The best way to quell that desire comes from Bellevue, Wash.-based Parallels, which, in its tenth year in the Seattle region, shipped Parallels Desktop 12 this fall.Parallels Desktop 12 supports several use cases, most notably that of legacy application support and multi-platform development. Sometimes it would be nice to just run Windows, Linux or Chrome OS inside the macOS environment. The root-level support for running Windows or other operating systems atop Apple’s hardware isn’t always convenient. (Daniel Rasmus Image)For many years, Apple’s OS X (now macOS) met Windows in various dual-boot options that usually swapped out the Apple OS by running or sharing the Intel chip at the heart of the Mac. Northwest Women VC & Angel Investor ListWindows 7 and Lion on Sierra Parallels Desktop.
Parallels Desk Windows 10 Cozying UpParallels works closely with Apple, Microsoft and the open source community to ensure that Parallels Desktop will not only run their operating systems, but that they run relatively fast in a very stable environment.On of Parallels 12’s best new features is the tight integration with operating system images, and access to trials. Running mission-critical apps doesn’t provide value if you can’t count on them to be there when needed. It also allows people to run a number of other operating systems, for a variety of reasons.Parallels virtual machines can run almost any operating system, even those that are no longer supported (as long as you have a CD and license key). If a financial application relies on an old Windows NT or other legacy framework that doesn’t run on Windows 10, let alone on macOS, the choice comes down to investing in new software and the associated implementation costs, or keeping old hardware in play, or using a virtualization solution.Parallels is also a great alternative to a second machine for those who need a Windows app to complement their normally Macintosh-centric work experience.But Parallels goes well beyond Windows 10 cozying up to macOS. (Daniel Rasmus Image)For those not familiar with Parallels Desktop, running Windows on Mac represents the product’s most prevalent use case.People working outside of large corporations may be surprised by how much of the world continues to run on old software — some supported, some not. Initiating the ‘Unvirtualized’ Windows 10 on a Mac.These include Chromium OS, Ubuntu, Fedora Linux, CentOS Linux, Debian GNU/Linux and a macOS VM using the recovery partition.And then there is Windows. Pre-configured virtual machines can be instantly downloaded. With Parallels the disk images don’t experience memory glitches, hard drive failures or coffee in the keyboard beyond the main machine.The real jewel here comes in the form of near-epic flexibility. A developer’s dreamIn an era of multiple browsers and emergent operating systems, developers need banks of machines, or hordes of USB sticks, so they can boot into an environment and ensure that their latest web wonder performs as well on Ubuntu Firefox as it does on Windows 7 with IE or Windows 10 with Edge.And then there’s the maintenance of those machines. For most developers, virtualizing target platforms might just be their dream environment. Parallels offers a Microsoft-authorized wizard for downloading developer-specific images.Parallels should be thought of as the virtual machine that makes running most operating systems possible within Apple’s Macintosh platform. Virtual machines work just fine from external drives which means a 6TB USB 3.0 drive can hold a wide variety of OS types, all quickly available through the Parallels Control Center. Parallels even includes a network conditioner with settings for various network types, including Wi-Fi, 3G, and even a bad network.Developers can run as many virtual machines as they have memory to hold, and can store as many types of virtual machines as they have disk. Windows IoT Core SDK and Raspberry Pi 2Of course, installing older versions of Windows also works, which provides the ability to test for legacy environments like IE across several versions, including IE 6 on Windows XP. A well-configured Parallels setup also shares peripherals and Bluetooth devices.With Parallels Desktop 12, new icons join the menu bar, including network configurations, sound, battery and notifications. Clipboard data flows from macOS apps to Windows apps. Seamlessly and seemingly magically, Windows apps run in their own windows, without the Windows desktop. This feature completely blends Windows with the macOS. PerformanceSpeaking of configuration, don’t expect Quad Core i7 performance, but don’t expect performance to be sluggish just because you’re running a virtual machine. Parallels delivers the best of all worlds on any well-outfitted Mac. It’s the kind of work computer owners deserve — the kind of work that can’t be delivered by the OS makers based on their heady competition, not to mention antitrust laws. No other application demonstrates such an intricate internal knowledge of the two operating systems. If Siri can’t provide the right answer in macOS Sierra, then just ask Cortana.This configuration, and its smooth operation, demonstrates the detail with which Parallels approaches their work. Mini apps include ejecting volumes, hiding the desktop and downloading a video from almost any site without streaming protected content.I just recently rebuilt my Mac after a hard drive crash (nope, fully backed up, just wanted a fresh install). Instead of insisting on just developing the company’s core platform, they asked their team what kind of Mac utilities they would like to see, and then challenged them to build those utilities.The result arrived as the delightful Parallels Toolbox that covers, with a click or two, many functions that take a few too many clicks or keyboard taps even in Apple’s UI. The hidden surprise for Mac aficionadosParallels did their developers a solid. (Daniel Rasmus Image)Parallels has learned from its years in the market, including its learning in automation, such as the “one-click” tuning that optimizes a virtual machine based on its use, such as gaming, design or development. Playing Overwatch in Windows 10 with Parallels Desktop 12. As with most apps, the performance experience relates to the hardware configuration of the host machine. A fast disk (such as SSD) and more memory make for better performance, from app launching to app response. Programming in basic tool for macWhat to buyParallels Desktop comes in three editions: Desktop 12 for Mac, Pro and Business. The Parallels Access UIs for desktop apps offer a great alternative to the not so-full-featured iOS versions. Unlike tools that simply bring a Mac or Windows display into the mobile environment, Parallels delivers app-like interfaces to common tools like Word or Excel, creating very pleasant writing or analysis environments that don’t require squinting or squeezing in order to see sentences or cells. Developers will need Pro, and as implied by the name, if the tools are to be deployed in an enterprise setting, Business should be considered. For limited personal use, the basic Desktop 12 will likely suffice. Pro and Business both include a Visual Studio plug-in.
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