Slash LaneParallels, makers of the widely successful Parallels Desktop virtualization solution for running versions of the Windows operating system on Intel-based Macs, plans to demonstrate a pre-release version of its upcoming Parallels Server at Apple's developers conference this week.
The Renton, Wash.-based software developer will be hosting demonstrations of the alpha software at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, Calif. this week.
Parallels will also be showing off the latest release of Parallels Desktop for Mac — version 3.0 — which delivers 3D hardware support and tighter integration between Windows and the Mac OS X operating systems.
The update to the $80 virtualization solution also introduces cross OS application and file integration with Parallels SmartSelect, coherence 2.0 with shared folders and UI enhancements, expanded support for USB 2.0 devices, and significant improvements to audio quality.
Word of Parallels' intentions for the Apple developer conference arrive alongside expectations that the Mac maker will use the event to show off improvements to its own software solution for running versions of Windows on Intel-based Macs — Boot Camp.
Unlike Parallels Desktop for Mac, which allows users to run the Windows and Mac OS X operating systems simultaneously, Boot Camp currently requires that users reboot their Macs to run Windows applications.
Many have speculated that Apple may announce at the conference its intention to transform Boot Camp into its own embedded virtualization solution in time for the release of Mac OS X Leopard in October. Any such move would threaten the future success of Parallels' solutions.
Malcolm Owen
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16 Comments
Parallels 3.0 was pretty disappointing. I felt like it was more of a money getting oppurtunity than a good release with all the claims of 3d this and direct x that. Most of which turned out to deal with a few games. I upgraded to 3.0 and am happy using the product but I believe I see myself going to Fusion once released from Beta.
I run VMWare Fusion now (beta 4) and it works great. It even runs Solaris 10 11/06 fantastic.
Hopefully, by 4.0 Parallels has their stuff together regarding customer service and somekind of truth in advertising (they could tone down the miracle stuff a bit).
What is the real world implications of this new offering by Parallel? As much as I'd like to see OS X Server gain some ground I don't see how this would be a benefit to most companies."Many have speculated that Apple may announce at the conference its intention to transform Boot Camp into its own embedded virtualization solution in time for the release of Mac OS X Leopard in October."
This has always sounded so absurd to me.
I highly doubt Apple will update BootCampt to run in virtualization mode. Far more likely would be that Apple would start bundling Parallels with OS X. What's the point in competing with Parallels?
Boot Camp serves a very specific purpose - the ability to install windows on it's own partition. It's useful for users who need the full resources of the system.
People need to stop fantasizing about Apple doing their own version of everything under the sun.
Parallels 3.0 was pretty disappointing. I felt like it was more of a money getting oppurtunity than a good release with all the claims of 3d this and direct x that. Most of which turned out to deal with a few games. I upgraded to 3.0 and am happy using the product but I believe I see myself going to Fusion once released from Beta.
I run VMWare Fusion now (beta 4) and it works great. It even runs Solaris 10 11/06 fantastic.
Hopefully, by 4.0 Parallels has their stuff together regarding customer service and somekind of truth in advertising (they could tone down the miracle stuff a bit).
I would never ever trust Parallels again.... their support is non-existant , this new 3.0 version so buggy that it's beyond words ( tried it on my Mac Pro , MacBook Pro and my girlfriends macbook, all of them crash within minutes of loading 3d intensive app ). This is one app i'd not feel bad about pirating..... too bad i bought it.
What is the real world implications of this new offering by Parallel? As much as I'd like to see OS X Server gain some ground I don't see how this would be a benefit to most companies."Many have speculated that Apple may announce at the conference its intention to transform Boot Camp into its own embedded virtualization solution in time for the release of Mac OS X Leopard in October."
This has always sounded so absurd to me.
Well, I'd have to see it all in practise but here is an example of where it may come in handy. We have a fairly large set of XServe hardware and are soon to purchase quite a bit more. In fact all of our server hardware is XServe, which is where we run into some minor annoyances. For instance, we would really love to run MS Project on all of our computers here and be able to use the Project Central software that allows webaccess etc...but of course the required software is Windows only. If this new Parallels server could allow us to run this software while keeping all of our XServe hardware (and leaving OSX on there) then I'd be pretty tempted to buy it.....