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Parallels Launches Lower-Cost 'Toolbox Packs' Priced Individually at $9.99/Year

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Parallels today announced a series of individual "Toolbox Packs" that aim to help users cut down the time-consuming tasks on their Mac or PC, including a Presentation Pack, a Screen and Video Pack, and a Disk and System Pack. Parallels president Jack Zubarev explained that each pack features a "comprehensive suite of single-purpose tools" that will help simplify workflows.

For example, in the Presentation Pack there's a one-click "Presentation Mode" that hides desktop files, blocks email and message notifications, prevents sleep mode, and automatically adjusts resolution for external displays. The Screen and Video Pack includes screenshot capturing tools and a "Record Screen" feature so that users can quickly record their entire screen -- or just a specified area -- and then convert the video, download it, or create a GIF.


In an effort to keep Macs running efficiently, the System and Disk Pack provides the "Clean Drive" ability to easily scan files and delete duplicates, discover the largest files, remove temporary OS and application files, and more. Parallels said this tool periodically reminds users to run it so that they can keep their computer's performance up-to-speed. There's also a "Free Memory" toolbar add-on to easily check to see how much RAM is available.
"People waste too much time searching for solutions to common tasks on their computers that should be able to be accomplished with one click," said Jack Zubarev, Parallels president.

"That's why our time-saving Parallels Toolbox for Windows and Mac software - which features a comprehensive suite of simple single-purpose tools, with new tools added every few months - is so loved by our customers. Now, people whose computing tasks involve presentations, screen and video work, or disk and system optimization, can get Parallels Toolbox Packs, which each feature a collection of one-click tools tailored for their needs."
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Those interested can check out free trials of each Toolbox Pack on Parallels' website, and the company sells each individual Pack for an annual subscription price of $9.99 per year. Customers can also opt to get the full suite of new Parallels Toolbox Packs for $19.99 per year.

Parallels previously launched Parallels Toolbox 2.5 in February, which introduced many of these features in a drop-down toolbar screen at an overall price of $19.99 per year. Because some users pointed out that they don't need all of these features under one higher price tag, Parallels responded with today's announcement of individual, "cost-effective" Toolbox Packs, which will see new features added to each pack in the coming months.

Outside of these packs, Parallels' software allows users to run Windows on a Mac without needing to reboot. You can find more information on the Toolbox Packs and the main features of Parallels on the company's website.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Parallels. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Article Link: Parallels Launches Lower-Cost 'Toolbox Packs' Priced Individually at $9.99/Year
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/06/27/parallels-toolbox-packs/
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Spock said:
Does anybody really even use this software anymore? Honest question
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Used to be a massive Parallels fan.

When they went subscription and started feature locking stuff to get more money on a yearly basis I switched to Virtualbox.

If I don’t upgrade my OS, I get locked out of my VMs because I won’t pay them a yearly ransom? Hard pass.

Why should I lose functionality if my needs don’t change? I get maybe upgrading the Mac and software every year but I didn’t upgrade my OS, nothing has changed and now I can’t access my data on my machine. Nope.

Virtualbox Software does exactly what I need it to do, and is free.

I don’t trust these guys anymore.

Ironically I bought Parallels every year for new features, but their model doesn’t work under subscription for what I previously mentioned above and therefore I cut all ties.
 
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MacRumors said:
In an effort to keep Macs running efficiently, the System and Disk Pack provides the "Clean Drive" ability to easily scan files and delete duplicates, discover the largest files, remove temporary OS and application files, and more. Parallels said this tool periodically reminds users to run it so that they can keep their computer's performance up-to-speed
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Don't fall for this (especially ex Windows Users), you don't need this, a Mac doesn't slow (*Normally) down.

*Only when your disk is near to 100% full and there's no space left for VM it will crawl to a near halt, but that error is the user fault, the System will tell you if that happens beforehand.
 
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I dumped Parallels around v12, after they went with the annual upgrade hard push, justified by bundling of fluff features.

If macOS changes in such a way that the old version of some software no longer works, then I’ll be happy to purchase a new version in order to fund the development required to update the app. Beyond that, I’m not interested in subscriptions or annual upgrades for the sake of a new version number.

Software’s a hard business to be in. I get that. But somehow this all worked fine when we were buying software on floppies in a box. Now everyone wants monthly subscription revenue. Sorry, but these companies betting the farm on a subscription model are going to learn the hard way that people aren’t interested.
 
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MacRumors said:
For example, in the Presentation Pack there's a one-click "Presentation Mode" that hides desktop files, blocks email and message notifications, prevents sleep mode, and automatically adjusts resolution for external displays. The Screen and Video Pack includes screenshot capturing tools and a "Record Screen" feature so that users can quickly record their entire screen -- or just a specified area -- and then convert the video, download it, or create a GIF.
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Can't you just use Automator to setup tasks like this? I guess some people would rather pay $10 a year but it seems like a waste.

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I've stopped using Parallels. Their advertisements to paying customers has pushed me away...that and if you upgrade your OS, they want you to pay to use their software in the new OS even when there were rarely any compatibility issues.
 
Subscription was one of the reason I went for VMWare Fusion, the number 1 reason was that Fusion had better performance for me. Subscription for virtualization software has no reason for me, Fusion has been working in every macOS release for Windows 7, 8 and 10. I only bought the upgrade once in more than 4 years.

I am a heavy user of MS Visual Studio, but thanks to MS that now make most of their apps available on the Mac I find myself using Fusion less and less. And to be honest in my case makes more sense in the mid and long term to just buy a Windows laptop.
 
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bellang said:
After having bought some software on iOS for a not inconsiderable sum, only to find the next update labelled it a legacy app, I'm more pro subscriptions these days.
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No one has forced you to update to iOS 11. My iPhone 6s Plus is still running fine on iOS 10.

Since you bought the app outright, you can continue to use the app on the older iOS for as long as you'd like even though the developer has stopped supporting it. With the subscription model, it's simply gone forever.
 
redheeler said:
No one has forced you to update to iOS 11. My iPhone 6s Plus is still running fine on iOS 10.

Since you bought the app outright, you can continue to use the app on the older iOS for as long as you'd like even though the developer has stopped supporting it. With the subscription model, it's simply gone forever.
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It’s nothing to do with the iOS version, the developer decided to stop updating this app and wanted to move everyone to a new paid version to cash in again.

As an aside, I like airplay 2 and security, so wouldn’t choose to stay behind on updates.
 
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