Parallels, a worldwide leader in virtualization and automation software, today unveiled a complete solution designed to simplify the process of ’switching’ from a PC to Mac. Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition empowers users to effortlessly make the move to Mac without the risk of losing familiar and important data and applications on their Microsoft Windows-based PCs. The product combines a set of easy-to-use tools and interactive tutorials with the industry leading Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac to help “Switchers” understand how to operate Mac OS X, transfer all PC data and applications, and seamlessly run their Windows applications on their new Macs.
“The growth in switching is partially due to the ease-of-use and cool capabilities of the Mac,” said Serguei Beloussov, CEO of Parallels, in the press release. “However, users don’t want to lose the data they have accumulated and the applications they are already familiar with. Building on our proven track record of Mac innovation, we have addressed this concern and made learning the new operating system even simpler through interactive on-demand tutorials. These are combined with intelligent moving tools and our industry-leading Parallels Desktop for Mac, which offers the greatest performance and stability for running Windows seamlessly on Mac.”
Switching from PC to Mac is on the rise: analyst reports on operating system market share show that Mac OS X market growth comes at the expense of Windows’ market share. While the overall PC industry saw declines of 3% for the quarter ending in June 2009, Apple sales were up 4% year over year. According to Apple’s Q309 report, half of the Macs sold were to customers who had never owned a Mac before.
“Parallels is an industry pioneer in the development and delivery of Mac virtualization solutions,” according to Laura DiDio, principal at Information Technology Intelligence Corp., a Boston-based research firm, in the press release. ITIC’s research indicates that three out of 10 corporations (30%) use Mac hardware and software in conjunction with Windows to dual boot and virtualize their desktop and server environments. “Now more than ever, businesses require products and tools like Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition, that will assist IT managers and support integration and interoperability among heterogeneous environment,” DiDio added.
Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition is an industry-first solution that addresses the challenges facing prospective PC-to-Mac Switchers:
Learning Mac OS X – The Switch to Mac learning tools are designed to specifically address any questions or concerns associated with the transition from Windows to Mac. More than two hours of interactive video tutorials help users learn the new interface and functionality of the Mac platform step-by-step, starting with the Mac equivalent of tasks performed on Windows. A quick reference card identifies the most common Windows and Mac command/function differences and puts the correct keystrokes at users’ fingertips.
Making the Move – Also important to new Mac users is getting files and media from their old computer to their Mac. Parallels recognizes that many people need help with this process, and developed a “plug and click” method that moves the entire PC (licensed operating system, applications, files and data) to the new Mac. This includes the Parallels High Speed USB Transfer Cable that connects the two machines and the Enhanced Parallels Transporter: simple, wizard-driven software that walks the user through the move in a few easy clicks. The seamless Mac user experience now starts on the PC side.
Running Mac OS X and Windows side-by-side – Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition includes Parallels Desktop for Mac 4.0, the number one Mac system utility, currently used by more than two million people to run Windows side-by-side with Mac applications. This award-winning virtualization software provides a fully integrated seamless experience, offering users the greatest stability and performance available for running Windows on a Mac, as recognized in 3rd party industry benchmarks3. Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac incorporates a range of security, backup and power saving features to give Mac users the easiest way to run Windows on a Mac.
“For years I have worked with switchers coming into Apple stores with questions about how to use their new Mac,” says Saied Ghaffari, Switch to Mac Advocate, in the press release. “Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition thoroughly addresses the concerns switchers have and the product is designed to make moving to Mac as fast and simple as possible, regardless of the level of technical knowledge of the switcher. Innovative learning features like Click to Learn, Watch Saied, and You Try shorten the time switchers need to become comfortable with their Mac from two weeks down to about two hours. It’s like a friend teaching you the Mac at your own pace.”
Parallels Desktop 4.0 Switch to Mac Edition is available from today at Apple stores, at Apple.com and through other preferred retail partners in English, German and French. The suggested retail price of the product is US$99.99.
Source: Parallels
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dirty Pierre le Punk” for the heads up.]
This is like watching the berlin wall crumble.
COOL!
BIg Props to VMware for a brilliant set of add-ons for Parallels, so Windows guys never feel ‘on their own’ on their new Mac, not even for a second. As they get used to doing everythiing (ahem bar on the top this time, Search on the right, Corporate logo on the top left to shut down the computer…) they can tell the Software to stop helping.. like training wheels…
And from there on out, they’ve always got Windows if they ever need to use their old programs, etc. What a kick ass product.
This is great. It takes away one of the big obstacles for people to move away from a PC. I know some high performance users with a lot invested in their computers. Mostly gamers, but some business people too. Now I can tell them they won’t loose anything. I know some people who do not live near a Apple store, this could help them learn how to use a Mac. The price is not bad either. This will give XP users who are nervous about Win 7 a good reason to move up to a better system.
This is a great idea. I hope it sells well so that Parallels will continue developing it.
@mike: Parallels != VMware
Why doesn’t MAC just dump their toy OS and license Windows like everyone else? Then you MAC fangirls can have a real computer where you can use your points at Zune Marketplace. You’d still have to upgrade to Zune because I-Pods don’t work with Zune Marketplace.
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Dang! I wish they had developed this a year ago. A friend of mine who was riding the fence about whether to go Mac from p.c. wound up sticking with Windows because of all of his legacy software and files. Even though I pointed out that he could use Bootcamp, he was still too nervous about switching. Could have had a convert.
Apple should buy this and bundle it. (It should have developed it on its own long ago.)
More nails for Microsoft’s coffin.
Well, we’re finally really finding the distinction between VMWare and Parallels, VMWare seems to be more focused on the power users who still VM’s to run other OSs on their mac boxes (usually running Linux in mine, but that’s neither here nor there), while Parallels seems to be focusing on the New Mac Switcher who needs the security blanket of all their old PC stuff in a VM… I like the distinction and suspect both companies will really do a lot of business.
Apple should buy this and bundle it. (It should have developed it on its own long ago.)
Why would Apple want to do that? What you suggest is that Apple lose its focus. Let other companies do the support for something like this. Let Apple continue to focus on what it does well — give us a better alternative to what Microsoft has.
Roger Knights writes, “Apple should buy this and bundle it. (It should have developed it on its own long ago.)”
Why should it choose sides and invite yet another FTC probe for potentially anti-competitive behavior? The competition between VMWare and Parallels (and the free variants) is healthy, and the products just keep getting better. Besides, Apple doesn’t really want to promoting the Windows option anyway.
While I laud this product for what it does, I find find a quick switch is far better than dragging it out. When you get a new TV or any other appliance you don’t try to make it work the way the old one did, you just learn how the new one works and get used to it. What happens with the slow switch use-your-Windows-apps method is the Windows user keeps trying to use their Mac like their old Windows box and ultimately taints their Mac experience by making everything more complicated than need be, not learning the Mac shortcuts and essentials.
Very clever way to package your existing product to reach more potential customers. Good move, Parallels. I think you out-maneuvered VMware.
Wait a minute! Did Laura DiDio actually say something about a Mac without her usual completely clueless anti-Apple nonsense intruding? Stunning!
Good to see Parallels finding useful ways to differentiat themselves. Honestly though, I don’t know why the average person would pay for either VMware or Parallels when Sun’s opensource free alternative VirtualBox works just as well from my experience (in some ways better). Having a good free option is important because it allows you to use virtualization as an argument to switch without the usual counterargument of increased cost (assuming the switcher has an existing Windows license to use).
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