If you’re a Mac user who needs to occasionally access Windows or Linux, chances are good that you’ve turned to Parallels Desktop, the leading virtualization software on Apple’s platform. If you’ve also already upgraded to OS X Lion, you’re in for a treat, because Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac has finally arrived with full support for the big cat.
Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac is here, one of the beefiest updates ever to the popular virtualization solution. In addition to enabling users to run Windows or Linux on a Mac, the latest version also allows for additional instances of OS X Lion to be run on Apple’s latest operating system -- no doubt to squeals of glee from developers looking to test their virtual wares in a sandboxed environment.
However, running OS X Lion as a guest operating system barely scratches the surface of this major new update. We were fortunate to get an early peek at all the goodness in store for users with Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac, so read on for a first look at what to expect.
If you’re already running OS X Lion, get ready to roar with excitement because Parallels Desktop 7 comes with full support for the king of the jungle. That includes full screen support, using Launchpad for Windows apps, Mission Control support, multitouch gestures, Lion animations and yes, the aforementioned ability to run another instance of OS X Lion as a guest OS -- something that Apple has finally blessed with their latest and greatest.
In fact, installing OS X Lion as a guest OS is insanely easy using the new Parallels Wizard (more on that in a moment) -- simply click the “Install OS X Lion Using the Recovery Partition” button and literally within moments, you’ll see a new virtual machine open with the familiar Apple logo. Select “Reinstall Mac OS X” and click Continue from inside the VM to launch the Mac OS X Lion installer and you’ll be ready to roar in no time at all.
Also new in Parallels Desktop 7 are features to make using Windows more seamless than ever. You can make Windows itself vanish while still having access to its applications, or choose to keep the familiar Windows background and Start menu available on your Mac. As always, Parallels offers Boot Camp users the best of both worlds -- the ability to run Windows without having to reboot, as well as the option to run it side-by-side with other VMs.
One of the long-standing downsides of virtual machines has been that users were required to bring their own operating system, often creating confusion when dealing with the likes of Microsoft Windows and its labyrinthine terms of use. Is my version okay for virtualization? Can I use my upgrade version? It was all a mystery.
Parallels Wizard to the rescue! When you choose to create a new virtual machine, you’re now presented with clear, easy-to-understand options that allow even novice users to get up and running without all the worry. In addition to the traditional method of installing Windows using a DVD or image file, you can migrate an existing Windows PC install into a new VM or even purchase a copy of Windows 7 right from Parallels Wizard. (If you need older versions of Windows, you’ll still need to BYOOS -- Bring Your Own Operating System.)
Purchase prices range from $199.99 for Windows 7 Home Premium to $319.99 for Windows 7 Ultimate -- those are the standard retail prices, so there aren't any bargains to be found here. (By comparison, Amazon.com sells a boxed version of Home Premium for nearly $30 less.) All purchases are made right from the Parallels Online Store and can be downloaded and installed immediately rather than waiting for a boxed copy to arrive at your door.
But Parallels Desktop 7 doesn’t stop there. If your predilections tend to run away from Windows and more toward Google Chrome or Linux, the Wizard offers one-click download and installs for Chrome, Fedora or Ubuntu as well. No more hunting around for the latest version or dealing with often cryptic installation instructions!
Last but not least, the Wizard also includes a web link to the company’s Convenience Store, billed as “the place to find special deals on the products you use everyday” -- in this case, PC (and even Mac) applications that work great with Parallels Desktop 7. Prices are still higher than other online sellers, but you get the instant gratification of electronic downloading for those late-night projects that simply can’t wait.
There’s plenty more to love about Parallels Desktop 7, which makes virtual printing easier than ever before -- all of your Mac OS printers are instantly accessible within Windows without having to install drivers on that side of the fence, a feature that’s almost worth the price of admission alone. Video chat applications such as Windows Live Messenger can finally tap into your iSight or FaceTime HD camera, too.
Mobile users also have a lot to gain from Parallels Desktop 7. The company is touting improved battery life for notebooks, and Mac OS parental controls also apply to Windows applications for the first time as well. Also, Windows virtual machines can now be encrypted using Intel’s AES-NI, and the Parallels Desktop Enterprise Edition features a new deployment and management method for any size organization.
Speed and stability haven’t been lost with all of these new features, either -- virtual machines (including Windows) now boot faster, and pause/resume times have also improved dramatically -- one of the first things veteran users are likely to notice about the new version. Windows users can now access up to 1GB of video memory, which means even the most intense graphics programs will perform well in your VM, which includes enhanced 3D graphics.
Finally, Windows virtual machines get a nice audio boost that gamers will love, with 7.1 surround sound support for Windows XP, Vista and 7 through USB or FireWire hardware, all the way up to 192KHz.
Almost as big as Parallel Desktop 7 for Mac is the huge upgrade to the existing Parallels Mobile universal iOS app. The formerly free app now allows for VNC control of your Mac as well as all of your virtual machines, complete with audio support. It’s easy to copy and paste between your mobile device and virtual machine, and support for external displays and keyboards has also been improved -- particularly for users with multiple displays.
Parallels Mobile continues to work with the previous Parallels Desktop 6, although most of the new features are reserved for version 7, including access to Mac applications, sound and copy & paste from Windows. If you downloaded the previously free version of Parallels Mobile prior to September 1, you can update through iTunes to get the new version at no cost. For everyone else, the app is $4.99 for a limited time, eventually going up to $19.99 -- so grab it while you can.
We’ve got a full review of Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac coming soon, but in our brief time with the new version, it’s quite clear this is hands down the best version yet. Existing users can upgrade immediately for only $49.99, and the software is available for new users at just $79.99. A free trial download is also available at the Parallels website.
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jescott418
September 13, 2011 at 11:34am
From what I gather you can run a server edition of Snow Leopard on Parallels now but not a desktop. I would not be surprised about some hack to make it work. But I do not know of one myself. I thought the same thing as sometimes I have had issues with Lion.
KDog
September 09, 2011 at 7:48am
Currently Parallels is having problems with the 7 installation. There are a number of people, including me that have it installed on their machines and it is significantly increasing (2-3 times) the boot up times on the computers (not the VM, but booting up your mac) and double booting issues. Parallels doesn't have a solution to this yet, everything they have sent me doesn't work. If I were looking at upgrading from 6 to 7, I would save your money until they get these issues worked out. Currently Parallels latest solution to me is to go back to using 6 until they issue an update, or use a solution that a user has posted on the forum. Just my .02.
frd750
September 08, 2011 at 4:37pm
If installed under Lion can Snow Leopard be run in Parallels? Or vice versa ?
Geoduck
September 08, 2011 at 5:14am
I use VirtualBox. It does everything I need. It's easy to set up. Best of all it's free. Has anyone compared VirtualBox and Parellels? Is Parellels really worth $80 more than VirtualBox?
dakoster
September 07, 2011 at 10:20pm
I can't even instal Windows Vista. It sits at the Installtion screen. Then when I quit and restart it....it says Windows Error Recovery. and then it starts windows normally. and then sits on the windows loading screen. I would buy windows 7 if i was actually going to use it.
jescott418
September 07, 2011 at 11:58am
I don't really want to give Parallels 7 and total thumbs down. It does run better then Parallels 6 on Lion and it is faster although hardware has to be there to help it do that. I have only 2GB of RAM on my 2010 Macbook Air and it shows in Parallels 7. I upgraded thinking Parallels might have tweaked it enough to help the memory issues. But alas I was dreaming that VM ware can solve a problem when you need more then a virtual solution. I needed more RAM!
I mostly just use Parallels to run Windows 7 for Internet Explorer. I really should have opted long ago to just run BootCamp and save myself the frequent upgrade costs of Parallels hoping for a fix for my slow Mac's (My other Mac was a Mac Mini). In the end Parallels does about as good as any Virtual Ware can do. In the end your experience depends mostly on your hardware and not Parallels.
