The new beta version of Parallels Desktop features two awesome new features: Coherence mode and Boot Camp partition support.
In coherence mode, Parallels no longer has an application window. Instead, the Windows desktop is layed over the Mac OS X desktop, but without the actual Windows desktop. You see just the relevant parts: the taskbar and the windows. Windows’ background image and desktop icons aren’t shown. You can interact with the windows just like they were normal (Mac OS) windows. If you move the mouse from a Mac OS X part to a Windows part of the screen, the mouse cursor changes instantly. It really feels like Windows apps run natively inside Mac OS X.
Finally, Parallels supports booting from Boot Camp partitions. That means you no longer have to install two versions of Windows on your Mac. Personally, I installed Boot Camp for playing games once in a while. They tend to not perform very good in Parallels but run with acceptable speed in native Windows. Parallels Desktop is really useful for testing web pages with Internet Explorer.
A compliment to the Parallels developers. They are pretty much the market leader with Parallels Desktop but keep adding useful features and performace improvements. They could easily rest on their laurels. But they don’t.
Comments
Hi,
I think Parallels is good but I had so many problems with it. I am an IT Tech at a College and have had work orders for parallels because parallels kept crashing on MacBook Pro’s. I told the many instructors to use boot camp instead of parallels. Well of course they don’t listen. I had this one work order come back to me three times. I finally told the instructor, let me install boot camp. So he finally agreed and guess what, I never heard a complaint from him again. I have my Mac Pro 8 core configured as a daul boot system and I love it. I play online games and its flawless. Thats my 2 cents :O) If you have a Intel base Mac and want to learn how to install Apple Boot Camp, here’s a website that will not only tell you but has a nice video to show you how.
http://www.squidoo.com/ways-to-install-windows-on-a-mac