VMware Workstation and Horizon 8 compete in virtualization solutions. VMware Workstation appears to have the upper hand in individual and small-scale virtualization due to its diverse OS support and ease of VM management, while Horizon 8 is preferable for enterprise environments due to its central management capabilities.
Features: VMware Workstation offers seamless file sharing between host and guest systems, extensive OS support, and 3D graphics capabilities. It attracts heavy users who require a reliable virtual environment with simple VM management. Horizon 8 is tailored for enterprises, featuring robust central management, excellent scalability, and enhanced security protocols, making it ideal for large organizations.
Room for Improvement: VMware Workstation could improve in reducing resource consumption and better snapshot management. It also needs enhanced support for Linux clients. Horizon 8 faces cost concerns and could benefit from simplified initial setup and better integration with Linux, along with improved security features.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: VMware Workstation is flexible in various environments but lacks direct technical support, relying on community resources. Horizon 8 presents a more comprehensive support framework, though it can be complex to set up, especially in hybrid setups, but offers highly rated customer service for enterprise demands.
Pricing and ROI: VMware Workstation is perceived as expensive, offering lifetime licenses but mixed ROI, being cost-effective in certain applications yet costly for frequent upgrades. Horizon 8 has higher pricing compared to alternatives like Citrix, but its extensive feature set offers high ROI potential for enterprises seeking comprehensive virtualization solutions.
Resolving issues is often complicated due to it being a complex product.
The main areas needing improvement are response speed and quality of answers.
Based on my experience and feedback from customers, I would rate Omniser's technical support an eight.
On a scale of one to 10, I would rate their support or customer service a two or three since they never did anything.
The documents provided for Workstation were not hard to understand.
It's a very special way of working with VMware Workstation.
A key challenge for these customers is finding an easier solution with single management that alleviates these complexities.
VMware Workstation is scalable enough for larger companies, though it requires some skills.
Especially with the integration of NVIDIA, we experience multiple problems including crashing applications, crashing desktops, spontaneous logoffs, black screens, and systems that no longer respond or cannot reconnect.
We can scale by adding additional servers and connection servers.
When they switched to Omniser, these issues disappeared, leading them to choose it over cheaper and seemingly easier options.
The problem we are facing with stability is that the network adapter causes crashes of the VM when we're using it for developing purposes.
I would like to see improvements in Horizon 8, specifically integration with NVIDIA for graphical performance upgrades because it creates many issues such as crashing and black screen systems, causing users to lose access to their current desktop and work.
The integration with Workspace ONE to make it more simple and easy for customers to adopt is another aspect.
Many customers are actively seeking alternatives to VMware due to recent licensing changes after Broadcom's acquisition.
Eventually, we had to get some licenses with Broadcom, and all the costs went up dramatically.
We faced challenges with backup due to limitations in the free version, requiring us to switch to a paid version.
The problem we are facing with stability is that the network adapter causes crashes of the VM when we're using it for developing purposes.
I rate the cost-effectiveness of GenApp of Citrix equal to our CMS; it is quite cost-effective.
After VMware was bought by Broadcom, the pricing was ridiculous, but now that Onmises has VMware Horizon 8, the pricing is back to an acceptable level.
Implementing more AI features, such as automation and optimization via platforms like Ansible or Terraform, would enhance operational efficiency significantly.
The solution has data leak prevention features that ensure data is not copied from the base machine to VDI.
From a security point of view, security in Horizon 8 is one of the main points in keeping the system resources from the company away from bad actors. You can keep the desktops completely isolated, and you don't need to share your file shares or database with the end-user system.
VMware Workstation works correctly and has more features compared to Oracle VirtualBox.
VMware will just create a new machine immediately if we have a problem.
Simply being able to run several Windows PCs with different development environments has had the largest impact on our operational efficiency.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| VMware Workstation | 9.8% |
| Horizon 8 | 6.8% |
| Other | 83.4% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 62 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 23 |
| Large Enterprise | 45 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 33 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 14 |
| Large Enterprise | 18 |
Horizon 8 offers centralized management and robust security with ease of deployment and scalability. It provides virtualization and remote access to devices across platforms, ensuring improved performance and reliable remote desktop experiences.
Horizon 8 integrates instant clone technology, a security gateway, and supports USB redirection while minimizing bandwidth consumption for efficient resource utilization. Featuring a powerful administrative console, it simplifies backend control with a user-friendly interface. While effective, it can improve in areas like audio redirection, app volume configuration, and Azure integration. Enhanced connectivity, performance, and monitoring capabilities could elevate user experience alongside clearer licensing terms.
What are Horizon 8's key features?Horizon 8 is widely implemented in industries like education, healthcare, and finance where it enhances remote work by securing virtual desktops and applications. It supports virtual desktop infrastructure enabling secure connection to internal resources, data center consolidation, and application delivery meeting specific industry needs.
VMware Workstation offers virtualization with a user-friendly approach, allowing multiple OS to run on a single machine. It supports snapshots, backups, and comes with high-quality graphics and USB support, ideal for development and software testing.
VMware Workstation is known for its ease of use, making it a popular choice for both educational and professional environments. Its support for multiple platforms, user-friendly setup for virtual machines, and third-party software compatibility provide a reliable solution for running diverse operating systems simultaneously. Users benefit from features like network virtualization, resource allocation, and folder sharing, providing a streamlined approach to workload management. While it excels in creating isolated virtual environments ideal for testing and development, areas of improvement include resource management, pricing strategies, and comprehensive documentation for non-expert users. Enhancements in performance, stability, and network configuration compatibility, particularly with macOS, could further elevate its standing.
What are the key features of VMware Workstation?Many industries implement VMware Workstation to create streamlined testing environments and manage virtual machines for various development needs. Companies use it to deploy specific configurations securely, offering a robust setup for application testing and management of legacy systems. In education, it allows instructors to showcase system functionalities efficiently, supporting diverse learning objectives.
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