Parallels Desktop for Mac Release Candidate 2 for Mac is not simply a “dual-boot” solution; rather, it provides the ability to use Windows, Linux and any other operating system at the same time as Mac OS X, enabling users to enjoy the comfort of their Mac OS X desktop while still being able to use critical applications from other OSes.
Parallels Desktop Release Candidate 2 for Mac offers users a number of important features, including:
• Broad OS Support: Use any version of Windows (3.1, 3.11, 95, 98, Me, 2000, NT, XP, 2003), any Linux distribution, FreeBSD, Solaris, OS/2, eComStation, or MS-DOS in secure virtual machines running alongside Mac OS X.
• Performance: Driven by full support for dual-core processors and Intel Virtualization Technology (included in almost every new Intel-powered Mac), virtual machines created using Parallels Desktop Release Candidate 2 for Mac offer near-native performance and rock-solid stability.
• Ease of Use: Download the program and install it with a single click. Build a virtual machine in seconds using helpful wizards. Configure virtual machines using a simple web-inspired interface.
• Works on any Intel-powered Mac: Any Intel Powered Macintosh running OS X 10.4.4 or higher is compatible with Parallels Desktop.
New Features and Major Improvements:
• Parallels Compressor Server technology is now built-in
• Significantly improved performance
• Improved USB performance and broader device support
• Improved Host-guest networking
• Automatic network adapters now switch on-the-fly
• Guest OS no longer steals host IP address in some DHCP servers
• Fullscreen mode is now customizable
• Integration with Virtue is now bug-free
• Customizable Ctrl + Click mapping
• Guest 32bit color is supported when Parallels Tools is installed
• Improved Shared folders performance
• Resolved shared folders/MS Office incompatibility issues
• Windows 98 no longer consumes 99% host CPU even when idle (in VT-x mode)
More info and download link here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Schlitz” for the heads up.]
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If they can get the video drivers working properly and use both cores, it should be a great product!
MDN Magic Word: ‘board’ As in video board? How do they know?
“Windows 98 no longer consumes 99% host CPU even when idle”
If that’s the case, it’s not really Windows, is it?
Can anyone tell me how well previous versions of Parallels work? Would you consider this update a solid performer?
I have a PowerMac G5, 1.8 dual, and wonder how beneficial this might be. Having switched from Windows almost two years ago, I am phasing out of my final PC, a laptop. However, there are some old programs and valuable files I would like to take with me.
Comments?
I’ve got no Intel Mac yet, so I cannot try this out. However, I’m wondering if they have found a way to share or copy the clipboard, so you can do something in one environment, copy it, and paste it into the other environment. I’d think that saving it to a shared folder would be the slow way to go…
Rever,
If you are considering this for your PowerMac G5, I’m afraid it’ll do you no good. You need an Intel Mac to run Parallels and boot up Windoze.
Oops. Silly me.
Thanks, Jimbo.
Don’t want Windows, just their API’s.
I want to run Windows apps in a window without Windows.
That’s the holy grail, I don’t want to see anything from Microsoft on my screen.
I’m willing to tolerate their code running in a sandbox, but invisible.
MacMania, dual core support won’t be coming soon. For one Intel VT-x only supports single core virtualization. As for the video drivers “working properly” what issue do you have?
As someone who has had to suffer with a slow VPC since my 667 PB this looks very good, and keeps getting better looking all the time. Looks like MS is out of the market with VPC in the Mac world, especially with Parallels pricing. Now all I have to do is find a way to afford a new PB!
Static Mesh says, “I want to run Windows apps in a window without Windows. That’s the holy grail, I don’t want to see anything from Microsoft on my screen.”
No, the Holy Grail is in The Louve in Paris.
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Parallels is turning out to be a great product.
MDW “hope” – As in I hope I can get a 1GB stick for this MacBook Pro soon…
Static Mesh,
Keep your eye on CodeWeavers. Cross-Over Office for OSX on Intel is currently in alpha.
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/crossover_office_for_intel_based_macs_hits_alpha/
it runs windows nt – wasnt that the powerpc version? if this is so – does that mean it can run os9? ?
Keep your eye on CodeWeavers.
thanks
How much of a speed difference is there between this and bootcamp. I’m looking at getting a 2ghz macbook.
Wow, this version does seem a bit faster. Parallels is so awesome.
It’s got nice full-screen support that auto-switches the Windows resolution to your native full-screen resolution, and right-click behavior is programmable. You can easily share folders with Mac OS X.
I’m tempted to install Photosop CS2 in Windows, in Parallels, and run it there. It will probably run a heck of a lot faster than it will through Rosetta, even if Parallels only virtualizes one of my two cores.
Mike:
“How much of a speed difference is there between this and bootcamp. I’m looking at getting a 2ghz macbook.”
Boot Camp gets you full 3D accelerated graphics, dual-core support and native hard drive access.
Parallels is not really usable for 3D graphics, it’s slower at hard drive access (runs through Mac OS X’s filing system), and it only virtualizes one core of a Core Duo.
In short, Paralles is just about as fast as Boot Camp at things that don’t need 3D acceleration, intense hard drive performance or SMP support.
andy – by Windows NT they mean the Intel version. I believe there was a PPC version of Windows NT (I personally used the Alpha version), but it won’t run on Parallels.
Oh, and no, Parallels will not run OS 9.
Pog said: “As for the video drivers “working properly” what issue do you have?”
Pog I tried their release Candidate 1 on a friend’s iMac and the mouse movement and window redraws were kind of choppy. He didn’t like the general “feel” of the solution as a result, so I installed Apple BootCamp for him instead.
BTW, he needed to run CAD apps that were provided by his employer only in Winblows versions.
BOOYAH.
g
MacMania:
You need to install the Parallels tools to get smooth video and mouse action. In Parallels, just click the “VM” menu and select “Install Parallels Tools…”.
So, there IS a parallel universe. I was beginning to get claustrophobic.
Nick said: “You need to install the Parallels tools to get smooth video and mouse action. In Parallels, just click the “VM” menu and select “Install Parallels Tools…”.”
Thanks Nick, I just did what you suggested on my MacBook with 1GB RAM and it works much better. Still not accelerated though.
Then I went over to a neighbors house that I had been talking to about my new “iPod Laptop” as he called my white MacBook when he first saw it. He was on the fence about switching. After showing him the Parallels vm, he says he’ll pick up a bunch of MacBooks for his field sales reps on the next refresh. Apple Keynote and Pages blew him away. He also said he’ll be getting a 15″ MacBook Pro for himself.
As George Bush would say: “Mission Accomplished!”
Rock on Steve!
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That is very cool, MacMania! Nice work! I love the iPod Laptop reference. Whatever it takes!
Macmania said: “After showing him the Parallels vm, he says he’ll pick up a bunch of MacBooks for his field sales reps on the next refresh.”
Just one more indication of: 17% to 23% market share for Macs within a year!
MW: “natural” as in: It just seems so natural.
MacMania:
That’s awesome!
I was just playing with Parallels a bit more, and found that I could get smooth playback (with sound) of QuickTime HD movie previews in 480p format. Not bad!