I hopes this increase performance. With each new Parallels release, it has gotten slower and slower.

How much memory do you have? New features often are additional background processes & this takes up memory very quickly.

Much of the speed of Parallels relies on it's use of the Virtualization Technology built into EFI. Apple & Parallels are finally pushing the edge of development for EFI & utilizing this great technology that has been so neglected for so many years.

Where has VMWare or anyone else come close to what Parallels has done for Windows running on Macs? I thank the Parallels team for the job they have don thus far!

-Hez

With such seamless cross-OS file and app integration, how do we protect ourselves from Windows malware? Let's say a non-expert installs Parallels; then receives a bogus attachment in his Mail App on Mac; double-clicks this attachment, which launches in Parallels and creates some mess. While it's most likely that any data corruption would be confined to the virtual C: drive (either a single-file disk image for Parallels, or the BootCamp partition), this corruption would remain there and, i you have mapped a shared Mac OS folder in Parallels, there's that danger of malware jumping over and messing up data there.

While I have Parallels on my machine, just in case, it is there for exactly that - just in case. It has been months since last time I ran it.

So Parallels is planning on charging paid users for this upgrade. I suppose that wouldn't hurt so bad if they actually provided any level of customer support, but not one of my communications to this company as even been acknowledged. This is a great product only if what works in it is exactly what you need. Trying to figure out anything else, is almost impossible when they won't communicate with their customers. Heck, trying to reach someone at their corporate office is even impossible even when calling on your own dime.

Shouldn't they get the current version working before they ask for more money? I'm still waiting for Parallels to work with my Garmin GPS and my BlackBerry Pearl...

Yeah, it feels a little money-grab-ish to me. I was expecting a few more features to be ironed out first...

I'm suprised that the upgrades are paid, but I don't mind, because it's brilliant. Sure not everything works, but it's very very fast on my machine, and if 3D support really works I don't mind paying. It's also much cheaper than VMware and at this point in my experience, much cheaper.

For those complaining, make sure what you're asking for was actually promised to you. When I bought Parallels I knew exactly what did and didn't work (and I knew a lot of USB connectivity was still flaky).

Parallels is releasing a new major version, and they never said every update would be free, so they're in their right to charge for it.

This time make sure what you're asking for actually works.

FWIW, every problem and question I've had has been speedily answered in the very-active support forums.

Vasic: Although you're right it's also true that it's not either Parallels' or Apple's duty to protect you from Windows. From the moment you have windows installed you assume all the caveats that implies. Even still, Parallels includes a 6-month subscription to Kaspersky (which I didn't claim in the previous version and I probably won't either this time, especially now that Parallels includes snapshots.

Eduo: Yes, I completely agree, it is neither Paralels' nor Apple's responsibility.

Unfortunately, Parallels (much like Crosover) might initiate an erosion of the image of impenetrability of Macs compared to Windows. Although we did have Virtual PC on PPC Macs for years (decades?), it always ran in its own sandbox. I caught several viruses on my Virtual PC it its time. It never bothered me, since it was confined securely to its little virtual world, oblivious to the HFS+ volumes surrounding it. However, this Parallels (and especially Crossover) solution comes a step closer to the seamless integration of file systems, thereby allowing malware to cross over, as it were.

I hope this does nothing to tarnish the rock-solid image of Mac as a virus- and malware-free platform.

So wait Parallels will finally have a feature that VMware Fusion has had for a long while now?? Gasp!!!! Parallels is only offering direct x7 support, while VMware offers DirectX 8.1 Support.

Who you gonna use? VMware Fusion is Free right now and a native cocoa application instead of a crappy port.