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You're both right: I think the Parallels website WAS briefly showing $49.99 as the upgrade price, but all "registered" owners of Parallels received an email offering them "Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac for just $39.95." The small print says, "This special upgrade offer is available to registered users only and requires a previous installation of Parallels Desktop for Mac." And the email claims that the deal will end in 14 days, but I'm guessing it'll last for longer.

Here's the full offer that the email linked to:
http://parallelsupgrade.com/

But now the regular Nova store has the upgrade price listed at $39.99 too:
http://novadevelopment.com/software/parallels-desktop-128985

What I'm wondering is if we could ALSO get the $20 rebate -- bringing the price down to just $19.99? The Nova site says that you can purchase the program at the limited-time discount rate of $39.99 OR use the rebate . . . But the rebate form itself doesn't mention a restriction against getting a rebate on an already discounted upgrade price:

"Previous owners of Parallels Desktop are eligible for a one-time upgrade rebate of $20 when purchasing Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac. To get your rebate all you will need to do is to provide the following redemption code PAR5U20 and click http://usa.novadevelopment.com/support/rebate/Registration.aspx to begin the rebate process. . . . Get a $20 mail-in Upgrade Rebate if you own any prior version of Parallels Desktop for Mac or VMware Fusion and upgrade or switch to Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac."

Seems to be sending a mixed message there. But at $19.99 I might actually upgrade to Parallels 5. Although I HATE having to go through mail-in rebate processes, so maybe not.

I'm definitely not going to pay $49.99 or even $39.99 to upgrade . . . . I loved Parallels 3 and it was worth what I paid, but the upgrade to Parallels 4 was not impressive . . . It's still a good program, but the $39 upgrade fee didn't deliver much . . . Some improvements, some bugs . . . I'm guessing Parallels 5 will be more of the same: Improvements, but nothing to justify the cost. I mean, it was cheaper to upgrade from Leopard vs. Snow Leopard: These yearly upgrades to Parallels should cost like $10. Maybe $20 max.

I'd like to have Parallels 5, but at these prices I can wait until Parallels 6 or 7. Lucky for them I'm too lazy to switch to VMware at the moment.

I wonder if I can install the upgrade without parallels actually installed. I bought it originally when it came out but haven't had the need to have it installed since snow leopard.
 
Does anyone know if I use the trial of Parallels 5 and setup W7 etc.. if I can just enter a purchased key or do I need to reinstall Parallels full version and start over..
 
Anyone who's been using Parallels 5 and Fusion 3 want to to a comparison for us ?

the one feature I'd Love to have in either would be access to the ExpressCard slot.

The Express card slot works for both. That is how I run my VM's... on a 1TB eSATA drive connected via eSATA card in the Express slot. Works well, but you have to treat the eSATA with kid gloves. Any minor bump to the controller or cable will cause lock-up. Very frustrating. I still use it, but I leave it on a desk with an external keyboard and mouse. This is a common complaint with Express Card eSATA controllers of any brand. They do not lock-in the slot well. Actually, they lock, but move side to side jut enough to affect it.
 
I wonder if I can install the upgrade without parallels actually installed. I bought it originally when it came out but haven't had the need to have it installed since snow leopard.

You know... when I first purchased Parallels in a retail box, they offered a $20 rebate. I never received it. I wrote to them, but to no avail. They never answered me either. Just don't count on the rebate.
 
Wow! a lot of you guys/gals really use this huh? That's surprising. Traders! No just kiddin' :D
 
The Express card slot works for both. That is how I run my VM's... on a 1TB eSATA drive connected via eSATA card in the Express slot. Works well, but you have to treat the eSATA with kid gloves. Any minor bump to the controller or cable will cause lock-up. Very frustrating. I still use it, but I leave it on a desk with an external keyboard and mouse. This is a common complaint with Express Card eSATA controllers of any brand. They do not lock-in the slot well. Actually, they lock, but move side to side jut enough to affect it.

Thanks Mr. Gadget.
I think the ExpressCard in that case is probably working because Mac OS X sees the drives, and the then both programs can just see the drives that Mac OS X sees (I hope that makes sense to someone besides me lol)

I've had troubles with any device that Parallels / VMWare can't see through Mac OS X. What I'm wanting it to be able to use devices that Mac OS X doesn't have drivers for, but that I have Windows drivers for. I can use Boot Camp, but it's such a bother flipping back and forth, ExpressCard slot/device access is the only reason I use boot camp.
 
I'm done with Parallels (too)!

They come out with a new version every nine months and charge current users for the upgrade every time?! F#*k you Parallels, your product is not worth it. I'm done.
 
Take A Snapshot!!

If you use Parallels, always make a snapshot of your system before installing something new. It's way too convenient to be able to just "go back" if something goes wrong. It's a system wide UNDO.

Be sure to delete older snapshots though, they take up a LOT of space on your drive.


I've been running XP on P3.0 just for the few things I need, like mounting a Linux formatted NMT. It works great.
 
They tried to sucker me into upgrading when my Parallels 3 ceased working after installing Snow Leopard. They even had a special promotion...

View attachment 201853

See the note at the bottom stating that the offer ends on September 30th. The cut-off for free upgrades to Parallels 5 is October 1st.

Cute. :rolleyes:

Very Cute. I just checked my receipt for Parallels 4 and it's dated Sept. 29. I've owned the product less than 6 weeks and they want more money? No way. I will spend that money to instead buy VMWare. If I tried this on my customers they would hang me.
 
I've owned the product less than 6 weeks and they want more money? No way. I will spend that money to instead buy VMWare. If I tried this on my customers they would hang me.

VMWare did the exact same thing. They offered Fusion 2 at a 40% (I think it was) discount not too long ago. Of course anyone who bought it at that discount price would find out that they weren't elligible for the free upgrade to Fusion 3 once it came out. The discount + upgrade = full price.

Neither of these companies get any respect from me for their pricing policies. I'm sticking with Parallels (4) for now because it has the ability to clone and make templates of VMs which Fusion doesn't.
 
Seems like a lot of people is having trouble with Parallels, but...

From what I've seen so far on this thread, seems like more people prefer VMWare over Parallels...

But isn't there a test made between the two products (P-4 and V-2) and Parallels came out to be the winner in most category? I hope similar test will come out soon for the latest version...
 
From what I've seen so far on this thread, seems like more people prefer VMWare over Parallels...

But isn't there a test made between the two products (P-4 and V-2) and Parallels came out to be the winner in most category? I hope similar test will come out soon for the latest version...

The test I believe was "speed" not stability. From what I have seen, used, and heard. VMWare is typically the winner in stability over parallels. Granted that is a mix of personal opinion, and what I've read on these boards.
 
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I have to say i'm more of a vmware fusion user but i'll give it a try
signature_smiley.jpg
 
Just got Fusion 3, and now just upgraded my Parallels to 5.0 :D

Upgrade from version 4.0 went perfectly. No issues at all, all seems well. :)

I use Parallels for most of my "normal" Windows XP stuff, and VMware for experimental stuff (alternate OSses like Rhapsody, Mac OS X Server 10.6.x, Ubuntu 9.10, Windows 7, and Windows XP older gaming).

Both apps are working flawlessly! :cool:
 
VMWare did the exact same thing. They offered Fusion 2 at a 40% (I think it was) discount not too long ago. Of course anyone who bought it at that discount price would find out that they weren't elligible for the free upgrade to Fusion 3 once it came out. The discount + upgrade = full price.

Neither of these companies get any respect from me for their pricing policies. I'm sticking with Parallels (4) for now because it has the ability to clone and make templates of VMs which Fusion doesn't.

I have been using Parallels since version 1 and VMWare Fusion since version 1.

With Parallels, I have been paying every year, up to version 4.

With Fusion, I only paid version 1, and I remember they gave me version 2, for free. Now, I have to pay upgrade to version 3, but the upgrade policy seems a little more honest on the Fusion.

Parallels is to greedy!
 
That's the free economy. But from what I've been reading on the Fusion forums they are having problems too including the BSOD mentioned here with PD5.

If you don't want to upgrade, fine. But it is hardly dishonest to charge for an upgrade. If you really want to see a company screwing its existing customers as well as making in some cases a 400% markup in their final takings based on which country you live in, go and talk to Adobe!

I don't think that £39 is very much at all to pay for a piece of software as complicated as an OS emulator. Especially one with so many speed improvements as PD5 (and finally Compiz effects in Ubuntu. Can Fusion do that?)
 
Seriously?

The VMWare announcement is on Page 2 because it's 8 days old while the Parallels announcement is new.

Only geniuses like you could see a consipracy in chronologically ordering things.

I was a little surprised they didn't at least mention it as being released on the heels of VMWare Fusion and then link to the Page 2 article.
 
Seriously?

The VMWare announcement is on Page 2 because it's 8 days old while the Parallels announcement is new.

Only geniuses like you could see a consipracy in chronologically ordering things.

You guys need to learn how macrumors.com works. Page 2 is for minor news and links. Look at the top of the page 2 to see for yourself. Stuff from the front page does NOT end up on page 2.
 
You know... when I first purchased Parallels in a retail box, they offered a $20 rebate. I never received it. I wrote to them, but to no avail. They never answered me either. Just don't count on the rebate.

Their customer service department is very very bad. They only want to take our money. VMWare offers more professional support.
 
I'm with some of the others, here. I just paid for 4 not 6 months ago. They aren't getting another upgrade out of me. I'm not interested in an annual "subscription" in order to run this program with all upgrades.:mad:
 
I'm with some of the others, here. I just paid for 4 not 6 months ago. They aren't getting another upgrade out of me. I'm not interested in an annual "subscription" in order to run this program with all upgrades.:mad:

Just because 5 came out doesn't disable 4. If you don't want the new features, don't buy them. They're not forcing any "subscription" or upgrade out of you . They do work to develop new features and improve performance. They are entitled to get paid for that work. If it were just bug fixes, that would be a different story, and usually is. This isn't some new business model for software development and marketing. Every time some upgrade comes out a minute too quickly [after the previous], the same tiresome threads/posts come out.

Here's a thought that would take care of the problem entirely: you could wait until an appropriate "grieving period" for the previous version was over, then buy the upgrade... :rolleyes:

Or - continue using v4 as if there weren't any upgrade available?

End rant.
 
Just because 5 came out doesn't disable 4. If you don't want the new features, don't buy them. They're not forcing any "subscription" or upgrade out of you . They do work to develop new features and improve performance. They are entitled to get paid for that work. If it were just bug fixes, that would be a different story, and usually is. This isn't some new business model for software development and marketing. Every time some upgrade comes out a minute too quickly [after the previous], the same tiresome threads/posts come out. End rant.

I think the problem many are having is being forced to upgrade to 4, since Parallels 3 quit working with the Snow Leopard upgrade and Parallels didn't even try to fix it. Now here comes 5. Very poorly handled.
 
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