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Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac (Intel Mac) | List Price: $79.99
Discount Price: $49.00
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Platform: Mac OS X Intel
Brand: Nova Development Corp
Binding: CD-ROM
Release Date: 2006-07-17
ESRB Age Rating: Everyone 10+
Features: - Run Windows and Mac OS applications in a single integrated environment, or mount Your Windows File System and access its files and folders directly from Mac OS
- Windows Start Menu Integration--Click the Parallels icon in the Dock to show the Windows Start Menu
- Support for OS X Leopard--Full support for Apple's next generation operating system when it ships
- Open documents in Mac OS or Windows using any available Mac OS or Windows application
- OpenGL 1.5 / DirectX 8.1 Support--Run supported games and 3D applications at native speed in Windows
In case you need to visit the dark side [Posted on 2008-04-25]
Works beautifully - fast, reliable and flexible. The only thing it won't do is write DVDs, but everything else is just as advertised. A much more flexible tool than Boot Camp, and lets you keep your Mac up when you need to use Windows.
not happy [Posted on 2008-04-26]
The product was installed by a professional computer store and has been working intermittently since. Half the time it won't start which is very annoying. I am considering replacing it with Fusion.
I should have waited for VMWare Fusion [Posted on 2008-04-27]
The tech support for this program is deplorable. Parallels has a lot of serious problems, like conflicts with other software programs, including device drivers, that will prevent Parallels from working correctly. If you remove these drivers and reinstall Parallels, you might get Parallels working, but you lose the use of your software, including the associated hardware in the case of device drivers. Some of these issues have been known, and reported, for over a year now, and the company has stopped responding to questions about them in their tech forums. Maybe they think that their problems will go away if they ignore them. I don't think they will, but their customers already are.
My recommendation: Take advantage of the current $20 discount on VMware Fusion. If you've already bought Parallels, try to get your money back, but they probably won't even respond to your inquiry. If you haven't, stay far away from this product.
If you're still interested in Parallels after reading this, I'll sell you my copy as soon as my copy of VMWare Fusion arrives.
Two computers for (almost) the price of one [Posted on 2008-05-04]
After having delivered my faithful old home built Windows 2000 computer to the recycling station, I found myself searching for its replacement still needing to run a few important 'legacy' apps. Learning of Parallels Desktop, my strategy was to recreate the Windows machine on an underused MacBook Pro. The software was on sale with free shipping so I bought a copy.
My first installation failed on an upgrade notice that popped up while I was entering the activation key. The machine locked up hard but luckily I was a able remove the corrupted install. The second attempt went well after dismissing the upgrade notice. With Parallels running, I subsequently executed the upgrade.
I created a virtual machine for the 'guest' Windows 2000 operating system and installed it and the legacy software from the original distribution media. That process was wrought with glitches and lockups but eventually everything worked. Still, the feel wasn't quite right.
Fortunately I didn't write this review then; a Leopard compatibility release has been issued and this software now provides a performance level very much comparable to what you would expect with a native hardware machine.
I also have a Windows XP virtual machine running. It installed from a bootable CD with no issues. It's response is excellent and it actually boots and shuts down faster than my native hardware machines. It's networked with my home WiFi connected Work Group. Email and Internet works properly and even a USB device works through it's Windows installed driver.
I attempted interfacing Bluetooth device but haven't found a way to connect a Parallels serial port to the virtual Com port that OSX creates from the PowerBook Pro hardware. I'm thinking a USB Bluetooth dongle with Windows installed drivers might work.
Parallels is developing into a slick program and I admire the intellect behind it. There are still some rough edges present but the Leopard patched version gets good marks and my recommendation.
--- CHAS
Great concept, but too buggy for regular use. [Posted on 2008-05-06]
This program is the reason I bought my Mac. I was thinking it would make the transition from my PC software painless. When it works, it works great. In theory, the Mac & PC are integrated almost seamlessly. The problem is that the installation keeps breaking. Parallels makes my late model Leopard based iMac just as buggy as my PC. It's capable of freezing up the Mac and forcing me to do a power-off to get the thing to reset. It also does not integrate well with my USB printer. After using it for two months I've finally given up on it and purchased the Mac versions of all my must have software.
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