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Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac Released
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Thank you. The Ubuntu 9.04/Parallels Tools issue is precisely why I'll never buy another one of their products again. It was inexcusable for them to take so long to update Parallels Tools for that release, and even more inexcusable for them to ignore their paying customers and not give any kind of news or updates on their progress. Screw Parallels. I'm recommending VMWare or Virtualbox to anyone who'll listen these days.
Yeah, I hear ya. I'm actually forgiving of them taking so long to update their guest tools for Ubuntu 9.04. They're a small, ragtag team...I work for a company that has some dealings with them, which is how I know. The thing that makes me NEVER want to forgive them is the whole not giving any acknowledgment or progress updates on their user community forums, despite the cries for help that lasted months. All it would have took is a "Got it, we're aware of the problem", and I would have been fine. And I don't mean after many months.
I must be in the minority, but I have been using Parallels since v1 and have never had any problems. Of course, my needs for Windows are very limited and I don't have to run a lot of programs under Windows.
I will wait a few days to see if there are any major problems with v5, but I plan on upgrading.
I will wait a few days to see if there are any major problems with v5, but I plan on upgrading.
We left Parallels the moment Vmware Fusion was release and have not looked back 
That was a long time ago, and Fusion has been a transparent software package...simply allows me to get my work done!
That was a long time ago, and Fusion has been a transparent software package...simply allows me to get my work done!
I'm actually surprised to read the comments here. After thinking of those I work with here and there, I only know 7 people (who don't know each other by the way) that use Fusion or Parallels. Every single one of them said that Parallels is better when I'm thinking back to talking about it with them. I never decided to buy one though because I always boot Windows when I need it and run it natively.
Why all the Parallels hate? Just curious. Figured I may learn something.
Why all the Parallels hate? Just curious. Figured I may learn something.
Another upgrade already?
After purchasing Parallels 4 in early September, I thought I'd be good for at least a year. I'm only running an XP environment on my MBP. I'm holding off. These new features sound nice, but missing the cutoff by a few weeks is going to burn me for the upgrade. I think I'll keep my money.
After purchasing Parallels 4 in early September, I thought I'd be good for at least a year. I'm only running an XP environment on my MBP. I'm holding off. These new features sound nice, but missing the cutoff by a few weeks is going to burn me for the upgrade. I think I'll keep my money.
This is a piss off. After just upgrading to 4 after I got Snow Leopard 2 weeks ago, now 5 is released? And Snow Leopard hasn't even been worth it for me! ****ing hard drive space disappears and expose doesn't work as well!
I am sure making a version of AutoCAD for Mac isn't the easiest thing in the world. And is it really worth the investment to write a complex piece of software for a small minority of users who are already in the small minority of the world of Mac users? I don't think so.
There is VirtualBox.
Honestly I started using it a while back... Even if it is missing stuff that Parallels Desktop has the fact that it is free. Makes it good enough.
Honestly I started using it a while back... Even if it is missing stuff that Parallels Desktop has the fact that it is free. Makes it good enough.
Games?
Has anyone tested it out with any games that use 3D engines yet? Wondering how it'd perform vs. Boot Camp.
Has anyone tested it out with any games that use 3D engines yet? Wondering how it'd perform vs. Boot Camp.
I'm actually surprised to read the comments here. After thinking of those I work with here and there, I only know 7 people (who don't know each other by the way) that use Fusion or Parallels. Every single one of them said that Parallels is better when I'm thinking back to talking about it with them. I never decided to buy one though because I always boot Windows when I need it and run it natively.
Why all the Parallels hate? Just curious. Figured I may learn something.
Read my post on the first page. I talk about why I hate Parallels.
Let's face it. These days, a community support forum is part of a product's package. Parallels as a product in itself is actually fine. It's how they blow off their paying customers that pisses me off enough to never spend another dime on them ever again. And this is after going from v1 to v4 for FOUR seats. So you can see how I'm annoyed.
I thought this was odd too...
I use Fusion, as it has been better than Parallels in my experience. But to each his own.
All of these virtualization solutions (Parallels, Fusion, and Virtualbox) do 3D acceleration in roughly the same way, and Parallels 5 is no exception. The video card is virtualized, with OpenGL/Direct3D calls being passed through as transparently as possible.
Performance is of course not as good as if you ran your app on your host (for example, via boot camp). But for some applications, it works just fine.
I prefer Parallels over VMware... I've used them both.
VMware has a more sensible configuration interface than P4 but I just couldn't get it to work with one of my printers. VM Fusion also seems a lot more sluggish than Parallels to me.
Parallels also comes free with a lot of macs depending on where you buy.
Overall, I really like it and will upgrade to version 5. Never had any need for their forums or support... I just use it.
VMware has a more sensible configuration interface than P4 but I just couldn't get it to work with one of my printers. VM Fusion also seems a lot more sluggish than Parallels to me.
Parallels also comes free with a lot of macs depending on where you buy.
Overall, I really like it and will upgrade to version 5. Never had any need for their forums or support... I just use it.
I just can't crank out the performance that I want under VirtualBox compared to running it on my AMD machine. Maybe it's the 6 GB of RAM, or the faster hard drive, and the nested paging.
I'm not one to complain about the price but it's not as perky under OS X.
Yep there seems to be a problem
I have the same problem as this guy... http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=95481
Oh and it isn't an upgrade when they remove Parallels 4 and then install Parallels 5. So going back you better have made a snapshot of the image, and have the dmg for installing PD 4 again.
I have the same problem as this guy... http://forum.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=95481
Oh and it isn't an upgrade when they remove Parallels 4 and then install Parallels 5. So going back you better have made a snapshot of the image, and have the dmg for installing PD 4 again.
Attachments
I just upgraded to PD5. So far all seems a LOT smoother than the mess that was PD4. I had nothing but issues with the previous version.
There is one very good reason to upgrade to PD5 if you use Ubuntu etc. You can now use Compiz effects! So far on my MP these are pretty damn smooth. The 3D cube transition is very snappy. Dunno what it would be like on a MB though.
There is one very good reason to upgrade to PD5 if you use Ubuntu etc. You can now use Compiz effects! So far on my MP these are pretty damn smooth. The 3D cube transition is very snappy. Dunno what it would be like on a MB though.
I'm actually surprised to read the comments here. After thinking of those I work with here and there, I only know 7 people (who don't know each other by the way) that use Fusion or Parallels. Every single one of them said that Parallels is better when I'm thinking back to talking about it with them. I never decided to buy one though because I always boot Windows when I need it and run it natively.
Why all the Parallels hate? Just curious. Figured I may learn something.
I've been using version 4 which worked fine with Windows 7 RC but there were a few kinks (slow, not smooth, jerky mouse and track pad on my late 2007 MacBook Pro). Got email from Parallels this AM offering an 'upgrade' to new Version 5 for $39.95. Went to the upgrade page and saw 'offers' to send hardcopy vice download for 10 bucks more, then to ship to me for 7 bucks more. I took the download option, then there was offer to be able to download for two years vice a month. This for another 7 bucks. Forget that! They change versions too often for that 'offer'. Anyhow, I downloaded for the basic $39.95. It works and it is MUCH faster and smoother than version 4. I don't know anything about AERO in Windows 7, but the screen presentation of Windows 7 RC is much nicer and shows a true full screen now with the Task Bar tranlucent. It's great. I've only notice ONE issue. That is that Sound is working, but a bit weak even at full volume. All in all, it was worth the 'upgrade' but this is my first upgrade. To respond to the question why the 'hate' for Parallels.....I think the fact the company appears owned by Russians and their method of operation is brusque and rude. Also customer service responses often come from India and somehow those guys irk me with their textbook responses that sometimes just don't mean much.
I need XP for only two applications (an MP3 tagger and a Japanese word processor) so I think I'll stay with Parallels 4. I did have issues with Windows XP under Parallels 4 at first, but eventually I was able to make it work, so I admit to being hesitant to upgrade, especially since I don't need any more performance.