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VMware Fusion, which allows Intel Macs to run Windows in a, well, Window alongside OS X, has been upgraded to version 2. This is a free upgrade to users of Fusion 1.x (woot!), and you will not have to reinstall your virtual machine after the upgrade. The 248MB download is available now.

The release notes detail several major improvements, the first of which is the ability to take an unlimited amount of “Snapshots” of your virtual machine (formerly, you could only have one). The Snapshot feature allows you to save the machine’s settings in a particular state, and return it to that exact state (useful in testing software). Fusion 2 can now also be set up to take Snapshots at regular intervals.

Other improvements include:

• Map key folders in Windows Vista and Windows XP (Desktop, My Documents, My Music, My Pictures) to their corresponding Mac folders (Desktop, Documents, Music, and Pictures)
• Click on a URL in a virtual machine and open it in your favorite Mac browser, or configure your Mac to open its links in a virtual machine
• Allow your Mac to open applications in the virtual machine—Finder can now open your Mac’s files directly in Windows applications like Microsoft Word and Windows Media Player
• Allow the virtual machine to open applications on your Mac—VMware Fusion can configure virtual machines to open their files in Mac applications like Preview and iTunes
• VMware Fusion can directly open Windows programs (.exe) and installers (.msi) in a virtual machine just by double-clicking on them in Finder

And while I don’t like to spread rumors, there have been unsubstantiated tales of… gasp! Viruses existing on the Windows platform. Fortunately, Fusion 2 also includes a complimentary 12 month subscription to McAfee VirusScan Plus. But that’s just a sampling. Check the release notes for a host of other enhancements.

Fusion 2 is available as a 30 day trial, or you can purchase a license online.

Product [VMware Fusion 2]