Canonical adds Parallels to Ubuntu partner repository

by Brad Linder Feb 11th 2008

Yesterda we showed you how to install Windows XP in a virtual machine using Ubuntu Linux and VirtualBox. But Virtual Box ain't the only game in town when it comes to virtualization software for Linux. If you go to to the add/remove applications window in Ubuntu and click on the third party applications option, you'll see that VMWare Player is available. And starting this week, you can also download and install Parallels Workstation for Linux.

Parallels is probably best known for making virtualization software for OS X that enables Mac users to run Windows without rebooting. Unlike VirtualBox and the VMWare Player, Parellels charges $50 for a licensed copy of its Workstation software. But there's a 15 day free trial, so you can try the software out of a while before deciding whether its worth the asking price.

Of course, VirtualBox and VMWare Player are both pretty easy to use and work quite well, which leads us to wonder why anyone would pay for virtualization software for Linux that doesn't appear to offer any advanced features at the moment? We're not morally opposed to companies releasing commercial software for Linux, and we even think it's great that you can find commercial software using the add/remove applications window. But if you're going to charge for an application designed to run on Linux, you should really make sure it offers some benefits that you can't already get from free and open source software.

Tags: canonical, parallels, ubuntu, virtualization

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

david said 2:32PM on 2-11-2008

here is nice paralles installation guide http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-setup-parallels-virtualization-software-in-ubuntu.html

SteveS said 2:48PM on 2-11-2008

"Of course, VirtualBox and VMWare Player are both pretty easy to use and work quite well, which leads us to wonder why anyone would pay for virtualization software for Linux..."

Uhh sorry to break the news but VMWare Player is just that, a "player" meaning you cannot create a virtual machine, on "play" one. To create one you need the un-free VMware Workstation or Server software.

whiskey said 8:15AM on 2-12-2008

There is Vmware Server which is free and only requires from you a key (and to do that just go to the site and ask for it, they can give you up to a 100).

Ivan said 12:13AM on 2-12-2008

@SteveS
Actually, there is a website (http://www.easyvmx.com/) that creates virtual machines for VMware Player. So VMWare Workstation or Server software is not needed to make a virtual machine.

alex dante said 8:16AM on 2-13-2008

Virtualbox does lack USB support in the freeware version. And I'm assuming Parallels has a snapshot manager similar to VMWare Workstation (my preferred choice). If so, that's worth the price of admission alone.

Featured Time Waster

Civiballs is a beautiful, soothing physics puzzle Time Waster

I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.

In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.

To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.

Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.

View more Time Wasters