Parallels Desktop for Mac
Run any version of Windows at blazing speed--right alongside Mac OS X--with Parallels Desktop for Mac. And there's no need to reboot.
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Overview
So you're free to use important applications that are currently available only for Windows--programs like Microsoft Project, Access, Money, Act!, Internet Explorer and more. Even better, Parallels Desktop for Mac doesn't require any rebooting. As Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal put it, "It's like having two computers in one, the best of both worlds."
Features
- Run Windows and other operating systems on your Mac simultaneously without the need to reboot.
- Unmatched ease of use. Set up with a simple wizard-driven interface.
- Effortlessly switch from Mac OS X to Windows.
- Also supports Linux, Solaris and more.
- Support for dual monitors.
- Mac OS X v10.4.6
- Intel Core processor
- 512MB RAM (1GB recommended)
- 30MB free hard-disk space (for installation, plus space to allocate your virtual machine)
- Windows (or other operating system, such as Linux or Solaris). Windows not included.
Most Recent Reviews
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Parallels Desktop for Mac
Best Windows integration on a Mac
Written by JW
9/06/2008
Parallels has the best integration of Windows in Mac OS X Leopard & Tiger. I use the Coherence, Shared Folders and Shared Applica…Read moretions features. Now, my Windows works like another OS X application, with the ability to launch Windows applications from the OS X Dock. All my Windows data are saved in My Documents, My Music, My Photos, etc which are now mapped and saved to OS X Documents, Music and Photos folders (via Shared Folders feature) ... all data saved in OS X and I don't have to open Windows to access my files.
Parallels has also allowed me to learn and try OS X, without the fear of losing efficiency and productivity. I am now starting to love OS X. This is an excellent product for all Windows to Mac converts.(11 of 11 people found this review useful)
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Parallels Desktop for Mac
Great But...
Written by MM from Wellington
26/03/2008
My experience with Parallels Desktop is that it is a great software but only if you have a system with the right criteria. With 1 …Read moreGB of RAM Parallels is slow, sluggish and usually causes system crashes. In fact it was such a disappointed that I stopped using it. Now that I have upgraded my RAM to 3 GB's I have started using Parallels again. And it is running like it should have all along - easily, smoothly and without any system crashes.
Although I wouldn't recommend using Parallels Desktop With Windows Vista.
This is after all just my experience.(64 of 72 people found this review useful)
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Parallels Desktop for Mac
Really disappointing
Written by AL from WARRANDYTE
7/01/2008
Why would you buy Parallels? To run those few bits of software that offer no Mac equivalent. For me, that was to back up data from…Read more a Garmin Vista Cx GPS, and to sync a Palm Treo 750 (which runs Windows Mobile). What the hype doesn't tell you is that there are MAJOR problems with using many USB devices through Parallels (just look at the user boards, as I did- after I'd paid for the software)- they simply go unrecognized, or you are told that they are being used by another program (when no other programs are open). And forget about any kind of product support, all my attempts at contact have gone unanswered. I completely wasted my money here. Buyer beware!
(63 of 96 people found this review useful)
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Most Useful Reviews
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Parallels Desktop for Mac
Remarkable!
Written by JM from Sheffield
15/08/2006
I click on the Parallels dock icon, select 'Power on (virtual machine) and there it is Windows XP starting up. So right now on my…Read more Mac desktop I have MS Money in XP running alongside BBC News 24 on Eye TV, Safari and Mail which is pretty cool really! It was easy to set-up on mostly typical settings and I took advice to upgrade my RAM (1GB recommended). XP runs as fast as XP on any PC I have ever used, with no noticable effect on Mac performance. Downside? Well no USB 2.0 support yet or 3D graphics and some of the keyboard keys such as '@' are in a different place so a few sticky labels help! (Bonjour helps printing from XP and of course you need security suite like eTrust).
I can minimize XP or suspend it whenever I want. In fact I forgot to close XP when I did a Mac OS Archive and Install (to restore Software Update) and found that after a re-install of Parallels (easy) I could open XP from its suspended state exactly how it was before!
Parallels puts XP in its - subordinate! It's very, very good and destined to get better with each update!(342 of 358 people found this review useful)
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Parallels Desktop for Mac
Word from the Wise about Parallels, "enable USB"...
Written by JN
7/01/2007
Read the literature. I see that the biggest complaint is the USB ports don't work for thumbdrives or printers while in the yucky "…Read morewindows" world via on a mac. Guess what... that is because you have to "edit" the OS features and "enable" the USB. The default is that it is "on" but not enabled. Kind of like a PC not having USB enabled in the CMOS low end boot. So, open parallels, open the OS file, click edit, and ensure the box labled "endable USB" is checked. This is all in the book. The only thing parallels will not do is allow the "windows" user to burn CD. The superdrive becomes only a reader instead. As long as the USB is actually enabled like mine, you, like me, should have no problems using USB printers, USB external drives, USB thumbdrives, etc. I use USB devices all day long in parallels in my mac and never have the problems that everyone is complaining about. It isn't a perfect software but a little bit of reading the manual goes a very long way. It did for me and I run parallels all day with none of the problems that I see listed here. Once again, fabulous software that I will NOT ask for a refund. It works, works, works, works. Well it does for me since I read the manuals...
(234 of 249 people found this review useful)
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Parallels Desktop for Mac
Absolutely worht it and MORE
Written by DD
16/10/2006
I have been using PC's forever. I finally decided to purchase a MAC after months of reading reviews, looking at models specs and p…Read morericing comparison vs. other PC's. I bought the iMAC5 20". The first thing I realized was that I needed to also run my XP, too many programs I used and years of info. I tried boot camp and personally thought it was a joke. I downloaded the "Parallels" and if you read the step by step directions, "exactly"....it is fantastic. Now I have the best of both worlds. It allows me every possible PC funtion and I can download all of my PC programs, including Spyware and Virus protection. I surf with the Mac, print with both, the Mac has features and tools that are mind blowing. With the x1600 graphics , 1 GB memory...it flies. I gave it 40 GB to work with...210 for the MAC and 40 for the virtual windows. Just make sure you follow the steps by the t or installing and setup can be frustrating. Also place the icon on the desktop or bar....set it to open and start on the double click.....also, this is a big one, it does not state so, but I was able to use my Windows XP Pro (upgrade) not the full version and it worked. To me the company could have doubled the price and it would still have been a steal. Good luck to everyone and I hope this helped.
(226 of 237 people found this review useful)
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