![]() ![]() That was until I had to do some work the last couple of days which involved editing some data that I could only do with the help of programs on both platforms. My first impression of coherence mode was that it was a gimmick. However for my Windows needs Parallels works perfectly for me and I am a very satisfied customer. As a VM solution it has mostly targetted Windows, and I personally would have liked to see more support for Linux or other OSes (BeOS for example) so losing 2 for that seems about right. This was on a 2.8GHz MacBook Pro with 4GB of RAM.It would have been better if it had have mentioned bootcamp, but I think even with that their “score” of 8 seems about right. ![]() Parallels Desktop is also faster when switching to full-screen mode and when launching Windows applications, particularly when in a mode that hides the Windows desktop. VMware Fusion took 33 percent longer to start Windows and four times longer to restore a saved state from a suspended state. The differences are most noticeable when running Windows 7 Aero. Parallels Desktop 5 goes one step further and supports OpenGL 2.1 in Linux guest operating systems, enabling the Compiz interface to run in a virtual machine.ĭespite similar graphics specs in Windows, Parallels is a little faster and can be more responsive. These graphic hardware acceleration technologies enable support for Aero in Windows 7 and Vista, as well as 3-D gaming. Parallels Desktop 5 and VMware Fusion 3 both have new support for DirectX 9.0c Shader Model 3, OpenGL 2.1, and the Windows WDDM driver. Parallels can have trouble installing or importing Apple's server in a virtual machine, and VirtualBox just doesn't support it. If you want to run Mac OS X Server in a virtual machine, however, VMware Fusion 3 is the clear choice, providing the most trouble-free and solid experience. Both are far more advanced than VirtualBox's Seamless mode. Both do a good job of hiding the Windows desktop and integrating Windows applications in the Dock, Expose, and Spaces. On interface and Mac OS X integration issues, the merits of Parallels and VMware are more subjective. Not that VMware Fusion 3 is slow, but it can stumble with graphics-heavy tasks and uses more of the Mac's processor, leaving less CPU bandwidth for Mac applications. Parallels Desktop 5 provides the best overall performance. Furthermore, these new versions add support for Windows 7 Aero features, such as Aero Peek and Aero Glass. Parallels Desktop 5 and VMware Fusion 3 also automate the installation of guest operating systems and support multiple monitors. VirtualBox has a few unique features and is free, but doesn't support many Mac OS X features. VMware Fusion 3 is a close second, with Sun's VirtualBox 3.1 running a distant third. Overall, Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is the top virtualizer for Mac OS X. They're faster with better 3-D graphics, are better integrated with Mac OS X, and in two cases, are optimized for running all the features of Windows 7. The latest versions of the Mac virtualization products from Parallels, VMware, and Sun offer significant improvements over previous versions, and all are worth the upgrade. There's also Mac OS X's native Boot Camp, but it only supports Windows and doesn't give you access to Mac OS X without rebooting. Why choose between Windows 7 and Snow Leopard when you can have both? A Mac with virtualization software is a great platform for running Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, or other Intel-based operating systems, all at the same time.
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