Parallels releases Desktop 3.0 for Mac

Parallels has released Desktop 3.0 for Mac which enables users to run Windows, Linux, and more side-by-side with Mac OS X on any Intel-powered Mac, without rebooting. With Parallels’ award-winning virtualization technology, you can run Mac OS X and your favorite Windows applications at the same time. You can also drag-and-drop files between desktops.

Parallels Desktop for Mac features include:
• 3D graphics support
• Run Windows programs like native Mac applications with Parallels Coherence
• Use Windows and Mac OS X at the same time…without rebooting
• Migrate your entire existing PC to your Mac with Parallels Transporter
• Install Windows in a few mouse clicks with Parallels Installation Assistant
• Optimize performance and maximize disk space with Parallels Compressor
• Seamlessly share files and folders between Windows and Mac OS X
• Copy and paste text between Mac OS X and Windows documents
• Achieve maximum performance by leveraging Intel Virtualization Technology

Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac retails for US$79.99.

More info and download link here.

36 Comments

  1. Parallels Desktop for Mac is a software product by Parallels, Inc., a developer of desktop and server virtualization software. It is the first software suite to bring virtualization mainstream on Macintosh computers with Intel processors.

    Initially, the software was released as ‘Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X’, consistent with the Linux and Windows versions. This was not well received within the Mac community, where some felt that the name, particularly the term “workstation,” evoked the aesthetics of a Windows product. Parallels agreed: “Since we’ve got a great Mac product, we should make it look and sound like a Mac product…”, it was therefore renamed ‘Parallels Desktop for Mac’.

    On January 10, 2007, Parallels Desktop for Mac was awarded “Best in Show” at MacWorld 2007.

  2. I switched from VMware to Parallels last month. I know that VMware was still a beta, but Parallels still wins. The fact that Parallels has a simple checkbox to swap the CMND and CTRL keys was enough for me. That drove me barking mad on VMware. The Coherence view frightens and confuses me, but I’m just a simple Caveman. I’ll tell you one thing – it’s a LOT faster than VMware.

    -c

  3. Shogun,

    No, you could preorder for $39.99 until yesterday, June 6th. I actually got my copy for $31-something. Not sure why, it just rang up that way.

    Now I need to try F.E.A.R. running in Parallels. There’s no way it will be as fast as Boot Camp. But if the game is at least playable, I’ll be really impressed.

  4. Brilliant, but how could this technology be put to practical use? What businesses, institutions, or persons could use or adapt this technology? Can Seadragon software also operate with Parallels 3.0? Will this software be incorporated into Vista?

    Hey, I don’t blame Microsoft for buying Seadragon; it seems to be the only sure way that Microsoft can infuse imagination and resourcefulness into Microsoft. Innovation by cash flow.

  5. I can just imagine so many Mac folks getting used to running Windows apps using Parallels Coherence and then either Microsoft throwing a monkey wrench (Ballmer!) in the works or simply something in Windows breaks and it takes months to fix it.

    Anyway the Dark Side Creep begins.

    “You are now MINE!”

    MDW: hope “There is still hope, ihope.”

  6. FEDS BAN QUALCOMM 3G CHIPS/HANDSET IMPORTS TODAY!!

    Uh this means Apple!!! Google it!

    Stock up on those 3G handsets, folks — they could become very valuable commodities here in the next few weeks. As part of an ongoing series of spats between wireless giants Qualcomm and Broadcom, the US International Trade Commission has ruled that handsets containing Qualcomm 3G chipsets (and that’s a whole heck of a lot of handsets) that are manufactured starting today may not be imported into the US. By all accounts, this appears to be much more than legal posturing on Broadcomm’s part — a ban is a ban — and we’ve gotta believe this’ll resolve itself right quick. But if for whatever reason it doesn’t, get ready for an eBay free-for-all in a gloomy, scorched-earth future where the only high speed handsets are pawned for thousands of New Dollars on the black market. [Warning: subscription required]

  7. I installed both Boot Camp 1.3 and Parallels 3.0 today. Not much difference in Boot Camp — I think it is mostly driver updates. But Parallels 3 — that is a different story!! The OpenGL 3D implementation is very impressive — it is an order of magnitude quicker than before, and acceleration seems to work in Coherence mode, too. Gaming under Parallels is a practical idea now, at least on machines with fast processors and powerful GPUs (I am on a MBP). There are other nice touches, and the whole system seems to run better (altho still has strange but nonfatal quirks).

    To the guy who asked about Boot Camp and Parallels — here is what you do: Create a Boot Camp partition and install BC. Then install WIndows XP or Vista. Then install Parallels and tell it you want to use the Boot Camp installation for Parallels. It works like a charm.

  8. The (ban) order could have serious ramifications for wireless operators such as Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel, which have built their networks using EV-DO. AT&T, which is building a WCDMA network, could also be affected. Qualcomm is the only manufacturer of EV-DO chipsets, and it is the main supplier of WCDMA chipsets for devices that operate over AT&T’s network.

    These operators have spent billions of dollars over the past few years building out these networks, and any delay in selling handsets that work over this network could cost them a great deal of money. Handset makers, Motorola and Samsung, which manufacture phones for the EV-DO and WCDMA networks will also likely suffer from a ban.

    The much-anticipated Apple iPhone, which will be sold exclusively for AT&T’s network, will not be impacted by this ban, since the phone does not use WCDMA. It uses AT&T’s slower 2.5G network technology. (note Edge)

    Well that was close!, but this ban could affect the future iPhones. And as you know, the iPhone is content rich, 2.5G is slow in comparison to 3G.

  9. nope, its not a 3D acceleration in the normal way, its more of a “hack”, since you can only run a few games in the DirectX 8.1 emulation layer.
    well DX 8.1 is better than nothing…

  10. “3D acceleration, that’s just insane, this is really the best programming job in years, even decades.”

    I have to agree that Parallels has done a superb job, and its record of quick updates and fixes is impressive, too. Honestly, I am not sure how they pulled off the OpenGL 3D implementation — basically they have the screen running two completely different display architectures simultaneously.

    Sadly (and not), I think Apple is going to announce that Leopard is going to have an even more amazing way to run Windows applications under OSX. That may make Parallels a software cul-de-sac, but still a terrific achievement.

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