Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac Released

MacRumors · Nov 4, 2009, 11:14 AM

Parallels today announced the launch of Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac, an updated version of the popular virtualization software that allows Mac users to run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems alongside OS X. The update reportedly brings over 70 new features to the software package, along with significant performance enhancements.

Quote:

According to performance research conducted by Crimson Consulting Group, Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac performs 22% faster than the nearest Windows-on-Mac competitor in standard productivity testing of Windows 7 64-bit on a MacBook Pro. In addition, version 5 is up to 300% faster for virtual machine operations than the previous version. For 3D and graphics performance, tested under the industry standard 3Dmark 2006 Professional test suite the new version performs up to 7 times better.

Among the new features in Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac are full Aero support for Windows Vista and 7, the addition of more "Mac-like" features in Windows such as trackpad gestures and horizontal scrolling, copy and paste of formatted text and layouts across operating systems, and multiple monitor support.

Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is priced at $79.99, with upgrade pricing of $49.99 available for current Parallels users. Customers who purchased Parallels Desktop 4 for Mac on or after October 1st, 2009 are eligible for a free upgrade to the new version.

Article Link: Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac Released

Eidorian · Nov 4, 2009, 11:16 AM

I have a copy of Parallels 1/2 and 3. I might cough up the money after skipping 4.

Richdmoore · Nov 4, 2009, 11:17 AM

Looking forward to trying the new features, don't know if they will help the performance of my GMA950 Macbook.

Kilamite · Nov 4, 2009, 11:21 AM

Enhanced trackpad will be really nice.

uberamd · Nov 4, 2009, 11:22 AM

Hopefully they cleaned up the boot camp importing process a bit, it was messy in Parallels 4.

stridemat · Nov 4, 2009, 11:23 AM

Hopefully there is a trial available, as I have my system working just as I want it right now.

Shame that they do not make a mac version of AutoCad, until then I will have to live with Parallels.

jsdc2005 · Nov 4, 2009, 11:24 AM

Now if Apple would just release the Boot Camp for Windows 7 drivers already, things would be groovy.

Eidorian · Nov 4, 2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsdc2005

Now if Apple would just release the Boot Camp for Windows 7 drivers already, things would be groovy.

I haven't had any problems running Windows 7 64-bit by just forcing the retail disc Boot Camp 3.0 installer.

rdrr · Nov 4, 2009, 11:26 AM

Before upgrading, make a snapshot first! My first attempt caused the Windows XP Pro image to BSOD over and over again. It couldn't even go into safe mode. I had to revert back and I am trying again.

ergdegdeg · Nov 4, 2009, 11:26 AM

Yay, free upgrade. But since I bought from a retailer, I have to get the mail-in rebate.

Burnsey · Nov 4, 2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stridemat

Shame that they do not make a mac version of AutoCad, until then I will have to live with Parallels.

Yep. I'll probably get this for AutoCad alone. The labs at school aren't open forever after all. Damn lazy Autodesk.

pilotboy1 · Nov 4, 2009, 11:55 AM

After purchasing Parallels 4 in early September, I thought I'd be good for at least a year. I'm only running an XP environment on my MBP. I'm holding off. These new features sound nice, but missing the cutoff by a few weeks is going to burn me for the upgrade. I think I'll keep my money.

ghostface147 · Nov 4, 2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnsey

Yep. I'll probably get this for AutoCad alone. The labs at school aren't open forever after all. Damn lazy Autodesk.

I am sure making a version of AutoCAD for Mac isn't the easiest thing in the world. And is it really worth the investment to write a complex piece of software for a small minority of users who are already in the small minority of the world of Mac users? I don't think so.

osxfactor · Nov 4, 2009, 01:26 PM

I own Parallels 1, 2, and when 3 came around, I was very turned off by the high upgrade price. I took advantage of an offer to move to VMware for less than the upgrade cost to Parallels 3.

I've been very happy. Especially with Linux support. Parallels has always had issues with Ubuntu Linux. Each new release of Ubuntu proves troublesome for Parallels, and it usually takes a couple of point releases before they get the fix for it. VMware has no such issues. It has worked with every x86 OS I've thrown at it (WinXP, WinVista, Win7, Ubuntu, RedHat, SuSe, NeXTStep 3, and on and on).

Stately · Nov 4, 2009, 03:15 PM

Wow! a lot of you guys/gals really use this huh? That's surprising. Traders! No just kiddin'

JMac213 · Nov 4, 2009, 03:32 PM

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.

ZaoPetra · Nov 4, 2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnsey

Yep. I'll probably get this for AutoCad alone. The labs at school aren't open forever after all. Damn lazy Autodesk.

If I had a Mac version of AutoCAD I could quite using Windows altogether. Is there any news on what AutoDesk decided after their pole? Are you saying that Parallels handles CAD better than VM Fusion? I'm only asking because I've only ever used Parallels and I'm thinking of switching to Fusion.

mankar4 · Nov 5, 2009, 02:20 AM

anybody seen any benchmarks for parallels 5 vs fusion 3?

OllyW · Nov 4, 2009, 11:28 AM

I bet the people who were forced to upgrade to Version 4 when Snow Leopard came out will be pleased.

Slimemold · 11:39 AM

Signed up to this forum just to post this. Normally, I just lurk and read the page 1 and page 2 news, but this time, I feel that I have a duty as part of the consumer community to report my experiences with this miserable company.

I've been using Parallels from v1 to v4. The product in itself is actually okay...until something goes wrong (like, for example, when there's a new Linux distro release). Good luck getting them to even acknowledge the problem. It took months for the Parallels team to get Parallels 4 tools working with Ubuntu's hardy heron, for example. They wouldn't even acknowledge the issue on their user forums, and it was the biggest thread during this period.

Their user community forum is a joke. They routinely screen for negative comments...those posts just never show up on the forums. And they don't acknowledge problems for weeks or months, even as the community struggles to help each other out.

VMWare Fusion now does OpenGL acceleration...which was the missing feature that made me choose Parallels in the first place. Now there's no good reason to choose Parallels over VMWare. VMWare is just so much responsive to their community. The two products, I would say, are comparable to each other.

The other alternative, which is the one I use, is VirtualBox. The guest integration isn't anywhere near as tight as Parallels or VMWare Fusion, but it gets the job done for me.

Seriously...unless you have a free upgrade...it's time to jump ship, in my opinion.

P.S. I use a WinXP guest and an Ubuntu guest (now running karmic koala) for development of OpenGL applications. Just so you guys get a sense of what I do with my VMs.

Poonaka · Nov 4, 2009, 11:38 AM