Delphi XE3 inside a Windows 7 VMware Fusion VM at 2560×1600 on a 15 inch Retina MacBook Pro at 2880×1800
Posted by jpluimers on 2013/03/27
I was amazed that this is still usable:
- Delphi XE3 inside a
- Windows 7 VMware Fusion 4 VM at 2560×1600 on a
- 15 inch Retina MacBook Pro at 2880×1800
You can even run VMware Fusion 4 full screen at 2880×1800, but I prefer to have the Mac Desktop and Dock to be visible. I didn’t have any of the VMware Fusion 4 issues mentioned here.
So the only thing you need VMware Fusion 5 for is Windows 8 support.
You need SwitchResX to get the Retina MacBook to use 2880×1800 at all (otherwise you get 1920×1200 at 1.5 scale factor, which is also a 16:10 display ratio).
It really runs 5+ hours on one battery charge, which is much longer than my ThinkPad W701.
All in all, I’m very happy with this setup.
–jeroen
PS:
- List of display resolutions.
- Less integrated, but free resolution changer: Resolution changing app : Wineskin News.
Resolution change options listed in How to Run Retina Display MacBook Pro at More Resolutions @ EveryMac.com:
– RetinaDisplayMenu.
– QuickRes App by Inertiactive.
– SwitchResX. - It should be possible to run 3 external screens in addition to the built-in one: MacBook Pro with Retina Display: Putting the video to the test | Macworld.
via: Screen Shot 2013-03-27 at 19.55.39 | Flickr – Photo Sharing!.
Click on the image or here for full size image.
WarrenP said
I find doing PC coding on a Mac keyboard complicated by the choice of native function keys versus mac defaults where the Function keys are mapped to special functions. My brain gets a bit confused. I like F8 to work as F8 in a WinVM but still have F10/F11/F12 (volume mute/up/down) remain as they were. This is possible in VMWare Fusion but setting it up and then remembering the wonky choices I’ve made is confusing for me.
It’s even possible to take the bonus function keys (F16-F19) on a desktop Mac keyboard and map them to things that are convenient for Delphi use in Windows, but alas on a MacBook Pro you don’t get all those juicy bonus keys.
Warren
jpluimers said
Pressing Command+F10/F11/F12 will give you back the Windows F10/F11/F12 button behaviour.
DataCool said
Nice setup, exactly what i’m looking for as next developer mashine. So good to know that this setup is “still usable” ;-)
Ondrej Kelle said
Nice, enjoy!
Your choice of font brings back old memories. ;-)
I used to swear by Lucida Console – until I found Consolas – I’m a convert now. ;-)
jpluimers said
I still swear by Lucida Console, especially because it uses less pixels per line height (:
Colin Johnsun said
You should upgrade to VMWare Fusion 5 as it already provides Retina support.
jpluimers said
The only thing that VMware Fusion 5 brings is Windows 8 support. VMware Fusion 4 supports retina just as good.