still be able to 20 table pokerstars with pokertracker running on your virtualization solution? Here’s the skinny.

Parallels: Parallels is ready to go. Check out Parallels desktop 4.0 - compatible with Snow Leopard and with significant speed claims over the competition (read VMWare’s Fusion). To make the transition they recommend:
Backing up your system as you normally would. Copy the parallels files (.pvm) located in User/Documents/Parallels. Close Parallels prior to Snow Leopard installation. Then once Snow Leopard and Parallels 4.0 are installed, transfer your .pvm file(s) back to the same folder and click on it to add it back in to your virtual machine list.

VMWare Fusion: VMWare has been a bit slower to react to the early release of Snow Leopard. This is the same issue that has plagued many OS X developers - and they can’t be blamed. However, at this point, Fusion has dropped once again behind Parallels. Clearly they are working on it and are reporting an experimental support in version 2.0.5. Shouldn’t be long before they are back in contention. Looking forward to their newest version, as it may be too much to switch back to Parallels.

Oh well, I’m not sure if I want to review PokerTracker and suffer through my most recent losses on Full Tilt and Pokerstars all over again.

First Step.  Delete Parallels (sorry guys).

Second Step.  Install VMWare Fusion.  I headed to their website.   Found the download page.  Logged in (you may have to register) and agreed to the EULA.  Downloaded the newest version (2.0.4) with 12 months of McAfee Antivirus software.

Third Step.  Waited for download to finish.

Fourth Step.  Clicked on “Install VMware Fusion which appeared in the unzipped .dmg.  Agreed to everything they wanted including MacFuse.
Fifth Step.  Waited for Fusion to install.   Read a bit about MacFuse while waiting for 1 minute install to complete.

Sixth Step.  Entered my serial number.  You can get a free demo license for a 30-day trial online, if you haven’t bought it yet.  Note: copy and paste works much much better than trying to figure out if you are seeing a 0 or an O.

Seventh Step.  Open VMware Fusion from applications.   Choose Create Virtual Machine.

Eight Step.  Look through piles of unboxed disorganized discs looking for WinXP.  Found them.  Decided it might make sense just to copy the virtual machine from iMac.  Started transfer.  40 hours pending.  Decided Target Disk mode might be faster.  Saved this post as draft.  Okay that didn’t work not sure why, but Fusion wouldn’t open the copied Win XP Virtual HD.  Okay don’t use the Win XP Pro x64 version on a MacBook.  You aren’t 64bit capable.  Use the disc that doesn’t say “disc 2″.  Getting closer…

Ninth Step.  Found VMware instructions re: copying virtual machines.  Decided to try again.

Tenth Step. Hey! That worked!
Eleventh Step. Now trying to port all my prior hand histories from Pokerstars and Full Tilt to the Fusion side.  Plan is to only play in Fusion - so I receive the benefit of Poker Tracker and stop donking everything away.  Though, I’m not sure if Poker Tracker has a setting that will stop me from playing way above my bankroll.
Twelfth Step. Okay, I was going to say “Alcoholics are sober at this point, and I still don’t have VMware on the MacBook.” but I managed to install it several steps earlier.  Man VMware is easy.

Easy

• New Interface
• iPhone Access
• Speech Recognition
• OS X Leopard Server
• Scale Win XP Windows
• Share Screenshots between WinXP and Mac OS
• SmartMount mounts devices between Mac OS and Win XP

Fast

• Up to 50% Better Performance
• On-Demand Power
• Blazing Fast 3D Graphics
• 20% Longer Battery Life
• Maximum Video Performance
• 64 bit computing
• Interaction at your speed

Powerful

• Parallels Internet Security by Kaspersky
• Acronis Disk Director
• Acronis True Image Home
• Safe Mode

Here are the key features:
- multi-display support (now 16 table at Doyle’s Room easily)
- conversion from Parallels, Virtual PC and Boot Camp is now a snap
- better 3D support

Check out the full story here.

The first is the WPT Boot Camps. These run all year round 5-6 times a year and last two days. They run $1695 at last check and promise workshops, meals and interaction with pros, and a tourney with prizes up to WPT satellite entry ticket.

The second is the WPT Ca$h Camps. The emphasis in these is cash games rather than tournaments. Also about $1695, they run over two days, include all of the same stuff but replace a Cash Challenge vs. a tourney.

The third is the Battle for the season pass. This is a 5 day event in the bahamas, that includes a ton of pros, workshops, tourneys and the big prize is season long entries to WPT events - total value >$100,000. Cost is ~$5000. I want to go.

Check them out here.

Fusion is no fly-by-night app, though. The virtualization software is being put out by industry leader vmware, who appear to be catching up quickly to the Parallels swsoft team - if they haven’t passed them already.

Some of the interesting aspects of Fusion:

• Uses BOTH duocore processors rather than only one
• Disk Images available to trial other operating systems
• Unity Mode =~ Coherence mode on Parallels, but some users like Coherence better
• Fusion seems faster to some

Overall - they still seem a bit even to me. I can’t afford to make the switch and as one user put it, end up in a: Parallels -> Fusion -> Parallels situation. However, competition is good. In the end, we are years beyond VirtualPC (ugh) and the Parallels/Fusion debate will only result in better final products from both.

The newest build is awesome. As you can see from the screenshot above, coherence now has integrated the functionality of expose. This means that when you are eight tabling with poker tracker open on Parallels on your Mac, you can expose to see all the tables — AND whatever else you have open - Safari, etc…

I still haven’t explored all the other features but this is too cool to wait.

This beta includes the following new feature updates:

• Major enhancements to the look and feel of Windows programs in Coherence
• Coherence support for Exposé and Transparent Windows
• Support for overlapping several Windows and Mac windows in Coherence
• Ability to silently boot into Coherence mode
• Linux PC and virtual machine migration to your Mac using Transporter
• Ability to change your VM’s disk format using the updated Image Tool
• Ability to change Sound Devices ‘on the fly’
• iPhone support in Windows. iTunes in Windows can connect to your iPhone
• Note: Read the release notes for details.

On the other side of the country, the coders at Parallels were drinking a couple of cold ones after releasing the latest version — 3.0. Here are the updates straight from the horse’s mouth:

Like the UI integration with Coherence?
You’ll love application and file integration with SmartSelect

Want to run the hottest games and graphics applications?
Enjoy 3D with support for graphics software

Worried about security and system crashes?
Protect yourself with Snapshots and Security Settings

The new enhancements allow you to do the following:
- Open Windows files in Mac applications and Mac files in Windows applications
- Bulletproof your VM from viruses, system crashes, and malware
- Run today’s most popular games & applications on a Mac
- Browse through Windows folders, without launching Windows

They are giving you a bit off right now. Before June 6th release it is $39.99. After the release it is $49.99. The final full price will be $79.99.

I may have to upgrade because Parallels has made my Full Tilt experience so much better. I am trampling the fish with six tables open, poker tracker updating all of the competition’s stats on the fly for me, and PokerAce Heads Up Display serving the info to each of my tables…Heaven.