Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac Feature Update beta released

Parallels has announced a beta release, “Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac Feature Update.”

This update will include several new features and enhancements requested by Parallels Desktop for Mac users.

When it exits beta testing status, this update will be free to existing Parallels Desktop 3.0 customers.

This beta includes the following new feature updates:
• Major enhancements to the look and feel of Windows programs in Coherence
• Coherence support for Exposé and Transparent Windows
• Support for overlapping several Windows and Mac windows in Coherence
• Ability to silently boot into Coherence mode
• Linux PC and virtual machine migration to your Mac using Transporter
• Ability to change your VM’s disk format using the updated Image Tool
• iPhone support in Windows. iTunes in Windows can connect to your iPhone

More info and download link here.

17 Comments

  1. Can Parallels use the same virtual disk install of Windows that BootCamp uses?

    Meaning, can Parallels and BootCamp “boot” from the same virtual disk with Windows installed… so one can choose to either use virtualization or dual boot (via BootCamp) with the same shared setup of Windows.

  2. malckwan

    technically you can, but you will run into an issue where booting back into winxp with bootcamp will require you to provide a new serial number. i had installed the last 3.0 parallels and ran into that issue. parallels/windows expects it to be it’s own install. bootcamp expects it to be it’s own install. basically, windows recognizes that te same serial version windows was used to boot up on two ‘different’ machines.

    i ended up uninstalling parallels because i wanted to be able to play madden on my computer. you should have no issues if you install winxp with bootcamp but never boot into it, just use parallels. you run into issues when you try to use both, it sucks man. that’s why i haven’t bought parallels even though it is a bad ass program. if i know for sure it’ll run madden, i’d do it in a heartbeat.

  3. Shawn, did you install bootcamp first, prior to the Parallels install? I am pretty sure that I’ve read that BC and Para can operate together without the issue you ran into, but I admit that I already had Parallels installed before they upgraded the feature set to work with BootCamp, so I’ve not tried it myself.

  4. malckwan and shawn:

    1st: Yes, you can install Parallels and tell it to use your BootCamp installation.

    2nd: The trick to not run into the Windows serial number issue is to not enter your serial when you finish installing XP in BootCamp. After installing XP in BootCamp, restart in Tiger, install Parallels, tell it to use BC. Start up your virtual machine and THEN enter your serial.

    Unfortunately, I had to find that out the hard way. It’s a good thing the phone service to get a new activation number for Windows is not TOO bad…

  5. I got XP home to activate in bootcamp and parallels. I still have activation problems with office and other applications not liking parallels after being installed on bootcamp. Parallels is a brilliant program; but, printing and networking aren’t as seamless for me as bootcamp.

  6. If you run into the activation problems, you just call the Microsoft tech support number provided by the activation wizard. If you explain to the technician clearly that you are using the very same machine, he/she will go right ahead and give you a second activation number. It’s not as bad as it seems (though it is still annoying to have to do).

  7. I can’t get my Epson Stylus CX4200 to work in Parallels on my Mac Book Pro so the program isn’t doing what I need it to do at work. My boss was looking at a Mac Book but decided on a PC when he saw that I couldn’t print with Parallels.

    I tried Bonjour but my printer prints at best quality and as a result is extremely slow and uses a LOT of ink. I can’t access Epson’s driver to make changes as I’m forced to use a generic driver. Very unsatisfactory!!!

  8. erratic behaviour, Aero support in Vista and full DX9,Very unsatisfactory….

    Waaaah! I’m on a Mac and I can’t run Windows properly!

    This kinda shit cracks me up, for years hearing Mac users go on and on about how Windows is crappy and unnecessary, now they whine and cry that they can’t run it perfectly on their Macs. Hah Hah Douche Bags!

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