This will actually be useful for professionals someday once it grows up and works with symbolic links.

As a long time user of both Parallels and VM Fusion (from version 1.0 days), I think I'm very objective about both. My experience with the latest of each (Parallels 7 and Fusion 4.1) is that Parallels offers the best experience for Windows VMs, and Fusion offers the best experience for Mac VMs. Fusion was already better/faster at running Mac Guest OS VMs, but now that it supports installing the client version of Leopard, Snow Leopard and Lion, it's even more convenient.

For those who haven't heard, Fusion 4.1 allows you to install client versions of Leopard and Snow Leopard (server version is still supported, but NOT required). And the speed is almost equal to native. Great for sandbox testing.

While I like Parallels better than Fusion, I have to say, I don't like their upgrade policy.

I purchased Parallels Desktop 5 to run the one Windows-app I need to work, Windows XP, no need for fast graphics or anything else. After Parallels Desktop 6 came out, I got a "please upgrade"-message with every start up, which was terribly annoying. I checked the "please don't show that"-box and even contacted the horrible Parallels support, but there was no solution, it kept popping up.

Then I upgraded to Lion, and Parallels said it wouldn't work without updating to version 6. I read on the website of Parallels that it is impossible to run version 5 on Lion.

Funny.

With a little script, Parallels 5 runs under Lion, with no problems.

Very funny.

So, I cannot recommend Parallels, unless you are willing to pay sort of a "tax" to let your (purchased) software run.

MacTech just published benchmarks of Fusion 4 vs. Parallels 7. (Parallels 7 outperforms Fusion 4 in most cases, sometimes by significant amounts.)

http://www.mactech.com/2011/11/01/mactech-labs-virtualization-benchmarks-fall-2011

By far the best VM for OSX. No doubt about that. Price is a bit high but acceptable.
VMWare Fusion is a bit cheaper and not that bad.

I would suggest to try both before buying.

I just updated Parallels to this latest version, and now it won't let me run my boot camp virtual machine, saying that I have kernel elements from an older version installed. It leads me to a "Problem ID 41" error message and directs me to their website where I can find no information. I have not had this problem before until this latest update. I am running Windows 7 on an i7 MacBook Pro with 8GB of ram.

At the risk of sounding like an idiot...I have a simple comment(s), then a question: I bought Parallels for my son to use on his new MacBook. Being a Mac guy from day 1, I know nothing about Windows -- so when I read in the description "everything you need to run Windows on your Mac," I jumped at making this purchase, since my son has Dreamweaver and Illustrator for Windows. Now...it seems I have to purchase Windows for the Mac...? If that's the case, I would call this "false advertising." How can it be "everything I need" -- if I have to purchase Windows also? Why would the developer of the software assume that someone with a Mac has Windows. I hope I am "all wet"...and there is a simpler solution.

Update NEVER works. And we are on version 5.

I recently bought the MacUpdate bundle and Parallels 5.0 was the driver behind the purchase decision. I installed Parallels, inserted the activation key, and now its telling me my trial period is over!!! URGH!!

Did I not read the fine print when purchasing??? I could of got a free test drive of the product without spending $49.

Anyone have any feedback for me????

Many thanks,
Jack

Have Blue Screen of the Death on MacPro BootCamp XPPro (I was try with one CPU),
Snow Leopard Drivers do not works, after uninstall, parallels Works…
Please resole:

driver_irql_not_less_or_equal

ftdisk.sys
AppleMNT.sys

this update is expansive for the problems when update !!!