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EDITOR NOTES
Note: Version 5.0 users can update automatically via the "Check for Updates" option in the Help menu of Parallels. Parallels 5.0 is a paid upgrade. Existing customers can upgrade for $49.99.
DESCRIPTION
Parallels Desktop gives Mac users the ability to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their critical applications at the same time as Mac OS X on any Intel-powered iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook or MacBook Pro.
According to performance research conducted by Crimson Consulting Group, Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac performs 22% faster than the nearest Windows-on-Mac competitor in standard productivity testing of Windows 7 64-bit on a MacBook Pro. In addition, version 5 is up to 300% faster for virtual machine operations than the previous version. For 3D and graphics performance, tested under the industry standard 3Dmark 2006 Professional test suite the new version performs up to 7 times better.
WHAT'S NEW
Version 5.0.9308:
Virtualization
- Improved USB mass storage performance.
- SMP Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 virtual machines migrated from Parallels Desktop 4 may crash on startup - fixed.
- Black screen on startup in Windows 2000 virtual machines that support the Intel EPT technology - fixed.
Windows guest operating systems
- Improved resume from suspend in virtual machines with multiple monitors assigned.
- Accidental keyboard problems when switching between applications if several virtual machines are running in Coherence or Crystal - fixed.
- Switching to the default space when clicking Windows Start Menu in the Crystal mode - fixed.
- Improved performance of file access via Shared Folders.
- Problems with switching to Coherence or Crystal in a multi-monitor configuration with a USB-to-DVI/VGA adapter driver installed in the virtual machine - fixed.
- Problems with switching to Coherence or Crystal when Parallels Desktop is on the display attached to a different graphic card - fixed.
- Time zone synchronization in the Windows 7 guest OS - fixed.
- The Visual Studio debugger hitting breakpoint on applications launched in the debug mode when running in Coherence or Crystal view modes - fixed.
- Overlapping of menus appearing on right-click and left-click in Crystal mode - fixed.
Linux guest operating systems
- Parallels Tools support Xorg 1.7 in Fedora 12 virtual machines (experimental)
- new!
- Parallels Tools support Mandriva 2010 (experimental)
- new!
- OpenSUSE 11.1 installation media auto detection
- new!
- A non-writable Desktop folder created during the Express installation in some distributions - fixed.
- Problems with the Ubuntu 8.04 x64 guest OS booting after the Express installation - fixed.
- Blinking when working in the Topogun 1.05 application - fixed.
- Problems with non-operational right mouse click on some versions of Gnome - fixed.
- Possible hangs during Parallels Tools re-installation - fixed.
Mac OS X Server guest operating system
- The ability to pass kernel options to the Mac OS X Server guest OS
- added. To do so, enable the "Select boot device on startup" option in the virtual machine configuration: it will enable you to specify the necessary kernel options in the 5-seconds timeout before booting the kernel.
User Interface
- Very slow Parallels Desktop 5 startup on some computers - fixed.
- Artifacts in Quartz animation after applying changes to Undo Disks and some other actions - fixed.
- Visual artifacts when switching to Full Screen in some machines - fixed.
- Possible application crashes when switching to the Crystal mode with VoiceOver turned on - fixed.
- Problem with quitting Parallels Desktop via Dock icon > Quit when Virtual Machines List is not closed - fixed.
- Problem with some dialogs staying in background when accessed in the Crystal view mode - fixed.
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger host operating system
- Parallels Desktop may crash on startup in Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger host OS - fixed.
- Possible problems with connecting USB devices in Mac OSX 10.4 Tiger host OS - fixed.
3D & Video
- Improved video playback performance in Windows Vista and Windows 7.
- Windows Aero is now available by default for machines with Intel GMAX3100 and GMA950 graphic adapters (some MacBook and Mac mini models)
- Vertical synchronization is now configurable. You can configure these settings using the corresponding option in the virtual machine video configuration page.
- Black screen blinking in Windows Aero in SMP systems - fixed.
- Visual problems with the Battlestation Pacific game running on NVidia adapters - fixed.
- Improved 3D performance for the Mirror's Edge game.
- Possible texture corruption in Autodesk AutoCAD - fixed.
- Possible guest crash in Autodesk Inventor running on Windows XP - fixed.
- Possible crashes of the Torchlight game - fixed.
- Visual artifacts in Quicktime 7 on ATI video adapters running in the WDDM mode - fixed.
- Possible crashes in the Microsoft Train Simulator game - fixed.
- The Mass Effect game crashes on startup - fixed.
- Visual artifacts on "water" in the Spore game - fixed.
- Accidental crashes in the Portal game on the GMA950 graphics adapter - fixed.
- Accidental crashes in the Unreal Tournament 3 game -fixed.
- Problems with OpenGL applications startup in Full Screen in multi-monitor configurations - fixed.
- The Final Fantasy XI game compatibility issues - fixed.
- Problems with the Counter Strike 1.6 game in DirectX rendering mode - fixed.
- Corrupted images in Anatomage InVivo - fixed.
- Video quality problems in some video players on Windows 7 - fixed.
Parallels Transporter
- Improved performance of virtual machines migrated from VMware Fusion to Parallels Desktop.
- Disabled Aero in the Windows 7 virtual machines converted from VMware Fusion 3 to Parallels Desktop - fixed.
- Migration via the Parallels USB cable when the source computer's USB port is a USB 1.1 port - fixed.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later.
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| Parallels Desktop User Reviews (369 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Dec 22 2009 |
KENTR Parallels is consistently updated and supported. Thanks!
(Version 5.0.9308) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
 | Dec 21 2009 |
LEONLEDRAGON I have the license for version 4 and i have try to update... but it doesnt work ! Two errors with Windows XP and i need to reintialize via Microsoft. Stangely i have also update to version 3 of VW Fusion and it works without problems...and without contacting again Microsoft...
(Version 5.0.9308) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Dec 19 2009 |
MIDOUGH All I can say to all of the people who gave this software a high rating is - wait till you need to make a support call. Or rather, since that is not a real option since the phone option always says "unavailable", an online chat. Oh wait, that is never really available even though they offer 24/7 chat. That leaves the email option which won't let you hit the send button until you enter some magic number that after a half hour of digging you find they sent you in an email. Of course none of this happens until you spend an hour trying to figure out how to get to any of the above ways to contact their "support". The email eventually resulted in an answer almost 48 hours after I sent it. Good thing I didn't have something serious in the balance. I don't care what good there is to say about the software itself, if you can't get reasonable help when you need it, it is next to worthless. I'm only glad I got it "free" after rebates. I would hate to think I actually paid for it. By the way, the reason I needed support was because my Windows 7 was running at a slower than snails pace, eventually freezing up not only the virtual machine, but my entire computer, requiring a restart. When the whole Mac OS freezes up, you know you have a pretty serious issue. The solution they gave me didn't work immediately. However, a couple of days later the problem suddenly quit and hasn't recurred. If you're using these reviews to make a decision on a purchase, Consider yourself warned.
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Dec 22 2009 |
ORION MK. V Parallels support got back to me in 36 hours from my initial email and resolved my problem -- one which originally had me locked out of my WinXP VM. Not exactly speedy, but accurate nonetheless.
(Version 5.0.9308) | |
| Dec 15 2009 |
STICKMAN67 I've found Parallels Desktop 5 a very useful application indeed. I've been using it to run Windows 7 (64-bit) on a MacBook Pro running OS X 10.6.2, having upgraded from Desktop 4. The only major hassle I've had so far has been losing touch with my shared folders (documents etc.) on the Mac's hard drive. That was cured by uninstalling the Parallels Tools software (using the Control Panel in Windows) and reinstalling it. The software runs more than adequately fast on my Mac, and offers me access to software that I'd otherwise have to either run using BootCamp (and I don't want to restart every time I want to run Windows) or on another machine. I tried CrossOver, which I found excellent when it ran the software I wanted to use, but unfortunately it doesn't run nearly enough apps for me. I paid the upgrade fee for PD5 quite happily. For me, the additional productivity of my Mac makes it a small price to pay. I sympathise with those who think it's a bit steep, but for me it's a worthwhile investment.
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Dec 5 2009 |
IGREG Interesting and detailed review of v.5. http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2009/11/parallels-desktop-5-review.ars It is not very enthusiastic. Both the high cost and this review reinforces my decision to stay with v.4.
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Dec 4 2009 |
LEZLIE While Parallels may be the slickest, finest software ever written, most customers will never know it. Parallels has invested heavily in developing their software, but has invested virtually nothing in Customer Service. I have never seen a product with less regard for customers. I purchased Parallels with a new iMac. It has been nothing short of a time consuming nightmare to contact customer service. Parallels requires a registration prior to requesting customer service that allows it to track your status as a customer (i.e., did you pay for service, are you in the 30 day free customer service period, etc.). While touting Chat Support 24/7, you cannot reach them. I have tried all hours of the day and learned that it is never available. You will be led to sit at your computer and wait, eventually to receive a message saying it is now "offline". You are prompted to send an email, but you won't be able to because that requires your "number" and the form has no place to record the number. Phone service is no better. You will never speak to someone. When I emailed Customer Service (sans the number) to complain, I received a response saying to expect them to respond in two days. I've never heard from them. It's unfortunate that Parallels has chosen to totally ignore the Customer Service component. I doubt they are around long enough to get their Customer Service act together.
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Nov 24 2009 |
DLGOETZ Love V4.0 have two licenses. Would like to upgrade to to V5.0 but upgrade price is too steep. Please reduce the upgrade price. As a previous comment stated, $29 is more like it. Anything over that is just not worth it for software that is already doing the job well.
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Nov 24 2009 |
CELLPLUS I failed again in installing. I eventually move to Bootcamp and Parallels 4.0.
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
| [ Reply ] | |
| Nov 23 2009 |
AWADO I quit using Parallels Desktop 4 and won't upgrade to 5. A company as bis as Parallels should offer customer service that can give solutions within a few clicks. I do NOT like to deep search any forums or google around for hours when I paid for that. VirtualBox is free and good enough for me. Downloading their updates does not require any login.
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
| [ 2 Replies - Reply ] | |
Replies:
 | Nov 24 2009 |
MISHA As has been mentioned here before, if you want to easily download Parallels updates just do so within the app via the "Check for Updates" feature.
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
| Nov 24 2009 |
AWADO Thank you for that hint. I already tried this with no success. It downloaded an empty DMG from their servers and aborted with an error message. Reinstalling didn't change anything. i wouldn't be so frustrated if I hadn't similar experiences with their server products leading to endless searches in their forums to eventually find a solution that do not survive the next update process. I just want it to work and not to create challenges. I bought Myst and Riven years ago.
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
| Nov 21 2009 |
CELLPLUS It took only 30 min to decide to go back to 4.0. What is the improvement? Windows was slowed down greatly with 5.0 version.
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
| Nov 23 2009 |
KENTR You must be kidding. Version 5 is blazing!
(Version 5.0.9220.531002) | |
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