Comparing Parallels Desktop 7 to VMware Fusion 4 Series – Part 3

FaceTime Camera Support

This is part 3 of my series comparing Parallels Desktop 7 to VMware Fusion 4, and in this article and video I am going to look at how the virtual machines work with the FaceTime Web Cameras that come with Macs. On OS X Lion one of the new features is the ability to do video conferencing with other people on Macs or their iPhone or iPad! Video Web Cameras have become very popular to connect with people visually however what happens if I want to use my Web Cam within the PC environment?

Both Parallels and VMware support the use of the FaceTime camera with programs such as Skype or MSN Messenger but they approach the use of the hardware differently. In Vmware Fusion 4 I can use the FaceTime camera in Windows, but the camera becomes locked into that environment. Which means that the camera will only work in the Windows environment until I release the camera from Windows or shut down the virtual machine I can not use that camera with a Mac application such as Photobooth. In Parallels Desktop 7, that same FaceTime camera can work concurrently in both environments. So while I am say in Skype on Windows, I still can still fire up Photobooth on the Mac and use the camera at the same time! This is very cool to see!

It is through these types of enhancements Parallels continues to show its leadership in the virtualization space and maturity of their product in their most recent release. What we are seeing between the two products is that while VMware Fusion is improving, the lead that Parallels has gives them the ability to focus on the little things that make the experience of running Windows on your mac even more seamless. The video below will shows you how the FaceTime camera works in both environments along with how to configure them.

Remember don’t forget to enter to win my FREE IPAD 2 16GB WIFI Giveaway. To enter all you have to do is go to my YouTube channel and SUBSCRIBE! Watch this video below for a more detailed explanation and if you have topics you are interested in please let me know. Enjoy!