Parallels offers OS X virtualization
updated 09:25 am EDT, Thu April 6, 2006
Parallels Workstation 2.1
Following our note earlier this week, Parallels today announced that it is beginning beta testing for Parallels Workstation 2.1 for Mac OS X, "the first" virtualization software that gives Apple users the ability to simultaneously run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their applications alongside Mac OS X on an Intel-based Mac. Virtualization software enables users to run multiple operating systems, like Linux or Windows, in isolated "virtual machines" directly on a Mac OS X desktop -- each virtual machine operates exactly like a stand-alone computer and contains its virtual hardware, including RAM, hard disk, processor, I/O ports, and CD/DVD-drives. The company is offering a free, fully-functional 30-day trial of Parallels Workstation 2.1 for Mac OS X. The company expects to release a final version of the product in the next several weeks. It requires Mac OS 10.4.4 (and is not compatible with PowerPC-based Macs). The Windows and Linux versions, introduced last month, are available for $50.
"Parallels Workstation for MacOS X gives Mac users a viable virtualization solution that will let them embrace widely-used operating systems like Windows and Linux without having to give up the power, usability and familiarity of their Macintosh," said Benjamin Rudolph, Parallels Marketing Manager. "This release underscores our commitment to building solutions that anyone, regardless of budget, technology savvy, or operating system can use to improve productivity and platform flexibility."
The solution leverages the Intel Core Duo, an x86-compatible architecture that allows the Parallels virtualization engine to "virtualize the hardware," enabling Mac users to build virtual machines running nearly any x86-compatible OS, including Windows 3.1-XP/2003, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, OS/2, eComStation, and MS-DOS.
Parallels' full support of Intel Virtualization Technology, which is included in most new Core Duo chipset, ensures that virtual machine performance is close to near-native and that each virtual machine is stable and completely isolated from other virtual machines and the host physical machine.
Great News
04/06, 09:30am reply
With the flurry of news over Boot Camp, I'm glad that there are companies pushing towards the virtualization route for running Windows on your Mac instead of as an alternate OS.
legacyb4
Mac Elite
Joined: May 2001
DarWINE
04/06, 09:47am reply
And we would hope that DarWINE is included in OSX 10.5 so that we can just double-click WinApps and have them run in OSX.
ronjamin
Baninated
Joined: May 2002
Not so fast, please!!
04/06, 10:32am reply
DarWINE is conceptually dangerous; if you could just double-click Windows app to run it, that Windows app could be any of the tens of thousands of trojans out there. We shouldn't allow Win32 apps to run in the same space with Mac OS files; we are exposing rock-solid brickwall-safe OS to all the Windows malware.
Virtualisation provides enough protection by running Win32 stuff in its own sandbox. If anything gets infected/deleted/corrupted, it happens inside its virtual disk image; Mac OS stays safe.
vasic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
Awsome!
04/06, 10:54am reply
This is better than dual-booting. The two systems can run right next to each other, without rebooting the computer. This is like VirtualPC we had before, except with speed.
I am very impressed. On an Intel Mac now you can run any Windos applications that you want. You can run CAD, you can play your games and for everything else you can use your Mac. :-)
t_hah
Mac Elite
Joined: Dec 2000
Great!
04/06, 11:59am reply
I installed Win XP on my MacBook Pro last night using Apple's Boot Camp. While it's impressive to be able to run Win XP at full speed, it's a royal pain to have to reboot in order to switch between the two different operating systems. If Parallels delivers as promised with their virtualization solution, then they are going to make a killing from people wanting to run OS X and Win XP simultaneously at full speed.
rtamesis
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2000
exciting
04/06, 12:33pm reply
This is awesome. yay.
ATPTourFan
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2003
re:not so fast, please!!
04/06, 03:36pm reply
Not only is there a danger of malware but OS X would be at the risk that OS/2 suffered where it was too compatible with windows that nobody bothered writting native apps for OS/2.
aristotles
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Just installed XP with it
04/06, 04:48pm reply
One word... FAST
it's just like having a real PC. The installation took less time than real PC infact.
Best of both world indeed. You can really get rid of your PC at work. MacBook Pro can be used instead of just PC and Mac.
I.P. Freely
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2003
Airport
04/06, 06:05pm reply
Were you able to establish an internet connection through Airport?
rtamesis
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2000
Does it support PCI card?
04/06, 06:17pm reply
Will it support PCI cards? Preferably the 100s of pc TV cards?
yaro
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2001