Parallels: virtualization technologies, benefits ‘just getting started’
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Nov 28, 2006 at 4:28pm
The use of virtualization on end users’ computers “is just getting started,” Benjamin Rudolph of Parallels, the company behind Parallels Desktop (a solution for running PC operating systems at the same time as Mac OS X—without re-booting—on Mactel systems), told Macsimum News. In fact, the company has plans to make gaming more feasible under virtualization beginning next year. Support for hardware accelerated 3D graphics and USB 2.0 support is coming in the next few months.
“Virtualization isn’t used much for gaming yet,” Rudolph says. “Currently, there’s no support for hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, no OpenGL or DirectX support. But we’re working on that and the next version of Parallels Desktop will have it. This means, among other things, that users will be able to play games much better.”
With that development and others, virtualization for the desktop and server is just beginning to hit its stride, Rudolph says. In the past it has involved “big, expensive software,” but it’s reaching the point where virtualization is for everyone. For example, the average computer user can spend US$80 on Parallels’ software and run different operating systems.
“You no longer have to be a ‘Mac guy’ or a ‘Windows guy’,” Rudolph says. “You can buy a Mac and be a Mac guy, Windows guy, Linux guy and more. With one piece of hardware, you can do it all.”
Currently, the Parallels Desktop on the Mac used mainly by those who love their Mac, but have to run an occasional Windows app. Rudolph says the main software titles used under the virtualization environment are Outlook, Microsoft Project, Internet Explorer, Visio and Quicken.
“You can live in a Mac world and work in the Windows world, as needed,” he adds. “There are some apps the world has standardized on, but which aren’t always available on the Mac.”
Parallels Dekstop is most popular for running Windows and Windows apps (and, yes, it runs Vista as well as Windows XP with the only limitations being the ones Microsoft imposes), though an increasing number of customers are using it with Linux, Rudolph explains. There’s a considerable base of people who want to run Linux on “superior Mac hardware,” he adds.
It was Apple’s move to Intel chips that makes virtualization possible rather than emulation. VPC and its rivals had to create the entire Intel hardware set in code,.
“It’s amazing what the products could do, actually, but they were slow and sometimes unusable,” Rudolph says. “The Intel chips means that the ‘engine’ works off the hardware and makes it pretty easy to move code over to Mac OS X. In fact, our first Parallels Desktop beta was out 3.5 months after Apple announced its plans to transition to Intel processors.”
He also thinks that the Parallels’ product is more user friendly than Apple’s own Boot Camp. You can run multiple operating systems at the same time and don’t have to restart.
“For the average user who just wants to run Windows apps occasionally, rebooting is a pain,” Rudolph says. “We think that, overall, Parallels is a better option for most people, thought Boot Camp’s approach is currently better for tasks involving hardware accelerated graphics—though we’re working on that.”
The company has customers in 102 countries, and Rudolph thinks Parallels Desktop is good for Mac users and Apple itself. “People are looking at it as an opportunity to move to the Mac platform,” he adds.
A 15-day trial version of Parallels Desktop for Mac is available here. Registration is US$79.99.
William Says:
I’ve been using Parallels since the early betas, bought it as soon as it went for sale, and have been a happy user the whole time. Parallels just plain rocks. I had a friend who wanted a “Mac” demonstration because he was interested in buying one. I hooked up my Macbook Pro to an external monitor and had Windows XP Pro full screen on one, and OS X on the other. I had a beige box nearby powered on to bolster the illusion. The power of that notebook and Parallels software was amply demonstrated when I revealed that it was all on one machine.
I needed a few Windows programs for my recently completed Masters program, and now there are a few security tools I like (Cain & Abel, etc.) for Windows only. It’s damned handy!
Posted on November 28, 2006
Dave Says:
I bought a Macbook Pro in September, soon followed by Parallels Desktop for Mac. I’ve ben running Windows XP and the Vista Beta and so far with a little tweeking here and there, everything works fine. I use Access on a regular basis and since it isn’t available for Mac, Parallels Desktop has given me the ability to dump my Windows machine and use a Mac and still have access to all the windows applications that I’m used to using… I can’t say much about the tech support because the program has worked so well I haven’t needed any tech support. I’m happy about the future of this program and look forward to playing my windows video games on my Mac. If you have a Mac and need to run the occasional windows only program, or if your a Windows user and want a Mac but can’t switch due to the need to use windows only programs, this is the answer you’ve been waiting for. It’s the pot of gold I was waiting for to make the switch and I’ll never go back to a windows only computer. Keep up the good work Parallels......
Posted on November 28, 2006
Dennis Says:
I have used Parallels for several months and overall am very pleased with the product. The company should provide much better customer support since I had ordered the Windows version by mistake and never got a response from the company. Oh well, at least is was inexpensive. Can’t wait for graphics enhancements, USB 2.0 support, and the ability to use a DVD drive. WOOHOO, keep it coming! I love supporting a company that makes a great product that is actually useful!
Posted on November 28, 2006
Jodeo Says:
Uh… QUICKEN???
Why does anyone need to run Quicken in Parallels?
I must’ve missed something…
Posted on November 29, 2006
tundraboy Says:
Why does anyone have to run Quicken in Parellels?
Because Quicken for the Mac is absolutely the buggiest, crappiest POS software that any established software company has ever released.
It has far less functionality than the PC version (especially with downloading financial transactions) and get this, the Quicken files are not compatible across platforms. The conversion process is a two-aspirin operation and after all those hours of suffering you discover that QotM is ultra-buggy.
The only drawback in my switch to the Mac is Quicken. I chose to shell out for VPC and endure the excruciatingly slow performance rather than get tortured by Quicken on the Mac. It’s that bad.
Posted on November 29, 2006
Scott Says:
Has anyone ever tried accessing their company VPN offsite through WindowsXP via Parallels?
I’d like to ditch my PC laptop and get a MacBook Pro and it appears that I’d be able to run MS Outlooks, which is important. The other thing I need to be able to do is access my company VPN so I can file share in through Windows Explorer. Any advice is very welcome.
Posted on December 10, 2006
Robin Says:
Has anyone used Parallels for games? We are longime mac folks, and my son loves our 21” screen, but there are SO few games for the MAC. He’s dying for LEGO STAR Wars II for Mac. Would buying this product work with this?
Help!
Posted on December 14, 2006
Ed Says:
I am a new Mac user. I have a MacBook Pro and an running Quicken 2005 in Parrellels. When I back up the files they go to the temp xp burning place just like windows. I cannot find them to burn a cd. I don’t get the balloon that says I have files to burn.
I also cannot copy the files to the cd.
Posted on January 18, 2007
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Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
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John Says:
Parallels is great but their support is not. I’ve had a issue in since Oct 30 about problems with MS Access and fonts that they won’t even reply too or let alone fix. All you get the “An engineer will contact you in 3 business days” then nothing but silence.
Posted on November 28, 2006