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20 October 2007
Posted in
Utilities
Parallel's virtual machine software, simply put, allows you to run another operating system inside a window on your Apple computer. For the case of this review I decided to attempt an install of Parallels, running Microsoft XP Pro, on my 3 month old iMac. Having determined I met the hardware requirements to run Parallels, I downloaded the 88 Mb file from the Parallels website, and mounted the image.
Installing the Parallels software on my iMac was a breeze. I won't cover the steps in this review, as these steps are clearly outlined in the "how-to" documentation included in the downloaded image.
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Installation & Documentation
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$79.99 USD |
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I was, however, surprised to note that the installation required 119Mb of space to complete the build. This may be an issue for those users with more data on their drives, but fortunately I had ample space.
The Parallels install was over very quickly and simply; I must admit it took much longer to find my unused Windows XP disks. Parallels installed, I started on the next part of the installation - loading the XP Operating system.
Unfortunately this is where the whole process initially seemed to come unstuck. A few minutes into the load I experienced something I thought I'd never see on my iMac - the Microsoft blue screen of death. Parallels quickly threw me out of the installation process and stopped the Virtual Machine Interface; so quickly in fact, I didn't have time to note the error message. Undeterred, I restarted the Virtual Machine by pressing the "start button" on the interface, and again watched my PC "boot" inside my iMac window. After a number of minutes, the Windows installation crashed out once again.
To be completely fair to Parallels, this isn't entirely uncommon. Even when loading a Windows XP load on an IBM PC these sorts of problems can occur.
After a few restarts using the Parallels virtual machine interface, I had a working copy of XP working on my desktop.
All in all, the whole Windows XP load, including the Parallels install, took less than 60 minutes to complete. However, another two hours had passed before I had loaded XP System Pack 2 and the 83 critical updates from the Microsoft Update Server. The final step in the XP load procedure was the installation of a virus scanner.
Running the risk of a potential virus corrupting a Windows XP load is a real concern. Remember, this is a true Windows XP load, vulnerable to every nasty virus out there: you simply have to be protected.
Potentially, now even your Apple could be at risk from a virus attack because of this XP load. Although unlikely, it is conceivable that a hacker could develop a virus to detect that XP was being run on a Virtual machine Interface (VMI) like Parallels. If you allow your XP load "rights" to interface with your OS X folders then it is possible that the virus could change things on your Apple. With this in mind it would be wise to read up on the security aspects of Parallels, and if you plan connecting this XP load to the internet or external interfaces don't forget to invest in a good virus scanner. [source: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2007/02/perils_in_parallels_1.html]
Parallels is also a fast and effective way to run Windows XP applications on an Apple computer.
Interfacing USB printers and interfaces with Parallels proved to be a simple affair. When I connected a USB flash drive, Mac OS X asked me if I wanted to share the USB device with Parallels, and when I agreed the XP "window" announced it had discovered the device as well. This was seamless and simple to implement.
It suddenly became apparent to me - I was running Windows XP on my Apple.
So - after all this - How to I feel about Parallels?
Parallels boots XP faster than any PC I've ever owned - period.
Parallels is also a fast and effective way to run Windows XP applications on an Apple computer.
Before this installation I had unfounded concerns about creating virtual partitions, and managing the installation of another Operating system within OS X. Parallels has made these tasks easy; so easy in fact, I would argue that installing XP on a Parallels VMI is simpler than doing it for real on an unformatted IBM Compatible.
Sure, there are no guarantees that someone won't write a virus targeting Windows XP running in Parallels, but if you treat your Windows load on your Mac as you would Windows XP on a real IBM compatible PC, you should be fine.
I believe the best use of Parallels is to run the Windows apps you simply can't do without, and that's exactly what this software is meant to do, but don't expect this software to run your favourite graphic intensive PC game. Yes - although some windows games are supported, any game that isn't specifically supported is bound to run too slowly to be playable. Normal business applications are reported to run well, although I didn't have a copy of MS Office to check myself.
If you really must get that Windows gaming fix on your Apple, I'd consider using Boot Camp, but in doing so, remember, running an Apple with Windows software in Boot camp effectively makes your Apple an IBM compatible - with all the risks that lie within. Personally I'd stick with Parallels; it's safer.
This review was written as part of NZMac.com's community approach to reviews. Thanks to the folk at Parallels and to Mark
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Darryn Lowe
said:
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Just a comment on the games side of things. I'm running the original Command and Conquer on my Intel Mac Mini and it runs great. I can't however run C&C Generals or Medal of Honour. Not that Parallels won't run it but because the Mac Mini uses the Intel graphics chipset instead of ATI or NVidia and considering games developers are being paid huge amount of money by ATI and NVidia I don't see games changing too soon. However, if you are running an iMac or MacBook Pro then you can definately play all the later games. There are some lag issues but that's possibly due to not running on a BootCamp partition, unfortunately I have no way of testing this. The reason that Parallels can now play these games is due directly to its hardware support for 3D games whereas traditionally the graphics were done through software which made this impossible. There is a setup under the graphics options that allows you to turn on DirectX support but it doesn't yet support DirectX 10, not that that really matters anyway. |
David Moorhouse
said:
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What wasn't reviewed here was the actual user experience as far as the level of intergration. I didn't have high hopes but was staggered at how well this system actually works. You can run it in three modes; 1. Full screen 2. Windows (XP, Vista etc) in a window 3. Convergence mode Mode three blew me away, I had a Mac task bar up the left hand side of the screen, Vista taskbar on the bottom and I could have multiple program windows open on my desktop from both with no idea which operating system they were from at a casual glance. If I went into a folder and clicked on a photoshop file it opened photoshop for windows (which I already owned from PC days) then double click on a jpg and a mac app opened. Copying and pasting between open programs on either operating system worked as expected, no surprises. I'l hate to think what microsoft would do if they had to may a parallels to run a Mac on a PC. All in all I really loved parallels it just works! |
Darryn Lowe
said:
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The third mode is actually called Coherence and there is also a setting so that you don't see the Taskbar either. With this setting clicking the Parallels icon in the Dock actually brings up the Start menu. |
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