Parallels Desktop for Mac beta build hits Release Candidate 2

It's a sign of the times that only a few days after the consumer release of Windows Vista we're able to talk about a new version of Parallels Desktop that, amongst other new features, improves the experience of running Microsoft's OS on a Mac. This latest beta build (3150, up from the previously released 3036) adds some pretty essential features like full USB 2.0 support, full support for CD and DVD burning within virtual machines, support for conversion of VMware and Virtual PC virtual hard disks to Parallels, true drag and drop functionality, and a new look and feel that meshes more effectively with OS X. On top of these changes, Parallels has improved the Coherence mode (which allows you to run Windows within OS X without switching desktops) so that you can use the dock icon as a start menu, and the use of a Boot Camp partition as a virtual machine. That's a whole lot of improvements for a beta upgrade -- which will currently only accept U.S. serial numbers: live anywhere else and you have to slum it with the 30 day free trial -- although one demographic still won't be happy. Full support for DirectX still hasn't been implemented, so any gamers hoping to ditch that gaming PC (or merely an annoying reboot) will have to continue waiting for the release that does. For all the people out there who like to get things done with their computer, the 40MB download is free, so what are you waiting for?

[Thanks, Chuwy]

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Feb 4th 2007 8:16PM]

You spelt looser wrong.
(by the way before someone points it out, 'spelt' is indeed an actual word)

[chris @ Feb 4th 2007 4:15AM]

I'm really impressed with Parallels, i downloaded (and registered!) easier than rebooting and logging into my 2nd partition for windows...

worth the £40. ($80)

Chris

[tom @ Feb 4th 2007 4:40AM]

so i cant upgrade my paralles full copy? I really need USB 2, also when will it support my inbuilt web cam?

[tom @ Feb 4th 2007 4:46AM]

what I meant was I live in Melbourne, so only US customers can upgrade?

[mgd @ Feb 4th 2007 6:46PM]

"what I meant was I live in Melbourne, so only US customers can upgrade?"

I purchased my English verson online from their US site -- they are talking about licenses for localised versions of Parallels (UK, German, French, Spanish, etc.)

[Arthur @ Feb 4th 2007 6:06AM]

When is there going to be a new version of the Windows version of Parallels? It's been stuck at v2.2 since November last year. :-(

[michael @ Feb 4th 2007 7:06AM]

If mac users are so interested in using Windows, why don't they just get a PC?

[Pete @ Feb 4th 2007 7:56AM]

"If mac users are so interested in using Windows, why don't they just get a PC?"

Because we're sometimes forced to use the odd application, but don't want to be bogged down with the whole mess. I'm not completely anti-windows yet, but running a mac is a *lot* less hassle right now for most tasks.

[Gary @ Feb 4th 2007 8:12AM]

"If mac users are so interested in using Windows, why don't they just get a PC?"

Because they want it to run on their Mac.

Next time you run a piece of shareware, think, why dont you just buy it, why bother with a trial? next time you run some freeware, think, why should you use freeware, why dont you go and buy a costly alternative?

No, You wouldnt, would you. Why?
Because if you already have something that can do something already, your not going to go and buy an expensive alternative.

[Marc @ Feb 4th 2007 12:48PM]

I am considering buying a Mac and have been a PC user for over 20 years now. I noticed through this discussion that Mac has the ability to boot a Windows OS. Since the hardware inside a Mac and PC are becoming universal (Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors) and other major componets, is there a Mac OS that can be installed on a PC?

It would seem reasonable to me if one OS can be installed on another platform the same should be true of the other OS.

That would certainly let both Manufacturers slug it out with there product OS in an aequal arena either on their homeplaying field platform or the away teams platform.

I can see the bookies out there giving odds right now on the home and away games (mac osx vs win vista). Would the native platform the Windows PC for windows garner Vista an edge over OSX and vice-versa would the native platform the Apple Mac garner OSX an edge over Windows Vista.

Or would one completely rule over the other?

[Ellianth @ Feb 4th 2007 5:50PM]

And here i thought the mac was the overpriced alternative

[Brian @ Feb 4th 2007 8:31AM]

The only thing that seems to be missing in build 3150 is support for using the Boot Camp parition with Vista installed. 3150 still limits me to using my Boot Camp partition only with Windows XP SP 2.

This is a great feature that delivers an exponential increase in utility. Can't wait till that feature also support Vista.

[On Line @ Feb 4th 2007 10:38AM]

"If mac users are so interested in using Windows, why don't they just get a PC?"
I don't think it's stupid to have a machine that can run almost all the OS out there....
the mighty Mac OSX , Linux, Solaris and even Windows.
And you know what? those machines are not that very expensive the way most of closed minded PC users want to believe...

[kepstein @ Feb 4th 2007 10:58AM]

I used to be a Mac user, until my employer finally standardized on Windows 95 and NT. I missed my Mac, but duty called and precluded me from having one. Now, with Boot Camp and Parallels, I can have my Mac and eat it, too. I've been using build 3150 on a MacBook Black (Core2 Duo) for two days, and it's everything I had hoped it would be. If you're considering it, you should consider maxing out on RAM. So far, almost everything is working beautifully. USB 2.0 still isn't perfect - it sees my external DVD drive but not my external HD. Boot Camp, on the other hand, is perfect. For the record (and the money), the MacBook is also the best Windows XP machine I've ever used. Just one man's opinion.

[zoara @ Feb 5th 2007 10:02AM]

Apple makes its money selling hardware. OSX is the distinguishing feature that encourages people to buy Macs instead of PCs.

Allowing OSX to be installed on commodity PCs would mean that they would sell fewer Macs (as people almost always go for the cheapest possible price, and the cheapest PCs are cheaper than the cheapest Macs), so why would they do this?

You can install OSX on PCs, but not legitimately or legally.

[anonymous @ Feb 4th 2007 1:49PM]

Marc,

Well Windows is made to work with thousands and thousands of different pieces of hardware. The Mac OS is only meant to work with a few because everything Mac is standardized. Therefore putting Windows onto a Mac would be a lot easier then putting Mac OS onto a PC.

It may be possible though, but you could get many of the benefits of OS X that Windows doesn't have on Linux anyways...

[John @ Feb 4th 2007 10:48PM]

Haha. "Looser" means "more loose." You mean "loser," one who loses.
Though it doesn't seem that anyone here is really eager to correct you so relax.
And yes "spelt" is a word. But you enclosed it in single quote marks, which is grammatically wrong. Single quote marks are for quotations within quotations.

[RJM @ Feb 5th 2007 9:08AM]

Amazing how this Mac vs. PC war is still going strong for some...

Anyway - here's something interesting. I have both BootCamp and Parallels installed on my Mac (needed for demonstration purposes). So, I needed to install two instances of Windows with the same serial number. When I tried to register the second copy, of course, it wouldn't - citing the fact that that serial number had already been registered. I read the MS license which says "one license per computer". Well, I still only had one computer. So I called the Microsoft registration number, explained the situation, and they gave me the second registration. At least in my case,

1 Computer + 2 Instances of Windows = 1 Registration

[Shelterpaw @ Feb 5th 2007 1:44PM]

Anyone have a coupong for Parallels. I've heard they offer them from time to time? I'm using the beta and it's great for testing we apps. I have xp with IE 4 through 7 installed. I'd like to buy it, but I'm on a budget right now, so a coupon, even if it's $10 will help out.