A Parallels VM can have complete access to the MAC's file system - The MAC can have complete access to the Windows File system - If you have an Office 365 Home subscription, you can have MS Office installed on both OS X and Windows - Offce 2011 on MAC and Office 2013 on Windows. Parallels is one of two big developers offering consumer virtualization apps that allow Mac users to run Windows, Linux and other operating systems in a window inside OS X. By and large, this works incredibly well, offering near-native speeds for many simpler tasks, which is pretty incredible when you think about it. Parallels Access for Mac offers a transparent way of working with your computer remotely from your mobile device. The software comes with a trial period and after that requires a monthly or annual subscription. On the performance side, the app is quite robust and can accept connections from both iOS. Parallels Toolbox for Mac and Windows 30+ tools in a lightweight, powerful, all-in-one application for Mac ® and PC. Easy to use and economical—a whole suite of tools for a fraction of the cost of individual apps, packaged in one simple interface.
Pros
- Coherence turns Windows apps into Mac ones
- Brilliant performance
- Can run some games
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £65.00
- Full Windows 10 support
- Automatic OS installation wizard
- Automatic hibernation saves battery life
- Game support
- 500GB online storage
- Free Parallels Toolbox
- Yearly subscription
What is Parallels Desktop 12?
Parallels Desktop 12 is the annual upgrade to the virtual machine software that lets you run Windows apps directly on OS X as if they were native. It’s this seamless integration, called Coherence, which has won Parallels legions of fans.
Related: Alternative ways to run Windows on your Mac
While Parallels 11 was an essential upgrade for many, bringing Coherence support to Windows 10, Parallels 12 is much more of a modest update. It has some neat new power-management features, a new set of utilities with Parallels Tools, and faster graphics support for gaming. Parallels 12 also has macOS Sierra support, although version 11 also works in Apple’s new OS.
Parallels Desktop 12 – Virtual machine installation
As with previous versions of Parallels, the first job is to install an operating system into a virtual machine. https://hostingclever601.weebly.com/parallels-7-for-mac-download.html. That most likely means Windows, although Ubuntu, Chromium, Android, CentOS, Debian and Fedora are also supported, with Parallels able to download and automatically install these operating systems in the background.
Windows is the obvious use for Parallels, but it supports plenty of other operating systems, too
It’s Windows that you’re likely to want to run, and Parallels gives you two options for that: clone an existing computer or install a fresh version of Windows.
Windows is the obvious use for Parallels, but it supports plenty of other operating systems, too
It’s Windows that you’re likely to want to run, and Parallels gives you two options for that: clone an existing computer or install a fresh version of Windows.
The first option sounds attractive and is easy to do: you install an app on your PC, then let it synchronise your Windows 10 installation to Parallels over your home network. You can even choose to copy your user files from Windows to your Mac.
You can transfer your old Windows 10 PC directly to Parallels, but you may need to change settings to get all your apps working
But there are caveats. Foremost, is that Windows’ licensing prevents you from moving an OEM version of an OS to a new computer, even to a virtual machine. In other words, you can only transfer an old PC if you bought a retail version of Windows.
You can transfer your old Windows 10 PC directly to Parallels, but you may need to change settings to get all your apps working
But there are caveats. Foremost, is that Windows’ licensing prevents you from moving an OEM version of an OS to a new computer, even to a virtual machine. In other words, you can only transfer an old PC if you bought a retail version of Windows.
Related: Best laptops to buy
Secondly, Windows 10 doesn’t particularly like being moved, and Windows apps won’t necessarily run. https://high-powersouthern.weebly.com/blog/dmg-csgo-top-what-perfect. I got a warning when trying to run some apps, such as Edge, telling me that they ‘can’t be opened using the Built-in Administrator account’.
Secondly, Windows 10 doesn’t particularly like being moved, and Windows apps won’t necessarily run. https://high-powersouthern.weebly.com/blog/dmg-csgo-top-what-perfect. I got a warning when trying to run some apps, such as Edge, telling me that they ‘can’t be opened using the Built-in Administrator account’.
It’s an issue with new UAC settings, which you have to adjust to get your copy of Windows working properly. Virtualization How To has a guide on how to repair this for Windows 10 Home and Pro users.
UAC settings can stop Windows apps from opening
Installing Windows 10 from scratch automatically fixes all of the permissions you need. Parallels’ Windows installation is one of the best, automatically picking settings for you and installing in the background. In fact, you only need type in your licence key, and then you can leave Parallels to get on with its job.
UAC settings can stop Windows apps from opening
Installing Windows 10 from scratch automatically fixes all of the permissions you need. Parallels’ Windows installation is one of the best, automatically picking settings for you and installing in the background. In fact, you only need type in your licence key, and then you can leave Parallels to get on with its job.
New to this version of Parallels is that you can have a virtual machine start with your Mac, but drop into hibernation mode instantly. This saves battery and your processor for Mac tasks but lets you start Windows apps almost instantly.
Parallels Desktop 12 – Features and performance
The beauty of Parallels has always been its unparalleled (pardon the pun) integration of the two operating systems. Running under Coherence, Windows apps run and feel exactly like Mac ones. They even have their own Dock icons, and you can place different Windows apps on different virtual Desktops. The only real problem is that Windows’ notification icons get moved to the Mac Menu bar, which makes it rather cluttered.
Coherence turns your Windows apps into Mac ones
Parallels for mac sizes. Virtual machines can also be run in full-screen mode, giving you the full Windows experience on your Mac. Finally, there’s Modality, which puts your virtual machine into a translucent window so that you can keep an eye on it.
Coherence turns your Windows apps into Mac ones
Parallels for mac sizes. Virtual machines can also be run in full-screen mode, giving you the full Windows experience on your Mac. Finally, there’s Modality, which puts your virtual machine into a translucent window so that you can keep an eye on it.
The only issue I had was that Windows would occasionally start in a windowed mode, with the option for Coherence greyed out. The solution was to maximise the window, exit full-screen mode and then enable Cohesion. It’s also slightly annoying that you can’t switch from one more to another. Instead, you have to exit one mode, then enable another.
Performance is excellent, with Windows feeling responsive and snappy. I ran GeekBench 3 on both Mac and the Windows virtual machine and got similar scores: Mac OS scored 5,833 in the multi-core test, and the Windows virtual machine scored 5,057. Running the benchmark simultaneously on both operating systems, it was Windows that took the performance hit. This time around, Mac OS scored 5,003 and Windows scored 3,793.
To make sure that you’re not interrupted, you can set Parallels to allow Windows updates and reboots at specific times only. It’s a neat option and means that your virtual machines are always ready when you need them
Parallels Desktop 12 – Games
Parallels has revamped the graphics engine and has even worked with Blizzard to support first-person shooter Overwatch. The promise here is more games on your Mac, but it’s a claim that I’d treat with caution, as it depends on the spec of your machine. Running on a 2014 Core i5 13-inch MacBook Pro, Overwatch ran, although it averaged out at 22fps, hitting a peak of 28fps, at a resolution of 1,680×1,050 with Low graphics settings.
It was playable, to a degree, but I wouldn’t fancy my chances like this. Zend studio 12.5 license key generator. Running Boot Camp and Windows 10 natively, Overwatch at the same settings ran smoothly, and I saw framerates of at least 50fps, hitting a high of 62fps. Parallels will be useful for older games that aren’t graphically intensive, but Boot Camp’s still the better option for most games.
You can play games on Parallels, but the spec of your Mac will affect performance
You can play games on Parallels, but the spec of your Mac will affect performance
Parallels Desktop 12 – Toolbox
Parallels Toolbox is usually £7.99, but ships for free with Desktop 12. It gives you a bunch of handy tools, including a screen recorder, screenshot tool and an online video downloader. If you don’t want these features, you can just remove Toolbox.
Toolbox collects together some handy tools, but it’s not essential
Toolbox collects together some handy tools, but it’s not essential
Parallels Desktop 12 – Versions
Parallels Desktop 12 ships in three different versions. There’s the standard edition for home users (£65 new or £35 upgrade). Above that, you can’t buy the software outright, and pricing moves to yearly plans, although these include upgrades to new versions.
The Pro edition (£80 a year) bundles Parallels Access, a remote desktop application, and adds finer control over network usage. At the top is the Business edition (£80 a year per computer), which is for multiple installations and gets you telephone support, too. All editions come with 500GB of free Acronis True Image online backup.
The basic version gets set network profiles to control bandwidth, but the Pro version lets you set more detailed profiles
The basic version gets set network profiles to control bandwidth, but the Pro version lets you set more detailed profiles
Should I buy Parallels Desktop 12?
If you’ve got Parallels Desktop 11, the few new features available with version 12 probably aren’t enough to make the upgrade worthwhile. For new users that want to run Windows on Mac, the choice is a little trickier.
Oracle’s VirtualBox is completely free, although its version of Coherence doesn’t work with Windows 10, the set-up is much harder and performance is worse with no games support. Still, if it’s just for a little bit of testing or to run the occasional app, then it’s worth the hassle.
If you want to run Windows applications like they were native Mac applications, Parallels remains the king. Its effortless integration of both operating systems makes it a real winner, and it’s super easy to use.
Its smooth integration with multiple operating systems makes Parallels a winner for anyone who needs specific apps
Its smooth integration with multiple operating systems makes Parallels a winner for anyone who needs specific apps
Verdict
There’s not that much here for upgraders, but for newbies Parallels remains the slickest way to run Windows and Mac OS at the same time.
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$79.99
- ProsFast performance in testing. Tight integration with guest OSes. Effortless installation. Flexible file and folder tools. Options for opening Mac files in Windows apps. Can install macOS virtual machines directly from the Mac recovery partition.
- ConsSome Mac-integration features can be confusing or impractical until you turn them off. Only runs on a Mac, so you can't share guest machines with Windows or Linux users.
- Bottom LineParallels Desktop is an excellent way to run Windows apps on MacOS, especially for ordinary users. It's fast in testing, offers tight integration between Macs and guest systems, and supports many other OSes, too.
Parallels Desktop is the fastest and friendliest way to run Windows apps on a Mac for the majority of users who are likely to want to do so. IT pros may prefer VMware Fusion; expert users who want no-cost apps will prefer the open-source VirtualBox. Hardcore gamers may prefer Apple's Boot Camp, which lets users boot directly into Windows, with the added bonus of native graphics card support. For most ordinary Mac users who prefer Windows versions of apps like Microsoft Office or AutoCAD, however, or who use Windows-only apps like CorelDraw or WordPerfect Office, Parallels Desktop is the clear first choice for virtualization software.
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Parallels Access For Mac Review 2017
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/3/3/2/133280321/143866868.jpg)
Platforms and Pricing
Parallels Desktop supports all Windows versions since Windows 2000, all Intel-based macOS versions (with some exceptions for licensing reasons), many flavors of Linux, BSD, Solaris, and a few other OSes. VMware Fusion and VirtualBox are even more flexible, and can run historical curiosities like OS/2 and NeXTSTEP. Also, unlike Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion and VirtualBox have versions that run on Windows and Linux machines, while Parallels Desktop is Mac-only.
There's one other important difference: Parallels Desktop is a subscription-only product, so you'll have to pay $79.99 per year for the home-and-student version or $99.99 for the Pro Edition. VMware Fusion has a one-time cost (a model some consumers may prefer) of $79.99 for its standard version and $159.99 for its Pro version. VirtualBox is free for personal use and $50 for corporate use, but you get far fewer convenience features out of the box with this open-source product.
Get Started With Parallels
Parallels starts up with a menu for creating a new virtual machine or opening an existing one. This is where Parallels' focus on ordinary end users shines best. Unlike all other virtualization apps, Parallels doesn't expect you to have a Windows or Linux installer disk or disk image ready when you start it up, although it can use that image if you have one. Instead, Parallel's user-helpful menu lets you buy a Windows 10 download directly from Microsoft, or simply download a Windows 10 installer if you already have a license key.
Another set of options lets you install a Parallels system-export utility on your Windows PC, and export it to Parallels via a network (slowly) or an external drive. A scrolling list at the foot of the menu lets you download specific versions of Linux or Android, install a virtual copy of macOS from your Mac's hidden recovery partition, or install Windows from a Boot Camp partition if you have one.
Like VMware and VirtualBox, Parallels supports a Snapshot feature that lets you save a guest system in one or more configurations that you know works well, and then restore a saved configuration after making changes in the system that you don't want to preserve. However, Parallels is unique in supplementing this feature with a Rollback option that automatically discards all changes to a system when you shut it down, so it works like a kiosk system, returning to its pristine condition every time you power it up. This feature can be invaluable in testing, or in environments like schools where users are liable to leave systems a lot messier than they found them. If you used Microsoft's long-abandoned VirtualPC app, you'll remember this feature, and will welcome its return in Parallels.
Parallel's Performance
Compared to VMware, Parallels starts up Windows at top speed in testing. On my vintage 2015 MacBook Pro, Parallels boots Windows 10 to the desktop in 35 seconds, compared to 60 seconds for VMware. VirtualBox matches Parallels' boot speed, but it performs far fewer integration tasks while booting up. For example, VirtualBox doesn't provide printer integration and the ability to open Windows files with Mac apps and vice versa.
One reason for Parallels' bootup speed advantage is that Parallels uses an emulated PC BIOS that supports the Fast Startup option, and the others don't. The speed difference isn't nearly as obvious when running Windows apps after the OS starts up, however. Parallels feels slightly faster than its rivals, but not drastically so. Fast as it is, Parallels won't satisfy hard-core gamers because Parallels, like VMware Fusion, only supports DirectX 10, while VirtualBox only supports DirectX 9. There's nothing that Parallels can do about this limitation, which is the result of the Mac's limited support for OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) features.
By default when Parallels runs a Windows system, any files on your Mac desktop will also appear on your Windows desktop. This may sound convenient, but it's a feature that I always to turn off in Parallels' settings dialog. Bootcamp vs parallels windows 10. One reason I turn it off is that it leaves the Windows desktop cluttered. Samsung galaxy s4 gt i9500 user manual pdf. Another is that much of what I keep on my Mac desktop—like folders and apps—simply won't work when I click on them in Parallels' Windows desktop. Parallels tends to go overboard with integration features, turning them on by default whether you want them or not.
Another way Parallels goes overboard with its integration is its tendency to clutter up its dialogs and your Mac system with icons and folders that you probably don't want. For example, by default, it adds a folder full of Windows application to your Mac's dock, and a Parallels menu to Mac's menu bar—though you can turn these off by poking around the options and preferences windows. Some of Parallels' menus include links to a set of Mac-related utilities called the Parallels Toolbox; some of these utilities, like a quick disk-cleaning menu, are convenient, but you probably don't want all of them, and they have nothing to do with virtualization. Another link on Parallels' menus invites you to buy Acronis True Image backup software, which you probably don't need if you use your Mac's built-in backup features.
Parallel Computing
Anyone who wants to run a Windows app on the Mac should choose between our two Editors' Choice apps, Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion. For IT managers, developers, and for many tech-savvy users, VMware is the best choice. For most home, school, and SOHO users who don't need VMware's unique cross-platform support and legacy features, Parallels Desktop is the fastest, most hassle-free way to run Windows apps on a Mac.
Parallels Desktop (for Mac)
Bottom Line: Parallels Desktop is an excellent way to run Windows apps on MacOS, especially for ordinary users. It's fast in testing, offers tight integration between Macs and guest systems, and supports many other OSes, too.
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