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madonnaragu

macrumors regular
Feb 13, 2021
125
35
Not at all, it will only run an ARM build of Windows. However, the ARM build of Windows will run the majority of X86 and X64 apps. So you shouldn’t have much trouble there.

That's pretty amazing. I have installed it and it works quite well. The issues I am seeing:

- The pointer moves too slowly, even when adjusted to its highest speed
- Can't install .NET framework (it keeps failing)
- Some games will run, but you can only see 25% of the game's zoomed-in screen
 

cool11

macrumors 68000
Sep 3, 2006
1,823
223
Not at all, it will only run an ARM build of Windows. However, the ARM build of Windows will run the majority of X86 and X64 apps. So you shouldn’t have much trouble there.

I am reading this information for the first time.
Windows for arm, can really run x86-x64 software?

If this is true, then we can the usual windows application in new apple silicon macs, with parallels, without limitations, as it was all the previous years?
 

09872738

Cancelled
Feb 12, 2005
1,270
2,125
I am reading this information for the first time.
Windows for arm, can really run x86-x64 software?

If this is true, then we can the usual windows application in new apple silicon macs, with parallels, without limitations, as it was all the previous years?
Kinda. Mostly it works; some application may still be incompatible. So you may take the „without limitations“ part with several grains of salt
 
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illitrate23

macrumors 6502a
Jun 11, 2004
682
271
uk
Anyone have issues installing the Parallels Technical Preview itself? I've downloaded it from Parallels website, I open the .dmg, launch the Install Parallels Desktop app, there's a dialogue to say it is "Downloading Parallels Desktop"
then a dialog saying "Installing Parallels Desktop" and I get a spinning beach ball..... and then that's it, nothing else happens.
(Is it not happy that I already have CrossOver installed? :) )

Edit: nevermind: updated Big Sur with the 11.3 beta 7 and now it installs as normal.
 
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gank41

macrumors 601
Mar 25, 2008
4,350
5,022
I am reading this information for the first time.
Windows for arm, can really run x86-x64 software?

If this is true, then we can the usual windows application in new apple silicon macs, with parallels, without limitations, as it was all the previous years?
Yes, but YMMV. I’ve tried current versions of CCleaner and PerfectDisk, and neither work. PerfectDisk at least opens, but there’s a weird extension error preventing it from running, and CCLeaner doesn’t even open. But then I’ve also installed an older version of Acid Pro from CD-Rom and it works great! The way Microsoft is getting them to work in Windows is similar to how Rosetta 2 works, but doesn’t work nearly as well. I’ve tried a handful of VERY old apps I’ve kept installers for, most of them have worked.
 
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Gerdi

macrumors 6502
Apr 25, 2020
449
301
Yes, but YMMV. I’ve tried current versions of CCleaner and PerfectDisk, and neither work. PerfectDisk at least opens, but there’s a weird extension error preventing it from running, and CCLeaner doesn’t even open. But then I’ve also installed an older version of Acid Pro from CD-Rom and it works great! The way Microsoft is getting them to work in Windows is similar to how Rosetta 2 works, but doesn’t work nearly as well. I’ve tried a handful of VERY old apps I’ve kept installers for, most of them have worked.

What you observe is not a bug in the emulator but rather a general limitation. Microsoft is very explicit about this:

- Drivers for hardware, games and apps will only work if they're designed for a Windows 10 ARM-based PC.
- Apps that customize the Windows experience might have problems.
- Some third-party antivirus software can’t be installed.

In summary, kernel drivers and SW, which rely on special kernel interfaces are not covered by emulation. I believe these limitation are also given for Rosetta 2 - as you cannot install kernel drivers or kernel extension if they do not match target architecture under MacOS either.
 
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haralds

macrumors 68030
Jan 3, 2014
2,991
1,252
Silicon Valley, CA
Both Rosetta and Windows emulation of Intel architecture is efficient because the drivers and UX are accessed via native interfaces. In Rosetta2 the apps actually use the Frameworks written for Apple Silicon. In comparison, complete emulations as was done in VirtualPC on PowerPC was perceptually and practically glacial.

It is possible for Parallel's to have full Intel translation/emulation in the shipping version, but do not expect to significantly exceed what Qemu-86 does now - interesting intellectually but not usable.
 

madonnaragu

macrumors regular
Feb 13, 2021
125
35
There are some problems, but overall, it works. It's pretty amazing. Adobe CS6 installs and works without issues. A number of Steam games, too.
 

TrueBlou

macrumors 601
Sep 16, 2014
4,531
3,619
Scotland
I am reading this information for the first time.
Windows for arm, can really run x86-x64 software?

If this is true, then we can the usual windows application in new apple silicon macs, with parallels, without limitations, as it was all the previous years?

Without limitations would be a stretch unfortunately. There’s still quite a bit of incompatibility with Windows ARM emulating X86/64. That’s not a Parallels issue, though there will be those of course. But even running on a Surface with ARM, there’s a fair way to go with compatibility. But it’s getting there.
 
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haralds

macrumors 68030
Jan 3, 2014
2,991
1,252
Silicon Valley, CA
I've had nothing but a positive experience thru the entire Tech Preview. I hope any feedback I submitted contributed in their development...
Same here. Not that they actually support the "unsupported" Mac Pro Classic (5,1) under Big Sur, which was dropped by VMware forcing the Hypervisor, while still supporting Catalina with their extension. I switched at that time.
Still bringing my whole inventory of VMs over to the new platform on the Intel systems.
 

hunkster

macrumors member
Nov 19, 2020
58
23
There's a discount code for 20% at the bottom of the Parallels release announcement email, for new licences.

Now I can't decide if I wanna take the one-time Upgrade version, or the subscription. Both costs the same.
 
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ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,022
2,897
I take it there's no licensing model with Parallels which lets you have it installed on a couple of machines but only allows you to use one at any time? You just have to buy two copies?
 

Mike Boreham

macrumors 68040
Aug 10, 2006
3,922
1,906
UK
I take it there's no licensing model with Parallels which lets you have it installed on a couple of machines but only allows you to use one at any time? You just have to buy two copies?

If you do that, when you launch it on the second machine, you get a message saying "this license is in use on another machine, do you want to use it to activate this machine?" ....or similar words.

I don't know if there is a limit on how many times you could switch this way. Adobe works the same way and I have read that there is no limit on how often.
 
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ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,022
2,897
If you do that, when you launch it on the second machine, you get a message saying "this license is in use on another machine, do you want to use it to activate this machine?" ....or similar words.

I don't know if there is a limit on how many times you could switch this way. Adobe works the same way and I have read that there is no limit on how often.
Yes that's right and there is a limit on how many times you can switch - 6 or something similar - but Parallels will reset your license count if this happens. We had a high turnover of machines at one point and this was the case for me.
 
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