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Parallels Desktop For Mac Review
Parallels Desktop for Mac Review: Run Windows on Mac Parallels Desktop is a Mac application that allows virtualizing the Windows OS on any Mac. Like the VirtualBox for Windows, the Parallels Desktop also is a virtualization software where you could install the Windows or its applications seamlessly. The Parallels software only runs under OS X. Bottom Line Parallels Desktop is the easiest, fastest, and most tightly integrated app for running Windows apps or the Windows desktop in Apple OS X. Parallels Desktop 13 allows you to run Windows apps on your Mac. It does this by allowing you to install Windows on a virtual machine — a computer emulated in software. Your virtual computer is assigned a portion of the RAM, processor and disk space of your real computer, so it will be slower and have less resources.
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If you are not new to Parallels, you will already be familiar with its ability to run Windows in a virtual machine within OS X. You might also be familiar with its Coherence view mode that allows you to run Windows and Mac OS applications side by side, rather than a full-blown Windows 7 in a separate window. However, Parallels Desktop 7 takes it to the next level with some of the deepest Windows/OS X integration yet.
The name of the game for the new Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac is definitely OS X Lion integration. Pretty much every new UI feature incorporated into Lion has been integrated into Parallels, and thus Windows 7. We put the new version to the test with both Windows 7 and Windows 8 developer preview on last year’s iMac with 4GB of RAM.
What’s New?
It is clear right from the top that version 7 is much faster than previous versions. Both booting up Windows and resuming Windows applications (more on that later) feels smoother. Keep in mind that we first used the same Win 7 VM as we were using in previous versions. We also ran a fresh installation of Windows 7 and Windows 8 developer preview, which a slightly redesigned install wizard (above) made a little less frustrating than prior versions. The new installer wizard is a nice touch, letting you buy Windows right from within the app, grab a free copy of Chrome OS, or just go the usual route with your own disc or image. You can also now install another instance of Mac OS X, which is -of course- a feature mainly devs will utilize.
Previous versions of Parallels would cause Snow Leopard to become quite sluggish when switching between OS X and Windows apps. That lag is noticeably reduced when testing Parallels 7 with Windows 7 and Windows 8 on Lion. You can now also assign up to 1GB of video memory to Windows if necessary; although, do not expect that to improve gaming significantly. The same previous issues will have you running back to Boot Camp if graphic intensive gaming is what you are after.
The Windows 8 developer preview was a little sketchy at times and does not support many of Parallels features, but that is to be expected with early prerelease builds. Parallels does not officially support Windows 8, but we got it up and running with no problems by simply selecting “Other Windows” during installation.
Lion integration
Full-screen Parallels for mac desktop 10.
Parallels Desktop 10 For Mac
Most of the new UI features of Lion are available in Windows. This includes the new full-screen app mode that works when hitting the icon in the upper right corner of your virtual machine. Exiting full-screen is accessible through the top right corner of the auto-hidden OS X menu bar, again, just like any other native Lion app. We threw Windows 8 in full screen mode (required some manual resolution tweaking) in a separate desktop space through Mission Control. Switching from Windows back to a separate OS X desktop space with the two-finger swipe (or via Mission Control) is as smooth as you could ask for (same goes for Windows 7).
Mission Control
Mission Control seems to function just like you would expect when using Windows apps, especially in Coherence mode (more on coherence mode below). If you are using the standard window view, you will see your Windows 7 virtual machine in Mission Control. If you are using Coherence mode, the individual app windows will appear (above), allowing you to drag and drop them between desktop spaces just like native Lion apps. As long as you do not have a too many Windows apps running, interacting with them from within Mission Control is just as smooth as Lion apps.
Launchpad
Buy Parallels Desktop 14 for Mac. Run Windows, Linux, or Popular Oses on your Mac. Buy New License or Upgrade Now. With Parallels Desktop, you can switch between Mac and Windows without ever needing to reboot your computer. If you have already installed Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, or Windows 7 on your Mac using Boot Camp, you can set Parallels Desktop to run Windows from the Boot Camp Partition or import Windows and your data from Boot Camp into. Shop for parallels for mac at Best Buy. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or in-store pick-up.Launchpad, the iOS-like app launcher introduced in Lion, has also been highly integrated into Parallels 7. On top of the “Windows 7 Applications” folder placed on your dock (and now in Launchpad), you can right-click a currently running Win 7 app in your dock followed by “Add to Launchpad” to add that individual Windows app. With Windows 8, opened apps do not appear in your Dock, so you will not be able to add them to Launchpad yet.
Coherence & Resume
Coherence view mode that allows you access the Windows start menu from the Lion menu bar, and run Win apps as if they were native, seems to be a little bit better with Lion. Much like the rest of Parallels, it just seems less buggy than previous versions, especially when switching between Lion apps and Win apps frequently. After adding many your most used Windows apps to Launchpad, you can have them launch in Coherence mode and never have to deal with the Windows desktop or Start menu. There is no support for Coherence mode with Windows 8 when installing under the “Other Windows” option, unfortunately.
Parallels and Windows apps within a VM also take advantage of Lion’s Resume feature, allowing you to start where you left off in either Windows or just Windows apps in Coherence mode.
Windows 8 disclaimers
Anyone using parallels to for mac landfx. The closest thing you will get to a free, legitimate copy of Windows is going to be a 90-day evaluation. – Xavierjazz, fixer1234, DavidPostill If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the, please. The currently offers 90-day eval copies of Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows 8.1 Enterprise and Windows 10 Enterprise.
Windows 8 is, at this point, just a developer preview and not officially supported by Parallels, so it has expected to have some issues. We ran into many of those issues, but for the most part everything on Parallel’s end worked fine. After booting Win 8 for the first time, most of the live tiles were not functioning; however, a reboot seemed to fix the issue. If you want to try Windows 8, you should not run into many problems installing it into Parallels 7.
Should you get it?
Parallels Desktop 7 is a huge leap ahead from the last iteration and necessary for Lion users. That is… for Lion users that just want to run the odd Windows app, give Windows 8 a try, or devs that want to run another instance of OS X. The fact is, running several Windows 7 apps and Lion apps simultaneously leaves you with the same sluggish environment you are probably used to from previous versions.
Parallels Desktop 11 For Mac
Most of the improvements for speed are noticeable when booting up and switching between Windows and OS X apps. We had IE, Paint, and Windows Media Center open in Windows 7 using Coherence mode, Safari, and Text Edit open on Lion when things started to slow down. With those expected issues aside, it is a major update and certainly takes advantage of Lion to the fullest.
You can grab it for $79.99 ($49.99 upgrade) from Parallels.com or Apple stores now. You can also get a free trial from www.parallels.com/desktop.
Parallels Desktop For Mac Review
In addition, Amazon has Parallels 7 for $50 in the box…if you can wait for shipping.
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Once you have the file type sorted out, Parallels 10 lets you configure your Windows installation to give you the optimal experience depending on what you want to use the OS for. Whether you choose productivity, Games only, Design, or Software development, Parallels will customize the install to give you the best experience.
Running Windows on your Mac
Previous versions of Parallels already let you use Windows on your Mac, but with Parallels Desktop 10, you get even more ways to interact.
You could already run Windows apps in a state Parallels calls Coherence, where you can have software from different operating systems side-by-side in your Applications folder that automatically open in the operating system they were intended for.
Like previous versions of Parallels, you can do things such as drag and drop an image from your Mac desktop into an e-mail client in Windows 8.1, and it works without a hitch. You can add shortcuts to Windows apps to Launchpad in Mac OS X 10.7 or later so you can start up a Windows native app straight from the Mac interface. You can load a presentation in PowerPoint using the Presentation Wizard, and your presentation will run full-screen, just like you would want it to in Windows and it will keep notifications and other system tasks from interrupting the show. The software also offers a button to quickly load a page in Windows Internet Explorer, for when a website doesn't offer support for Safari.
Little feature tweaks and enhancements like these blur the lines between the two operating systems, so people who need to work in both won't find it to be such a jarring experience.
Using Yosemite features
Perhaps the most exciting new features in Parallels 10 are what you can do if you have Yosemite and iOS 8. New Handoff features in Yosemite let you do things like start a document on one device and quickly open it and continue working on another. Handoff also lets you make a call from your Mac straight from a phone number you find on a website by using your iPhone (when it's nearby) to make the call.
With Parallels, you can do the same thing, but from Windows. In other words, Parallels gives you access to the latest Mac features even using a different operating system.
As an example, when you right-click on a file in Windows, the resulting contextual menu gives you options to open it on your Mac, send it via iMessage, attach it to an email using the Mac's Mail client, or share it via AirDrop.
By letting you work seamlessly between operating systems, you don't have to worry so much about which operating system you're working in currently. Parallels connects them in all the places that matter, making switching back and forth much easier.
The best way to try out Windows 10
One of the great things about virtualization software is the ability to install operating systems that won't mess around with your current setup. The Windows 10 technical preview came out in early October, but Parallels quickly updated with a direct link to install Microsoft's future Windows operating system.
Right from the launch screen, you can click a button to install Windows 10 in its own virtual environment, obviating the need for a second test computer. But what's even better in Parallels is that you can run Windows 10 side by side on your Mac just like with every other operating system, letting you three-finger swipe to go from a Mac environment to seeing what's new in Microsoft's latest tech preview.
As secure as ever
As always, Parallels Desktop 10 helps keep your virtual environments safe through the use of Snapshots. The feature lets you to take a snapshot of your Windows system (for example) when it's in a healthy state so if you encounter any viruses or spyware while surfing, you can essentially rewind to your previously saved snapshot. This is extremely helpful for testing beta software and makes sure you have an option when dangerous Trojans or spyware infect your virtual system.
Conclusion
Parallels Desktop for Mac was already a great system for virtualization, but the latest version is even better. New features make the setup process easier with drag-and-drop functionality, and the ability to configure your install before you get started means you can set up the environment optimized for what you need to work on.
With Yosemite and iOS 8, Parallels gives you even more ways to interact between the systems. The ability to use Mac services lets you take advantage of Handoff features in Yosemite while you're working in a Windows environment -- something Windows can't do alone.
In the end, while there are other options for virtualization that are cheaper and even free, Parallels is worth your money because it offers the most features that let you pass between operating systems seamlessly.
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