VMware Player is the latest VM application available from VMware and it’s free. Ideal for beta testing software, the application will be announced during VMworld convention kept yearly by the company.

Even-tough its not like the Workstation, the application has some pre built features and is compatible with virtual machines created by Microsoft Virtual PC or LiveState Recovery from Symantec and of course with VMware Workstation, GSX Server or ESX Server machines.

“VMware has been pushing the envelope in the virtualization space. VMware changed the software distribution paradigm by enabling ISVs to distribute fully-configured applications in virtual machines. With the introduction of the free Player, VMware is making virtualization readily available to all IT professionals who need to evaluate applications or beta software or to simply share virtual machines with their colleagues.” Dave Parsons, Senior Vice President of Product Development, ALG Software.

Here are VMware Player’s key features – It can run any virtual machine created by VMware Workstation, GSX Server or ESX Server. VMware Player also supports Microsoft virtual machines and Symantec LiveState Recovery disk formats. The application can revert to previous state. (Revert virtual machines to a previous ‘clean’ state within seconds), has access to host PC devices. (use host CD/DVD drives, network adapters, and plug-and-play USB devices), can Copy and Paste meaning copy text and files between the virtual machine and the host PC. Drag and drop compatible – files can be drag-and-dropped between a Windows host PC and a Windows virtual machine. 32- and 64-bit host and guest operating system support. Run a wide variety of virtual machines containing 32- and 64-bit operating systems simultaneously on the same physical PC. Compatible 64-bit guest operating systems include select Microsoft Windows, Red Hat, SUSE, and FreeBSD distributions. Adjustable memory.