- Parallels Desktop 4.0 for the Mac Tops in performance, excellent integration of guest operating systems and applications By Thomas Henderson and Brendan Allen.
- Version 4.0 is the first version that supports both 32-bit and 64-bit guest operating systems. Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac's 3D support includes DirectX 9.0, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0 and OpenGL 2.0 as well as 256 MB video memory. It also adds support for 8 GB RAM in a virtual machine and 8-way SMP.
The Parallels Desktop Engineering team is doing its best to improve OpenGL support in Windows virtual machines. As of now, only the OpenGL core profile (version 3.2) is supported in the Windows virtual machine using Parallels Desktop for Mac. Hardware Based VirtualizationThe Parallels Desktop 4 for Windows & Linux supports the latest hardware based virtualization technologies including Intel's VT-x, VT-x2 (EPT, FlexPriority, & VPIDs) as well as AMD's AMD-V (RVI & ASIDs) and your environments and applications will run at speeds faster than ever before.
Stiff competition
It was only a couple months ago that we reviewed Parallels Desktop's main competitor, VMware 2.0, and it's definitely no coincidence that a new version of Parallels Desktop has launched so closely on the heels of its Mac virtualization rival. Competition between VMware and Parallels is fierce, and each of the two programs is very visibly trying to catch up and surpass the other in features and performance. From early on, Parallels has been the leader in desktop integration, and Parallels' Coherence mode—which lets you use Windows applications seamlessly in the OS X interface—makes so much sense that you would have to copy it to compete at usability. So VMware 2.0 did copy coherence mode, and it also managed to open up a lead by adding multi-core CPU and 64-bit client OS support. The new Parallels Desktop 4.0 is clearly designed to close that gap by adding:
- 64-bit guest OS support
- Support for up to 8 GB of RAM for VM client OSes
- Support for up to 8-way SMP for multicore CPUs
The most interesting thing about Parallels' multi-core implementation is that it correctly shows CPU cores as cores in the client OS, whereas VMware shows the cores as individual CPUs. This is significant because non-server distributions of Windows don't allow for more than two CPUs to be used. The result is that a VMware 2.0 virtual machine only accesses more than two CPUs under Windows if it's using an expensive server-grade version of Microsoft's OS. If you have a Mac Pro and you're looking for maximum performance out of your virtualized Windows install, this is an important distinction. But it's not all good news for Parallels users looking to make the jump to the next level.
Even after Parallels released a second build (3540) of Parallels Desktop 4.0 shortly after the launch, a release that was aimed at addressing a number of problems with the 4.0 gold version, the software still has many officially acknowledged issues that need addressing. Are these problems bad enough for you to steer clear of 4.0? Let's take a look.
Pricing
- New: $79.99
- Upgrade: $39.99
System Requirements
- Processor: Intel-based Mac required
- Memory: 1 GB of RAM (2GB recommended to run Windows Vista)
- Storage: 450 MB of hard drive space for Parallels Desktop Installation, plus space to allocate to your virtual machine
- Operating system: Mac OS X 10.411 or later (including Mac OS X Leopard)
Test hardware
- Mobile:
- MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz
- 4 GB RAM
- NVIDIA 8600M 256 MB
- OS X 10.5.5
- Desktop:
- Mac Pro Xeon Core 2 Duo (4-core) 2.66 GHz
- 7 GB RAM
- NVIDIA 7300 GT
- OS X 10.5.5
Test software
- Parallels Desktop 4.0 build 3540
- VMware Fusion 2.0.1
- Windows XP Pro 32-bit SP3
- Windows Vista 64-bit SP1
- Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop 64-bit
- Mac OS X Server 10.5.5
Getting Started
Parallels' New Virtual Machine Assistant hasn't changed much in version 4. It still does a great job of guessing what the operating system is by the installer disk, and it handles automated installs as well as it used to. However, it does need more options—there isn't an option to pick how many CPUs or how much RAM you want for the VM at install time. If you want to set those, you have to stop the install assistant after creating the VM file but before launching the OS installer, or you can do it after booting into the VM, which will force a restart. The latter is less convenient, but, given the problems that I saw with the Leopard Server installation, it's more stable than setting it afterward. Maybe that's why it was left out of the assistant.
Another slightly annoying thing about version 4.0 is that it boots into Coherence Mode with desktop mirroring on by default. While seasoned Parallels users will know what's going on when they see this, it will probably be very confusing for new users who may look for a Windows desktop but see only a taskbar at the bottom of their screen. Desktop mirroring causes problems with certain software, in my experience, so that's another good reason for it to be off by default.
VM Updates: cross your fingers, it could be a bumpy ride. If you're a Parallels Desktop 3 user, you have to upgrade your existing VM(s) before you can get up and running with version 4. You might want to create a backup copy of your VM files, since the upgrade process has been a bit of a mess for a lot of people (but less so with the newer build). Stories of unusable or disappearing VMs are not unheard of. Also, prepare yourself for a good wait as VM upgrades are slow; it took about an hour to upgrade my very basic XP VM, and reports of three-hour VM upgrades are common.
If you can, I would recommend just doing a fresh install, because new VMs are less prone to virtual barnacles from what I've seen; it makes the setup process faster, to boot (I apologize for that pun).
Type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Virtualization |
Genre | Virtualization and Hosting Automation |
Founded | 1999 |
Headquarters | Bellevue, Washington, United States[1] |
Products | Parallels Desktop for Mac Parallels RAS Parallels Toolbox Parallels Access |
Revenue | US$ 100 million (2008)[2] |
800+[3] | |
Parent | Corel |
Website | www.parallels.com |
Parallels is a software company based in Bellevue, Washington; it is primarily involved in the development of virtualization software for macOS. The company has offices in 15 countries, including the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Japan, China, Spain, Russia, Australia and Ukraine, and has over 800 employees.[3]
Company history[edit]
Privately held server automation and virtualization software company SWSoft developed software for running data centers, particularly for web-hosting services companies and application service providers. Their Virtuozzo product was an early system-level server virtualization solution, and in 2003 they bought Plesk, a commercial web hosting platform.[4]
SWsoft's acquisition of Parallels was more or less kept under wraps until January 2004, two years before Parallels became mainstream.[5] In 2004 SWsoft acquired Parallels, Inc.[6] and Parallels Workstation for Windows and Linux 2.0[7] was released, with Parallels Desktop for Mac following in mid 2006.[8] Later the same year the corporate headquarters moved from Herndon, Virginia to Renton, Washington.
At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference 2007 in San Francisco, California, Parallels announced and demonstrated its upcoming Parallels Server for Mac.[9] Parallels Server for Mac will reportedly allow IT managers to run multiple server operating systems on a single Mac Xserve.[10][11]
In 2007 the German company Netsys GmbH sued Parallels' German distributor Avanquest for copyright violation (see Parallels Desktop for Mac for details), then Parallels Server for Mac was announced at WWDC - and later Parallels Technology Network.[12]
In 2008 SWsoft merged into Parallels to become one company under the Parallels branding[5] which then acquired ModernGigabyte, LLC.[13][14]Parallels Server for Mac was launched in June[15] then in September Parallels Desktop 4 for Windows and Linux, a rename of Parallels Workstation for the 4.0 release,[16] - and Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac[17] later that year. From the next version, 6.0, the Windows and Linux software became known as Parallels Workstation again.
Over the next three years the company launched Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac,[18]Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac,[19] Parallels Server for Mac 4.0 Mac mini Edition,[20]Parallels Transporter,[21] Parallels Workstation 6 Extreme,[22]Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac,[23] Parallels Mobile for iOS[24] - and Parallels Workstation 6.[25]
During 2012, 2013 and 2014, the company discontinued Parallels Server for Mac, Windows and Linux, launched Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac and Mac Management for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager. and released Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac.
Parallels acquired 2X Software in February 2015,[26] rebranded their service provider business to Odin[27] - later selling the Odin Service Automation Platform to Ingram Micro.[28] They also released Parallels Mac Management v4.0 for Microsoft SCCM and Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac.
In 2017, Virtuozzo and Plesk, two products from the pre-Parallels history of SWsoft, were spun out.[29][30]
In December 2018, Corel announced that it had acquired Parallels.[31][32]
In October 20, 2020 it was announced that Google have partnered to bring full-featured Windows applications to enterprises and cloud workers using Chrome Enterprise. Chrome OS is increasingly being chosen by modern enterprises, either for remote work, hybrid, or in the office,” said John Solomon, Vice President of Chrome OS at Google, “We are thrilled to partner with Parallels to bring legacy and full-featured Windows applications support, through Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise, to help businesses easily transition to cloud-first devices and workflows.” [33]
Current products[edit]
- Parallels Desktop for Mac - an x86 virtualization platform for macOS.
- Parallels RAS - Delivers Virtual desktops and extends Microsoft Remote Desktop Session Host desktop sessions and applications to users through the Microsoft RDP protocol.[34]
- Parallels Toolbox - a software containing links to common OS functions.
- Parallels Access - a remote desktop platform.
- Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise - Run full-featured Windows applications, including native Microsoft Office, on Chromebook Enterprise devices — online and offline.[35]
References[edit]
Parallels Desktop 4.0 For Mac
- ^'Worldwide Operations HQ at http://www.parallels.com/en/contact'. Archived from the original on 2008-10-28. Retrieved 2008-05-22.External link in
|title=
(help) - ^Parallels CEO Sees IPO in a Few Years, Not an Acquisition
- ^ abCareer Opportunities
- ^HostReview : Web Hosting News : SWsoft Acquires Plesk and Confixx to Create Global Hosting Software Powerhouse
- ^ abDavid Marshall (Jan 29, 2008) [08:03 PM].InfoWorld Virtualization Report | David Marshall | InfoWorld | Parallels Announces Virtuozzo Containers 4.0Archived February 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^Parallels acknowledges SWsoft ownership
- ^[1]Archived October 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^[2]Archived February 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^David Marshall (June 16, 2007) [04:03 PM]. 'InfoWorld Virtualization Report | David Marshall | InfoWorld | Parallels Announces Features of its Mac Server Virtualization Product'. Archived from the original on 2007-06-20. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
- ^Parallels demos Mac server virtualization
- ^Parallels Server for Mac
- ^Parallels Technology Network announcedArchived 2007-11-23 at the Wayback Machine
- ^Web Host Industry News | Parallels Acquires ModernGigabyte
- ^Parallels.com | Parallels Acquires ModernGigabyteArchived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^David Marshall (June 18, 2008) [08:14 AM]. Virtualization Report | David Marshall | InfoWorld | Parallels announces the first Mac server virtualization platformArchived June 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^'Desktop 4 for Windows and Linux Leverages Industry-Leading Mac Technology to Enable Widespread Adoption of PC Virtualization'. Parallels. 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^'Desktop 4.0 for Mac Offers Premium Windows-on-Mac Experience'. Parallels. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^'Desktop 5 for Mac Offers Fastest Performance on Snow Leopard and for Windows 7 Available'. Parallels. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^'Desktop 6 for Mac Delivers Unprecedented New and Enhanced Features for Best Windows on Mac Experience Yet'. Parallels. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^'Server for Mac 4.0 Mac mini Edition Launch Lets Businesses Run Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and Linux Environments Side-by-Side on an Apple Mac mini'. Parallels. 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^'Transporter Launches on the Mac App Store, Makes the Move from a PC to a Mac Easy'. Parallels. 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^'Workstation 6 Extreme makes the consolidated professional graphics workstation a reality through unmatched performance of direct assignment technology'. Parallels. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^'Desktop 7 for Mac Makes Windows Programs Roar with Mac OS X Lion Features; New Parallels Mobile App Delivers OS X and Windows Control Plus Flash Videos with Sound'. Parallels. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^'New Parallels Mobile App for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch Delivers Anytime Anywhere Control of Mac OS X, Windows, Ubuntu, Chrome, Fedora, Applications and Files on Your Mac'. Parallels. 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^'Workstation 6 Gives Web Designers and IT Professionals Seamless Capabilities for Running Multiple Operating Systems – Including Windows 8 – on a Single PC'. Parallels. 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
- ^Brian Madden (2015-02-26). 'Parallels Buys 2X Software'. brianmadden.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
- ^'We've Changed Our Name – Parallels Service Provider Business is Now Odin'. blog.odin.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-26. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
- ^'Parallels Holdings Limited Announces the Sale of its Odin Service Automation Platform to Ingram Micro'. December 2, 2015. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
- ^https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/05/12/virtuozzo_to_build_full_container_stack_target_the_data_centre/
- ^http://www.odin.com/news/pr/release/article/sale-of-odin-service-automation-platform-to-ingram-micro/
- ^'CIOReview Magazine Praises Parallels: One of the '20 Most Promising Server Technology Solution Providers 2016''.
- ^Dignan, Larry. 'Corel buys Parallels for Windows on Mac play'. ZDNet. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
- ^'Parallels®️ Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise''.
- ^'Parallels acquires remote application server developer 2X Software'. zdnet. 2015-02-25.
- ^'Parallels®️ Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise''.
Parallels Desktop 48950 Tnt
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