PD5 in MacWorld

Page 1

N° and issue date : 100101 - 01/01/2010 Circulation : 23366 Page : 33 Frequency : Monthly Size : 90 % MacWorldUK_100101_33_313.pdf 481 cm2 Web Site: http://www.macworld.co.uk

ParallelsDesktop Impressive upgrade makes even easier

Macworld Editors' Choice 5

run Windowsprogramson Mac a

to

it

Virtualisation software Company Parallels :

,

www.parallels.com

Pros Improved performance :

;

slick

interface that makes Windows applications feel more like Mac applications

Cons Needs :

fastMacwith plenty

a

memory

of

run

to

Windows

Min specs Intel processor 1GB RAM 15GB hard disk :

,

,

space 26Hz processor and 2GB RAM recommended

)

(

Price ÂŁ59.99 upgrade ÂŁ34 ,99 :

;

Star rating

: * *

*

*

*

leap-frogging competitionbetweenVMware

greatnewsfor run Windows softwareon

Fusion and Parallels Desktop

The

people who need

their Mac

.

to

is

Nosooner hadVMware released Fusion

thanParallels struckback with Parallels Desktop each update

.

3

And We ran theMac top and Windows bottom versions Firefoxalongside each other using the MacLook option and reallywashard tellthe twoapart

these virtualisation programs makes

to

easier andmore efficient

it

5

of

)

)

(

(

run thetwo operating

to

to

it

systems side byside.

thisupgrade butthe key improvements focus on the program' performancewhen running Windows and on interface refinements that help Windows programsmerge more smoothly into theMac environment We' not entirely convinced bythe claim in

,

s

.

a

all

at

responsive than version

s

Mac makeover

processor power

of

Oneimportant change here

is

that younow have the

to

.

to

or

,

of

to

actuallychanges the appearance Windows programs sothat theylook more like Mac programs of

"

,

to

to

of

s

s

.

of

s

1

to

.

forget you' using Windows Cliff Joseph re

at

ll

all.

Hardwareintegration

.

re

a

As well

as bringing Mac and Windows

software closer together Parallels Desktop ,

thenew MacLook option thatactually Windows programsso that changes the appearance

also designed make your Windows virtual machine work more smoothly with

they lookmore likeMac programs When you select

Machardware.

is

.

this option the blue titlebarrunning across thetop

of

.

to

,

,

Firefox alongside each other using the MacLook option and really was hard tell the two apart. Finally Parallels claims that3D graphics timesbetter performance much fact certainly does goodjob handling3D effects such as theFlip 3Dfeature Windows and Vista. of

to

,

betterseven

is

in

,

of

a

It

7

in

its performance when running Windows games such as the recently released Dragon Age However as with Fusion gaming general stillhitandmiss youmightfind thatother We were also pleasantly surprised

at

,

3

.

,

,

:

in

you have MacBook MacBook Pro with Multi-Touch trackpad you canuse or

of

.

is

a

to

it

to

5

If

of

the silvery-grey style theMac The rectangular control buttons that normallyappear on theright-hand side the title bar also change miraculously moving across the left-handside andturning intothe circularred amber and green buttons used ontheMac We ran the Mac each program window changes colour

and Windows versions

the factthat Parallels automatically pausesitself you' not currentlyrunning any programs within virtual machine allowing most yourMac' processorpower switch back the Mac OSitself We tested this using the Mac' Activity Monitor and Parallels went from using more than 50 per cent our Mac' processorpower when we were browsing the web withInternet Explorer less than per cent when we shut Explorer down butleft the virtual machine running onourdesktop This willbe handy for a

make Windowsprograms look and feel almost

to

of

.

re

modes help

so much like native Mac applications that you'

in

of

The new Maclookoption

if

In

a

Even better

ticking over nicely as well.

is

.

,

it

a

,

Anotheruseful refinement

always welcome when

to

of

a

a

if

,

iMac you could assign two processorcores Windows virtualmachine provide better performance for running Windows programs while stillhaving two more processor cores left keep the Mac side things

"

is

attempting run Windowssoftware on the Mac addition new features such as theCrystal and MacLook

It

to

to

to

is

run Windows programs on theMac desktop The new Crystal modegoes onestep further. completely hides theParallels menubarthat normally runs acrossthe top the screen and replaces with small pull-down menu that sits up the right-hand corner thescreen Sonowthere arefewer visual reminders thatyou' actuallyrunning your Windows programswithin virtual machine.

allowed you

ability assign multipleprocessorcores each virtual new machine So you have Mac Pro or

5

Parallels already had

of

.

Making the most

.

Parallels Desktop

in

Coherence modethat hid theWindows desktop and

a

quadcore

Improved performance

desktop The previous version

4.

t

'

it

a

it

or

.

at

Macworld buying advice the way that merges Windows programsinto the Mac

but certainly feels bitsmoother andmore

simply won' run all Serious gamers are stillbetter offsticking with Boot Camp for their gaming action.

games display odd graphics glitches

,

The other big improvement

5

,

a

to

it

re

thatParallels Desktop runsthree timesfaster than before

dip into Windowsprograms on regular basis as means you can leave virtual machine sitting on your desktop without slowing your Mac down people whoneed

Parallels says there aremore than70 new features and enhancements

is

1/1 Copyright (MacWorld UK) No reproduction without authorisation

a

gestures such asthetwo-finger scrolling gesture control Windows programs just ,

to

asyou can with ordinary Mac programs.

Parallels also works withApple'

s

new

Magic Mouse allowingyou usesimilar gesturesondesktopMacs as well you to

,

.

If

have morethan one monitor connected

to

willallow you run yourvirtual machineon one monitor

your Macthen Parallels

to

5

while the MacOS runs onthe other.


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