Parallels Desktop

by: Download.com staff on August 11, 2014

Parallels Desktop lets you run different operating systems on your Mac as virtual machines. It comes with a free trial and offers everything you would expect from this type of app, including support for external devices, advanced graphics, and Coherence Mode for smooth window integration.

OS X integration: Parallels Desktop for Mac brings a lot of native OS X features to the guest operating system. We were most impressed by the accuracy of the dictation and speech commands.

Boot Camp partition support: After an 8-minute migration, we enabled our Boot Camp Windows installation to be run as a virtual machine. The process was seamless and hassle-free.

Parallels Access: With Parallels Access we were able to use our MacBook and Windows virtual machine through an iPad with Retina Display. However, due to the low refresh rate of the screen, this feature is more suited for quick actions than for long usage.

Windows reactivation for Boot Camp: Software like Microsoft Windows and Office need to be reactivated when using Boot Camp as a virtual machine. This can become bothersome if you often reconfigure your Boot Camp virtual machine; otherwise, it is just a minor annoyance.

While definitely on the high end when it comes to price, Parallels Desktop for Mac brings you quite a few useful features not found in similar offerings. The deep integration between the guest and host operating systems, which allows you to take full advantage of both platforms, is this app's selling point. If you need that capability, then you won't be disappointed.

Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of Parallels Desktop for Mac 9.0.24237.1028877.

From Parallels:

Parallels Desktop for Mac is the first solution that gives Apple users the ability to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their critical applications at the same time as Mac OS X on any Intel-powered iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook or MacBook Pro. Unlike dual-boot solutions, in which users must completely shut down Mac OS X and endure a full OS start-up cycle to access a important application, Parallels Desktop for Mac empowers users with the ability to run important Windows programs like Outlook, Access, Internet Explorer and all other applications without having to give up the usability and functionality of their Mac OS X machine even for a few minutes.

What's new in this version:

Parallels Desktop 8 and 9 users can upgrade to 10 today for $49.99 while new customers will be able to purchase the full product on Aug. 26 for $79.99.

Mac OS X Yosemite integration, iPhone calling integration, iCloud Drive and iPhoto Library support Now with one click users can select from a number of choices to optimize their virtual machine based on what their primary usage is: productivity, games, design or development. The new Parallels Control ... See all new features » Snow Leopard operating system. Run Windows & other x86 operating systems side-by-side with ... Mac operating system for Intel-based Macs. Expand RAR archives on your Mac. Expand over 30 formats: StuffIt, Zip, RAR, 7z, tar, open enc... Run Windows programs on your Mac, without Windows. OS X Mountain Lion is the latest release of the world's most... Extract, recover, and backup WhatsApp chat messages on your ... Mount, read & write to NTFS-formatted drives under OS X. Simplifies invoicing; create professional invoices and quote... Create easy-to-use cross platform installers for Linux, Sola... Run Linux, Windows, and other systems on your Mac. Get a new beautiful homepage from your Dashboard. Synchronize your files automatically to your computers and t... General-purpose full virtualizer for x86 hardware, targeted ... Create games quickly and easily. Get a personal shelf for notes, pictures, links, text snippe... All Versions:

3.6 out of 234 votes

5 star: 88 4 star: 57 3 star: 34 2 star: 16 1 star: 39 Current Version:

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"What an amazing thing, absolutely delighted with this"

April 19, 2014   |   By rogermanawatu

Version: Parallels Desktop 9.0.24229.991745

Pros

I searched for days around the idea of how to get my familiar windows programs to work on my new Mac with Mavericks and 16G of Ram. I choose Parallels, downloaded, installed it without delay and very little Help on how to do it, other than other reviewers saying the wizards were fairly intuitive. Then Installed Win7 and my old serial key. Away I went. Now in my second day, have e-Sword, Real Player Alternative and VLC Media going. As we speak I am using Internet Explorer on my Mac! I am very impressed, this is far and away the best piece of software I have bought in ages. It works in slightly funny way with its integration and confluence or whatever, but man it works! I will install some old MS Office software my wife likes and it is going to make the windows to Mac transition much easier. So far seems stable, it had one little trick post installation to install some extra tools, apart from that NOT Hard to use.

Cons

Very few at this stage. eg I notice something funny when filling out a search field, sometimes the text doesn't appear.
I still have to install some Antivirus. That one big reason why I ditched Windows.
I did not find a PDF walk-through on installation. That would have been nice. Our school server blocks YouTube so I can't see the Movie file helps at Parallels, not their fault.
No, this is good stuff, I have nothing to compare it to, never used Fusion or Virtual Box.

Summary

I got my copy from Creation Engine (Google that) for 40 bucks cos I am a student and work at a school, so I am very happy about the price. I know that if I do need a upgrade sometime, it will cost the same or more, but as I have a high power system, that won't need to happen for a long time. I just love that I can skip from Win7 to Mac, have access to ALL files. As a humble Office and photo album person, watch movies, I don't need light speed graphics or processing, so I can't vouch for Parallels that way with gaming. But I hear it works ok. Whether you pay $40 or $80 this is gooood value as you can still use sooo many windows products. Eg DVDdecoder and Format Factory to rip and backup movies. I still have a Premiere Elements 8 licence that I can resurrect, rather than buy the latest, so on with my old family video clip editing.

As for the install process, all you need to know is that when installing Win7, look under your old laptop for the Windows sticker and use the Product Key, 30 digit key for the installation. later, after install-shutdown-reboot you have to find the Parallels tools package and install it on the virtual windows. Sorry forget the exact name and location but it is important, as it allows the integration of files. Eg in Windows Explorer you can see and access all the Mac files in the Window structure. Now it takes some intelligence you get your head around all this virtual stuff, the fact that windows and the C drive is simulated but works as real. But hey, get used to it, so is the Whole Universe, but thats another story
Ok, enough said about all this. I am puzzle here by people with very negative esperience. I do not look forward to having a serious issue as I know how torturous getting good help and IT advice can be. I do know that Fusion is about the same for IT support, and the Upgrade is basically full price, generally people like Fusion because it is simpler and easier to use. I can't imagine any much simpler than this. I have written a long, glowing review because I am so pleased to so easily be about to double my computing power with this thing. I do have a dual boot laptop that is Win 7/Ubuntu and it is not easy to use or maintain. The dual boot crashes, and you actually have to use a flash drive to copy files across, which is very cumbersome. Ubuntu uses an emulator called Wine, and to get a windows program to go on it the first time took about two days work, phew and lots of Geek power. This is my comparision with Parallels, which was about two hours and very very simple if you already know how to install any software.
Regards, Roger Levy, Vanuatu

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2 stars

"A waste for the most part...seek alternatives first!"

January 07, 2014   |   By SDJunk

Version: Parallels Desktop 9.0.23350.941886

Pros

Allows you to fully run any windows operating system in conjunction with your Mac OS. (Of course this is not without a smattering of issues.)

Cons

1) Current version does not work properly. Have submitted numerous tickets and the company continues to try to blame everyone but themselves for the issues. I've tested this latest version under Maverick and Mtn. Lion. In both situations there is nonstop ghosting of menus and the task bar when operating within the coherence environment. They could not resolve the issue of parallels not partitioning the virtual environment correctly with the overall size when it was their product used to establish the hard drive size. Had to resolve all issues on my own.

2) The company counts against you on how many trouble tickets you submit. Instead of actively leaving the areas open for customers to report ongoing issues with their product, they want to charge you after a certain number of tickets. Even the ones they NEVER resolve count against you.

3) A previous customer is correct in stating that each time they have a new version of the product, they force an upgrade...

Summary

Overall, this product used to be much more stable than where it is now. I go all the way back to version 4. What I find interesting is that each time a new version is rolled out of the product, somehow the current version begins to get slower and slower. Then I start to notice odd messages.

With the current version, I have to constantly restart the OS to get things that were appearing at one point to appear again. The funny part is the program is still running, it decides to go away on its own with this version. Even in coherence, the windows task bar can be viewed from behind my dock bar. If you try to click on it, the wheel keeps on spinning..."rolling, rolling, but not on a RIVER!" They will insist this is a Microsoft issue that must be resolved with them. It never happened on v7 (I did not upgrade to 8).

The funny part is that the product had been working totally fine until they announce the new upgrade information. After so much time, the old version becomes so irritatingly worrisome with the lack of speed in loading and newfound "issues" you end up upgrading. So yes, all this company wants is your money.

Bottom line, they need to seriously work on some REAL technical support. When tickets are submitted and you prove to them with various page shots for analysis (or even videos) that the problem is with their product, they need to take ownership and FIX the issues. When problems arose on my end, I repaired them on my own and did not even bother to share the solution with them. They spend too much sending contradictory messages back and forth without reading what they had stated in the previous response.

My recommendation is that if you can find another viable solution to running your windows OS, explore it first. Parallels is a long way from the company I would have sent users to in earlier years. It is a joke.

If reading comprehension is a problem and you're a global service offerings company, get enough common sense to make sure your technical support folks are from the actual country the service ticket is submitted from. This is so no brainer instead of this nonstop cheap crap that gets us nowhere all the way around!

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1 stars

"they want your money every year"

October 04, 2013   |   By gatesbuster

Version: Parallels Desktop 9.0.23062.920702

Pros

it works and does what it supposed to do

Cons

Each upgrade is charged. I bought parrallels 6, then 7, then I refuse to pay for 8 who is now obsolete. they force you to upgrade making 7 incompatible with maverick to come

Summary

I am giving my money to vmware; at least they don't charge you for every upgrade and their older version is compatible with the new OS X.

Parrallels is a rip off, trying to charge you for $50 each year

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1 stars

"Taking us for a ride - not this time"

September 19, 2013   |   By osos10

Version: Parallels Desktop 9.0.23062.920702

Pros

This is a 3 to 3.5 stars product, not too fast but rather stable. I seldom use it, and find myself using it less and less over the years. I still run parallels 7 with WIN XP, that I upgraded from 6 just because it was a few $ upgrade at some point.

Cons

I give it 1 star since they are trying to ride on the OS 10.9 train sending me a message parallels 7 will be obsolete on 10.9.

Summary

Parallels with this move your gonna lose one customer, me. I'll upgrade and just delete parallels from my Mac altogether.

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4 stars

"Runs every program I need"

November 10, 2012   |   By nrkmann--2008

Version: Parallels Desktop 8.0.18314.813278

Pros

Computer: 8GB MacBook Pro 17" Core2Duo 2.66

Runs quickly, can watch video and listen to music.
I regularly use Office 2007 Live Meeting, Cisco simulation software, terminal serve into my server, etc. all with no problems

Cons

Have to run some programs in XP SP3 mode from Win 7 or Win 8.

Seems to have a memory leak, i.e. keeps using more and more memory until all memory is in use and will not release the memory when shut down. Have to reboot the Mac every week or so to get my memory back.

As others have said a bit expensive if you have to have the latest and greatest. I buy updates at the end of cycle when they are $25-$30. This seems to work for me.

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1 stars

"Not an honest company"

August 16, 2012   |   By robjaco

Version: Parallels Desktop 7.0.15104.778994

Pros

Works in current year

Cons

You have to pay for upgrade for every update in the Mac OS. If you then upgrade to use the new MAC OS, they will come out with an update to that version a month later. So, if you want the most up to date version and be an early adopter, plan on spending $100 per year to use this software. They suck you in and then they got you.

Summary

If you are okay with spending $70 to $120 per year to have the latest Mac OS, go for it. ($20 for Mac OS + $50 to $100 for Parallels depending on how quick you upgrade to the annual Mac OS update.

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5 stars

"Parallels Desktop Tech. Support"

August 02, 2012   |   By MikeTredway

Version: Parallels Desktop 7.0.15055

Pros

I am extremely impressed with the Tech.Support I have received from them. I have not expereienced the like for years.

Cons

When I find some I'll let you know

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1 stars

"Charging you to watch adds!"

July 30, 2012   |   By jeffreymadson

Version: Parallels Desktop 7.0.15055

Pros

Fast and does virtualization very well.

Cons

I am responsible for 100's of copies of Parallels worldwide. The company has decided to display ads for itself and others into the interface of this application even after you purchase at full price. They say that you can select them and turn them off one at a time but that only stops that particular add from coming again. They also say that there is no way to turn them off permanently but a solution has been provide on the internet if you look.

I am shocked that Parallels has turned their flagship Application into a billboard. I will not be subsidizing Parallels advertising within my Application in future purchasing, goodbye Parallels.

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5 stars

"Parallels Desktop for Mac saves using two machines"

April 11, 2012   |   By RecordOrders

Version: Parallels Desktop 7.0.15055

Pros

When needing to run Visual Studio or programs only made for Windows they can run in coherence mode without starting the Windows OS. Excellent program for the cost, even better with the student discount.

Cons

Requires a separate license of Windows. Takes up space on the drive for the whole OS when only one or two programs are needed under Windows. Requires a second IP address to run without any issues when using a browser within the Win OS.

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4 stars

"Better than Fusion in ways that are the most important."

December 03, 2011   |   By jatibi

Version: Parallels Desktop 7.0.14924

Pros

Interface and set-up are very straight forward. If you have Fusion you can migrate the VM from Fusion to Parallels to try it out (as I did) I started with Fusion and after 2 major versions of Fusion I didn't realize how much it slowed down my machine. Parallels is able to shut down my VM and my laptop without specifically closing out of the app. Fusion couldn't do that. Also I upgraded XP 32 but to V7 64 bit on Parallels, again something Fusion couldn't do. Integration between the VM is very smooth. Able to launch Win or Mac programs from within either interface or "lock down" the integration. Gives you a Safe Mode to try a trial install of Win software and be able to toss the changes if the software isn't what you thought it would be. Makes it easy to install a trial software and try it

Cons

Doesn't have as many OS options as Fusion (not that I used them) Also there is a number of ad-ware popups that occasionally launch promoting their own "store". These are rare and once dismissed don't show themselves again.

Summary

Personally, I prefer Parallels over Fusion. Fusion seemed more "clunky" than Parallels. But, I have a roommate who prefers Fusion. Do a trial of one and migrate the VM to the other during that trial. See which one you prefer.

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