VMware Fusion

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Description of App: 

VMware Fusion 4 is newly refined to deliver the easiest, fastest, and most reliable experience in running Windows applications on a Mac without rebooting. It includes more than 90 new features, such as OS X Lion optimization, an even more Mac-like design, and turbocharged performance. •Migration assistant for Windows •Run favorite Windows and Mac apps side by side •Designed for OS X Lion •Up to 2.5 times faster 3D graphics •Install from included USB key or DVD

Version: 

4.1.1

Free or Paid: 

Paid

Version Of macOS App Was Tested On: 

10.7.2

Accessibility Comments: 

This app works very well with Voice Over

Usability: 

There are some minor accessibility issues with this app, but they are easy to deal with.

Other Comments: 

VoiceOver cannot read inside the virtual machine window so you will need a Windows-based screen reader installed on the Windows side. You will also need a utility like Sharp Keys to remap the keyboard to add some Windows functionality. http://www.randyrants.com/2008/12/sharpkeys_30.html

Developer Website: 

http://www.vmware.com

Link to App on MacUpdate.com: 

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/23593/vmware-fusion

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2 AppleVis user(s) have recommended this app.
Brother J. and Ken Ewing

6 Comments

#1 using the vm

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Hello all, I have been trying to use the vmware fusion 4, but I couldn't do it very well. I installed w7 on my machine, but I can not interact with windows. I mean, I can not give commands to my screen reader inside the vm. Could someone help me with that? I read on some mailing lists that I should give the command control + command + enter to put it in fullscreen mode, and them I could use it, but it is not working. Also, about the sharp keys, that I need to use to remap keys to use a screen reader inside the vm, can I give caps look the same function to use, for example, as a nvda key?

#2 Using the VM

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To get into full screen mode and interact with the VM follow these steps: 1. Press Command + Control + F (full screen mode) 2. Press VO + Shift + Spacebar (click the mouse button) I have found that in order to fully use Windows functionality I had to first disable the Mac from listening to the keyboard. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Press Command + comma (this brings up the VM preferences screen) 2. Activate the Keyboard and Mouse button found under the Toolbar 3. Go to the Mac OS Keyboard Shortcuts tab and uncheck the checkbox As far as remapping the keys using Sharp keys, for some reason even though you remap the Caps Lock key to act as another key like INS it won’t work. What you can do is remap the Grove key (the key just to the left of the 1 key) to Caps Lock or INS. I have mine remapped to be the Applications key because I like my INS key to be next to my “forward” Delete key which is to the right of my Spacebar. I hope this helps.

#3 Thank you for your help and some extra questions

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Thank you for your suggestions. They are working very well. Something that I would like to ask you how to do, is: When I have entered full screen mode, how do I leave the vm screen, to use another mac application? As far as the mac keys are not recognized anymore, for example, command + tab to change the window, how do I leave the screen? The second question is: is that possible somehow use the caps key inside the vm to be my nvda key? Maybe sending the caps key directly to the vm, without being interpreted by the mac os. Thanks in advance.

#4 Leaving the VM without shutting down

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The same command (Command + Control + F) is a toggle because it is in the VM keyboard shortcut command set. As far as remapping the Caps Lock key to be the NVDA key, you can try to remap the Caps Lock key through Sharp Keys to Caps Lock. Basically remapping it back to itself and see what happens. Good luck and please let me know if that works and/or if you find a solution.

#5 Using the vertual machine with jaws?

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Hi!!! I would love to be able to run VM Ware fusion, however when I tried it in august, it kept de-activating jaws. Here's what I had going. I have windows installed on a bootcamp partition, and VMWare was just using that partition to do the work. Is that verry optimum, or will I have to remove that partition and install windows through fusion? Thanks!!! Chris Harrington

#6 Remove the bootcamp partition

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Remove the bootcamp partition an create a new vm for windows. This is what I do and it is very smooth in running with some hick ups how ever it still works and works well. The one thing I cannot get working is playing the audio in the qube or opening urls. Cmd control enter puts it in to full screen mode and I can't find a way to disable that. I tried disabling cmd control f but that did not work. Over all I am very impressed with the functionality of vmware 4 and look forward to any major releases hence forth.