Parallels Desktop 7 helps Windows and OS X co-exist
For all of Apple's success persuading people
to switch to Macintosh computers, it's still very much a Windows planet.
PC buyers who have been reluctant to defect typically explain it this
way: "I'd consider a Mac, but my job requires this Windows-only
program," or "For better or worse, I'm just more comfortable with a PC."
Of course, it's been possible to run Microsoft
Windows on Intel-based Macs for several years now, albeit with varying
degrees of ease and performance. In my experience, the most convenient
way is through third-party software called Parallels, which has just
launched a fresh and improved version that seamlessly works with Apple's
OS X Lion operating system. I've been running Windows 7 testing Parallels Desktop 7 for Macs on two machines: an iMac desktop and a MacBook Air notebook, neither the latest Apple model.
On
an iPad, I've also been testing a newly upgraded companion version of
Parallels called Parallels Mobile, eventually $20 but now at an
introductory $5 price. It lets you remotely tap into Windows — or Lion —
on your Mac from an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch and even run Flash
videos (off your virtual Windows machine) that you can play back on
those iOS devices.
Alas,
I struggled a bit with the finger-gesture controls you use with
Parallels Mobile and sometimes detected an annoying lag before the
remote computer responded to my touch. Audio was delayed and hiccupped.
Parallels
Desktop 7, on the other hand, was generally a pleasure to use with the
Windows operating system, and various programs acted responsively and
obediently — no snarky comments from Mac loyalists, please. I was able
to run Internet Explorer, Quicken, Windows Media Player and other Windows software, mostly without a hitch.
The
operating systems share resources on the computer. For example, you
can share the iSight or FaceTime cameras on your Mac across OS X and
Windows.
Parallels is based on what techies
refer to as virtualization. Think: the ability to run Windows (or other
"guest" operating systems such as Linux, Google Chrome
or even a separate version of OS X) on virtual machines that largely
behave as if they're stand-alone computers. You can run multiple
operating systems simultaneously.
Indeed,
Parallels (and rival Fusion software from VMware) claim a huge advantage
over Apple's own Boot Camp program, which is part of OS X. Boot Camp
only lets you boot up to one operating system at a time, whereas
Parallels lets you run Windows at the same time as OS X. Using
Parallels, you can drag-and-drop files or copy-and-paste between Windows
and Mac programs.
But Boot Camp is free,
while Parallels Desktop 7 fetches about $80 at retail or $50 for
upgraders. A student edition brings the price down to $40.
In
all instances you need to install your own full version of Windows,
which starts at about $200. But you can purchase, download and install a
new version of Windows from within Parallels, a handy new U.S.-only
feature.
The new Lion-friendly Parallels
also lets you run Windows programs full screen or open them from
Launchpad, a view inside Lion that resembles the home screen on the
iPad. You can also see Windows programs by peeking at Lion's
bird's-eye Mission Control view.
It's worth
noting that you can also employ Parallels Desktop 7 with older versions
of OS X — Leopard and Snow Leopard — but you'll need a fairly robust
computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or higher. You'll also want
at least 4 gigabytes of memory to handle Windows 7.
You
have the option to run Parallels so that Windows programs mimic Mac
programs, down to the red, green and yellow buttons in the title bar.
Or you can make it so that your virtual Windows machine looks like any
other Windows PC. If you plug in a new USB flash drive, you can choose whether it should be handled on the Mac or Windows side
There were snags: When I first installed Parallels on my iMac, the Windows side couldn't read disks I placed in the DVD player until I'd tweaked certain settings. Performance was a little sluggish when I played Windows Solitaire on the Air.
But,
overall, I was impressed. And if you need to run Windows programs on a
Mac, you'll appreciate the existence of this latest Parallels universe.
The bottom line about Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac
$80, $50 for upgraders, $40 for students; www.parallels.com
•Pro:
Run Windows software on Macs in virtual machine that makes nice with OS
X Lion. Share webcam, files and other resources across OS X and
Windows. Makes it easy to purchase Windows.
•Con:
Minor snag recognizing DVD drive on one Mac. May not work well with
graphics-heavy Windows programs. Companion $5 mobile program is a little
hard to use.
Posted by YufGrafix
on 6:02 AM. Filed under