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PARALLELS DESKTOP 3.0 IS ALMOST HERE!
Parallels ^ | 05/31/2007

Posted on 06/01/2007 1:28:28 PM PDT by Swordmaker

About 3 hours ago we let the world know that for the last few months, we've been quietly building and testing an entirely new version of Parallels Desktop for Mac. Named Desktop for Mac 3.0, this forthcoming major update - due in a few weeks - has over 50 great new features. Since we're still in beta testing I won't go into all of them, but I did want to highlight two of them:

SmartSelect: A wicked cool new feature that lets you assign any OS X or Windows application as the default for any Mac or Windows file type. This means that when you right-click on any file in either OS and selects “open with”, SmartSelect automatically populates the recommended application list with compatible applications from both operating systems.

With SmartSelect, I set Word for Windows to be my default application to work with .doc, .rtf and .txt files, so when I double click a file with that extension in either OS – even if it is an email attachment in Apple Mail – the file instantly opens the file in Word. I've also configure SmartSelect to open all hyperlinks clicked in either OS to open in Firefox for Mac, and for all email to route through Apple Mail. This is total OS integration on a file and application level...put it together with Coherence, and you have the most seamless user experience possible.

3D Graphics: You asked for it, and we delivered. Kick around your favorite Windows-only OpenGL and DirectX games and apps in a virtual machine on your Mac, without shutting down OS X!

Here's Quake 4 running full-speed in my virtual machine on my test Mac. Yes, as shocking as it may be, I took one for the team and played Windows games in my VM for a whole day to make sure that they run well. Aren't I noble?

There's a lot more (as in, more than 50 new features in all) in 3.0. You can learn more about everything that's coming in the final version at the Desktop for Mac 3.0 Upgrade Page.

The new version will be available in just a few weeks at the regular price of $79.99, but current users can upgrade for only $49.99. And, now through the release date (very soon...), you can actually upgrade for only $39.99, which, for those of you who aren't math savvy (like me), is 1/2 the regular retail price. We're doing this as a formal thank-you to everyone who's supported us over the past year. We figured that you'd like this better than just another "thank you" blog post. :)

If you want to buy now and save some dough, hit the Upgrade Page.

Stay tuned for news about the final release of 3.0 in the next few weeks. Oh, and I'll see you all at WWDC, where we'll have more big news for you.


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: mac; operatingsystems; pc; windows
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1 posted on 06/01/2007 1:28:28 PM PDT by Swordmaker
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To: 1234; 50mm; 6SJ7; Abundy; Action-America; af_vet_rr; afnamvet; akatel; Alexander Rubin; Amadeo; ...
Parallels is now saying that Parallels 3.0, due in a few weeks, will run Windows Games at full speed in a window under OS X... PING!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

2 posted on 06/01/2007 1:30:03 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE)
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: Swordmaker

Yep! THIS is the one we are waiting for at work. Now we can do x-platform development of our game code without having to boot back into Windows.

I will be first in line to get this!


4 posted on 06/01/2007 1:37:15 PM PDT by rom (17" MacBook Pro. 30" Cinema Display. 1 Happy Programmer.)
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To: Swordmaker; Lil'freeper

I received an email offering to pre-order this.


5 posted on 06/01/2007 1:37:57 PM PDT by big'ol_freeper (It looks like one of those days when one nuke is just not enough-- Lt. Col. Mitchell, SG-1)
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To: Swordmaker

Any idea whether it’s going to support 64 bit windows yet?


6 posted on 06/01/2007 1:51:13 PM PDT by mhx
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;’) ...for those of us who aren’t math savvy, $39.99 is less than 1/2 $79.99...


7 posted on 06/01/2007 3:42:24 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Time heals all wounds, particularly when they're not yours. Profile updated May 31, 2007.)
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To: mhx
Any idea whether it’s going to support 64 bit windows yet?

Probably When 64-bit Windows is the standard on desktops or when Leopard (64-bit) ships (probably when Leopard ships, since 64-bit Windows won't be the standard on desktops for a few years at least) .

At this point, the majority of PCs are shipping with 32-bit Windows, because most users won't benefit from 64-bit, or because most applications won't benefit (I'm not even sure applications that would benefit such as Photoshop, are even shipped with 64-bit versions).

Keep in mind that much of the benefits of 64-bit are at the server level right now, which is why VMWare supports it - seeing as they are more oriented towards Enterprise-level customers. Parallels is geared towards consumers, people who walk into an Apple Store and say "I need something to run these two Windows applications".

Unfortunately, Microsoft's problems in getting Vista out the door (which I thought a while back would be where common Windows users would really get into 64-bit software) meant they weren't able to sync up with the push of consumer 64-bit hardware (Core 2 Duos, AMD's 64-bit offerings, etc.). Developers aren't going to focus on getting 64-bit software, even if the hardware is out for consumers, if the consumer 64-bit OS is not out yet.

I expect within two years you'll see more 64-bit software for Windows users, since the hardware will be more widespread, and Vista will be out and hopefully have their first SP or two.

I have spoken to a Parallels developer, and 64-bit Windows is in their plans, but they prioritize based on what people want most first and what their target audience is. Right now, it's switchers and Mac users who need Windows or Linux or whatever.

Parallels has big plans for the enterprise arena, and they will definitely have 64-bit guest OS support.
8 posted on 06/01/2007 3:43:14 PM PDT by af_vet_rr
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To: rom
I will be first in line to get this!<

I am waiting for your reaction to actually using it... bating breath now.

9 posted on 06/01/2007 5:17:46 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE)
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To: Swordmaker

I’m currently running the most recent version of Parallels on my brand new MacBook Pro. I will never buy another Microsoft product again. I have owned and used computers since 1983. I am able to run all my Windows software on the Parallels application. PLUS I can access my health system’s programs (I am a physician) using Windows XP to the electronic medical record which includes 500,000 patient records, all of my work desktop applications, and about five network printers as well as my home printer wirelessly with this puter and Parallels. I have NO NEED to buy from Microsoft again. I have been a tireless Microsoft customer and supporter for 24 years and now I am done with them.


10 posted on 06/01/2007 5:57:08 PM PDT by johniegrad
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To: johniegrad
where did you get parallels? have a new MacBook pro and have problems loading my palm pilot with epocrates. also doesn’t recognize OSX at the hospital. If you don’t mind I might be picking your brain for more help with my recent mac conversion.
11 posted on 06/02/2007 12:39:04 AM PDT by Dick Vomer (liberals suck....... but it depends on what your definition of the word "suck" is.,)
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To: johniegrad
Doc. You are still using Microsoft products (OS) if you are running Parallels.

Just thought I would point that out.

What you are avoiding is standard Intel PC hardware. Well, not really. This only runs on Intel Core processors in the new Intel based Macs. So, what you are doing is being able to run Microsoft and other Windows products within OSX, a really nice OS.

Nevertheless, welcome to the light. You will find that the less time you spend in the Windows environment, the happier you will be.

Remember, you need to deal with anti-virus/anti-spyware issues in the Windows environment despite the rest of your machine being less vulnerable. This environment IS a real running PC with all that that brings.

12 posted on 06/02/2007 1:33:09 AM PDT by dalight
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To: Dick Vomer
I bought it at the Apple Store when I purchased the Mac. You can order it on line at the Parallels website or you can download it directly from there. As far as Palm Pilots and those sort of things are concerned I doubt I will be able to help you. I don't own one and have never used one.

Our health system includes four hospitals and a variety of primary and secondary care centers throughout northern Minnesota. A few years ago we dedicated a lot of resources to employing a system wide electronic medical records system called EPIC (out of Madison). The patient charts have a common identifier and can be located from anywhere in the system, either the inpatient or outpatient settings and in all the regional and neighborhood clinics and hospitals. We are live for all outpatient electronic medical record functions currently and will be going live for all inpatient functions in the next couple of years. Our IT department has set up the ability for physicians and selected others to access EPIC through a virtual desktop over the internet. So, I open Parallels on my Mac to run Windows XP (Vista is not supported by my healthsystem). Once in XP, I go to the Home Access site over the internet using Internet Explorer and pass through a couple of security barriers. I then need an additional password/usename to access EPIC. Once in EPIC, I can review labs, authorize prescription refills, and answer patient calls (our nurses handle the telephone traffic and summarize their patient calls to me on a note through EPIC which requires me to respond usually with an "OK" or something.) Before I logged onto FR this morning, I reviewed new lab data on 15 patients in my inbox, answered 5 patients calls, and authorized 3 prescription refills. There are a lot more functionalities to the system than that also.

The downside to the EPIC system is that we had hoped we would be able to eliminate transcriptionists and reduce some cost. However, when we pilot tested this with a couple of family practice clinics in or system, we found that physicians doing data entry could only become 85% as productive as they had been previously even when they were totally up to speed on the system. We have not been able to achieve any cost reduction through the transcription aspect.

In those specialties where a patient visit deals with a single problem, the electronic medical record works well. Because I can use "smart sets", I am able to type ".xxx" or whatever I have designated in my personal "smart sets" file and have the program spit out an entire paragraph that I set up in advance. Because of this functionality, I have not dictated an outpatient visit in 18 months and I have not lost any productivity.

Be happy to discuss further with you but I am not an IT guy just a doc who has learned to use the system a little better than most.

13 posted on 06/02/2007 5:42:25 AM PDT by johniegrad
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To: dalight

Thanks for the note. I did realize that. As a matter of fact, I updated my Norton Antivirus this morning before logging onto FR. I guess I what I really meant to say above is that I will not be buying any more PCs that are strictly Windows based. I’ve only had this new computer for about a month but I know that I will only buy Mac now unless something really dramatic happens in the market.


14 posted on 06/02/2007 5:48:58 AM PDT by johniegrad
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To: Swordmaker

Eight or nine years ago I took an IT job as a shop that had Mac users (my introduction to Macs). They had several WinTel techs and one Mac support guy.

As a WinTel support tech I was given a (s)Thinkpad (Win-98) and the Mac guy got (I believe) a G3. He quickly loaded a program that allowed him to run a Windows session (in a “window”) on his Mac. I was impressed!

In my current position I support a 100% PC shop. The Network and IT Security guys are totally unimaginative and have imposed Global Policies that reduce the corporate PC’s to a fraction of their usefulness.

I would love to get my hands on this sort of lash-up so that I would function (sort of) within their restrictive environment, and still be able to get some work done!

I’m gonna be following this with interest...


15 posted on 06/02/2007 10:47:23 AM PDT by rockrr (09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0)
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To: Swordmaker
I have a friend who is going to be buying a new laptop and is considering OSX. The show-stopper for him is that it must be able to run Autocad's latest version "Civil 3D 2008".

Does anyone know if Parallels will run this?

16 posted on 06/02/2007 1:45:12 PM PDT by zeugma (MS Vista has detected your mouse has moved, Cancel or Allow?)
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To: rockrr
The Network and IT Security guys are totally unimaginative and have imposed Global Policies that reduce the corporate PC’s to a fraction of their usefulness.

This is the natural consequence of using a platform that is vulnerable to the many already existing and greater potential malware exploits in the wild. Functionality and usability suffer... sometimes crippling the organization that needs them.

. . . the Mac guy got (I believe) a G3. He quickly loaded a program that allowed him to run a Windows session (in a “window”) on his Mac. I was impressed!

It is even better today... Parallels, Crossover Mac, and Boot Camp make it possible to have multiple OSs on the Apple platform running at native speeds... often more safely than a single installation. However, keep in mind that if the solution requires using a full installation of Windows, it is likely that it is just as vulnerable to Windows Malware as a regular Windows machine and would need the Windows security ware.

You can run these vulnerable OSs fairly safely if you keep their browsers and mail apps off the internet and use only Mac OSX for your internet access.

17 posted on 06/02/2007 1:49:23 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE)
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To: zeugma
Does anyone know if Parallels will run this?

As far as I know, there is not a problem. Parallels can share a Windows partition with Boot Camp which can run Windows XP or Vista unfettered and when, booted as Windows, is a full-fledged Windows computer capable of running anything that will run on Windows.

18 posted on 06/02/2007 1:53:35 PM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE)
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To: Swordmaker
Not a big gamer, but some of you may find this interesting: Quake 4 inside of Windows running on Parallels Desktop.

Pretty smooth, when you take into account the crappy compression of YouTube.
19 posted on 06/04/2007 7:37:53 PM PDT by af_vet_rr
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To: Swordmaker

bump


20 posted on 06/04/2007 7:38:58 PM PDT by VOA
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