is USB a big issue with virtualbox?

[motech]

i was investigating using virtualbox instead of parallels,
but it seems USB does not work so well with it.

please let me know if im wrong,
or not setting it up correctly.

ive done some research and it seems that other people have similar problems.

from a crestron forum:

"
> Cristobal Brahm wrote:
> >
> > Hi Guys,
> > First, Marry Xmas to all!.
> >
> > Question for those using Crestron software under VirtualBox (using
> > Ubuntu host system),:
> >
> > I can do everything, except connect to the CEN-IDOCV.
> > When I plug it in using the USB cable, I can see it under windows, the
> > Crestron Device Console driver is installed, and when I connect to it
> > using toolbox, the status is "connected", but. ... it stays a long
> > perios "Waiting Device to respond and after a while, i get a time out.
> > Anyone has an idea of what can it be?
> >
Re: Toolbox+VirtualBox+IDOCV

I can tell you that I've tried running USB on VirtualBox, VMWare, & Parallels on
Windows Vista. Some VMs support USB better than others but it only ever seems
to partially work. Usually the more esoteric and high-speed the device the less
likely it would be to work. For instance my USB to Serial adapter worked on all
of them I believe, USB HID devices would work, USB drives almost always. Once I
started connecting things like MX-1000 remotes there were usually issues. My
USB diagnostic tool for my car was a total no-go. This gives me an idea that
there is at least a minimal amount of delay and data buffering between the Host
and the Guest OS.

I would say you might have better luck searching the VirtualBox forums
for general USB issues.
"

i had a similar issue with a "pro control" branded remote.
i get it to connect to the guest,
it shows up in windows 7 as properly installed.
it shows up in the pro control software,
but when i go to upload data to the remote through the software.
it hangs at 0%

doing the same thing in parallels works fine.
so my question is, do i keep trying or is this a dead end?

[mpack]

I have no trouble getting the USB devices I want to use to work with VirtualBox. That is nearly all mass storage devices: thumb drives, plus when I'm updating the GPS and my phone (I hate to install their bloated update crap on my host). It all works just great.

There is bound to be a certain amount of latency in a VM handling real time events. If the device in question is very fussy about the timing of those events then it probably will not work well or at all in a VM. If it isn't fussy then it should work great. I don't know what your IDOCV is and can't comment on what category it falls into.