Windows 8.1 in VMware and VirtualBox

Conclusions

VMware and Windows 8.1 interact reliably with each other for the most part, blurring the boundaries between the guest and host. The unreliable sound reproduction, unusable printing, and the non-functioning drag and drop from the host to the guest tarnish the otherwise satisfactory results.

VirtualBox is a different story. Many features functioned poorly or not at all, from the pop and crackle in sound output to the completely functionless drag and drop. Of course, it must be taken into account that vendor Oracle offers this software free of charge for home users.

Thus, if you prefer a system with fewer issues, you are well advised to pay the EUR 225 price tag for VMware. That said, if you can live with a few drawbacks, you might be just as well served with VirtualBox for free.

Infos

  1. VirtualBox: http://www.virtualbox.org
  2. VMware: http://www.vmware.com/products/workstation/

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