Parallels ( ) came out in beta form in April of last class , not long after Apple put out the first Intel Macs . Since then , the software has been greatly meliorate through a on the face of it constant flow of betas , dismission prospect , and officially released update . ( This article is base on build 3170 , Release Candidate 3 ; Parallels say that there are no substantial differences between that material body and the official release , beyond some hemipterous insect fixes . ) Today , this $ 80 program is the most - refined option for running a full Windows initiation next to OS X on an Intel Mac . ( Parallels also supports nearly any non - Apple operat - ing system you’re able to think of , from Windows 3.11 through Vista , Linux , FreeBSD , OS/2 , Solaris , and even good old MS - DOS ) .
Installation
Parallels has execute something awing : it ’s made it simpler to establish Windows inside a virtual machine on a Mac than it is to install Windows on a “ real ” PC . Using the Windows Express setup assistant , you may instal Windows XP or Vista in a couple of mouse clicks . You typewrite your product Francis Scott Key , name , and organization on one screen , and then Parallels takes over . Anywhere you ’d typically have to interact with the Windows installer , Parallels does the job for you .
After install window , you set up your new virtual machine and operate the Parallels Tools installer ( in the Action carte ) . Parallels Tools add a number of features that ease the integration of Windows with OS X , such as the ability to move your mouse seamlessly from Parallels to Mac OS X and back again .
The process is just a bit more complicated if you want to set up other operating systems . You use File : New to afford the OS Installation Assistant , and severalize it to make a Custom virtual machine . On the next screen , you select the type of OS ( Linux , OS/2 , and so on ) , as well as the specific rendering ( Red Hat Linux , OS/2 Warp 4 , and so on ) you desire to install . You ’ll then have to specify a memory allocation and drive - space frame-up for your virtual machine , and then commence the installation — you may install from CDs or from a magnetic disk ikon .
Software support
Assuming that you ’re using Parallels to ply Windows , you ’ll want to check out Parallels ’ coherency musical mode as before long as you may ( see “ Coherence Mode ” ) . It ’s a way of configure Parallels so the Windows OS itself is hidden : all you see is an diligence windowpane — which happens to belong to a Windows coating — on your OS ten background . Those apps have their own resizable windows , their icons appear in OS X ’s Dock , and the Windows taskbar is present along the bottom of the screen ( though you may drag it to any edge , just as you may when lead Windows natively ) . When running Parallels in Coherence mode , it ’s easygoing to forget you ’re even running the Windows OS ; it ’s more like you ’re melt programs that do n’t appear like the rest of your OS X apps .
Further relieve desegregation , Parallels patronage full drag and drop between the Windows and OS X environments . you may copy a booklet of files from one surround to the other , add item to the taskbar in Coherence mode , and even drop documents onto Windows ’ practical program window .
At the other extreme , you may make your Mac depend like it ’s solely a Windows motorcar simply by switching to full - screen mode . In full - screen mode , the Mac OS is completely hidden . When you want to get back to your aboriginal OS , just pressure choice - payoff and you ’re back in windowed mode .
In addition to produce this OS foil , Parallels runs Windows apps amazingly well . It will prevail nearly any Windows course of study you throw at it , with functioning that ’s virtually as effective as you ’d get on a likewise configure native Windows corner . ( you could also run Windows XP from a Boot Camp partition — meaning that you need only one written matter of Windows XP . ) I saynearlybecause Parallels ca n’t yet utilize both cores in the Core Duo chips . So if you ’re running an software that ’s peculiarly CPU - intensive , it ’ll take a mo of a functioning strike . Also , Parallels does n’t yet offer accelerated nontextual matter , so many games are out of the enquiry . And Parallels wo n’t run 64 - bit Windows , but that ’ll be a problem for only a small subset of users .
For everything else , such as Microsoft Office , Quicken QuickBooks , Adobe Photoshop , and pretty much any other coating I tested , Parallels puzzle out , and works well . execution is overnice and snappy — in fact , it ’s the snappiest of the four programs I tested ( see “ How They equate : Virtualization Software ” ) . Even playing back DVD operate reasonably well . I was n’t able to get Windows Media Player to work ( it kept telling me I needed an MPEG-2 codec ) , but I was capable to use the freeVLC video playerto playPirates of the Caribbean 2(see “ Playing DVDs ” ) . There was some stuttering of the sound and the casual mild picture hiccup , but overall , the experience was much good than I was expecting .
Hardware support
When Parallels first come out , its support for USB equipment was n’t great . Things have improved since then . It now supports USB 2.0 , and more devices solve . I had no trouble getting Windows XP Pro to recognise a 1 GB memory spliff ; USB hard drives work , too . I was even capable to use my Wacom Intuos 2 graphics tablet . You may still lam into problem with things such as USB dongles , which some programs use for copy protection , but most other USB machine should work just fine .
Networking support is in effect ; I had no issues printing to a networked laser printing machine , and I was able to see the other Macs on the household web .
What ironware wo n’t act with Parallels ? Pretty much anything that link up via FireWire , Bluetooth , or ExpressCard . ( The main elision is FireWire cause that have been mount in OS X. ) If you have computer peripheral that rely on these technologies and that demand access to them in Windows , you should look at using Boot Camp . Also , Parallels ca n’t take vantage of both cores on Core Duo silicon chip . In my experience , that did n’t intervene with performance much , but if you have processor - intensive Windows apps , it might .
Who it’s good for
With its excellent app support , well - integrate Coherence mode , puff - and - drop cloth capabilities , and overall degree of performance , Parallels is a enceinte match for citizenry who take to pass the full Windows OS on their Macs — or people who ’d wish to experiment with other operating system , such as Linux . But if you need accelerated 3 - D graphics support or have FireWire and Bluetooth devices you ask to use in Windows , look to Boot Camp .
Parallels Desktop for Mac
Pros : Coherence mode ; dredge and throw off files from one OS to another ; splendid performance ; very good hardware support . confidence game : Virtually no FireWire or Bluetooth keep ; no accelerated graphics ; does n’t employ both cores in Core Duo chip ; no 64 - routine Windows support . Price:$80Company : latitude
