Parallels

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed from our readers. This week we focus on using a VM image or Boot Camp partition in Parallels, adding alarms to the "Birthdays" calendar in iCal, and getting movies to view on an Apple TV. We continually answer e-mail questions and while we present a few here, we certainly welcome alternative approaches and views from readers and encourage you to post your suggestions in the comments.

Question: Standalone Virtual Machine or Boot Camp in Parallels?

MacFixIt reader "Jack" asks:

When installing Parallels 6 and Windows … Read more

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed from our readers. This week we have questions on boot camp drivers not installing on MacBook systems, how to undo the Terminal command to disable DNS prefetching in Safari, black rectangles appearing over Finder items, and how many CPU settings are recommended for use with Windows XP in Parallels Desktop.

Question: Boot Camp drivers not installing on MacBook

MacFixIt reader "Michelle" asks:

I have a Core duo first-generation MacBook (one of the black ones). I have recently decided to put Windows on my Mac for software incompatibility … Read more

I have always loved the idea of running two operating systems in parallel, and the advancements in virtualization technology have been exceptionally intriguing. For the past few days I have had the opportunity to try out the next version of Parallels Desktop, which is available today for public purchase. The latest version has a few small quirks, and I am not able to test it in all configurations or its full capabilities, but overall it does live up to the advertised improvements over the prior version.

Installation

I regularly use virtual machines, though my uses are primarily limited to testing … Read more

Parallels today announced the release of the next major version of its "Parallels Desktop" virtualization software for Mac OS X. Parallels Desktop 6 will be available September 14, and the company is touting it as the "fastest, smartest, and most powerful" version yet of the No. 1 virtual-machine solution for the Mac.

It sounds pretty enticing, so let's see what the new version of the program has.

In Parallels Desktop 6, the company has focused on improving the virtual machine performance, and, according to the company, its 3D graphics performance is nearly 40 percent better … Read more

VMware says that, like its rival Parallels, it has virtualization software that can help ease the transition from Windows XP to Windows 7.

While its approach is less comprehensive than Parallels $50 product, VMware's approach is free, using a combination of VMware Converter and VMware Player, both of which are available from the company's Web site. VMware's approach uses Converter to package up and transfer a physical XP desktop into a virtual machine and then allows that XP desktop to run virtually inside the new Windows 7 machine.

VMware's products have been available for some time, … Read more

Parallels, known for using virtualization to solve consumer problems, thought it had a surefire new use for its technology.

Why not use the same approach it used to put Windows on a Mac to help ease the move from XP to Windows 7. The solution was elegant, helping users both make the move and even run older programs that weren't compatible with the new version of Windows. At first, the signs from Microsoft were encouraging; the company even invited Parallells to a Windows 7 momentum event in Paris to publicly talk about the program, Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows … Read more

Parallels said it is ready to start selling a program that uses virtualization to help ease the migration to Windows 7 from older versions of the operating system.

The company, which is best known for software that lets Windows run on a Mac, has been working on a tool to ease the move to Windows 7 from earlier versions of the operating system--a move first reported by CNET.

The new software, dubbed Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7, will be available from Amazon and Parallels almost immediately and will hit store shelves on May 31, Parallels announced on Wednesday. … Read more

A few Parallels Desktop users are noticing a problem with some newer Macs where the program will not show the Virtual Machines list after migrating to the new system. At times the VM list will briefly show when some window-based system functions are used such as Expose and Spaces; however, it quickly disappears, and users cannot access their VMs.… Read more

Parallels is indeed coming out with a product that uses virtualization to help ease the transition to Windows 7.

The software, the existence of which was first reported by CNET on Wednesday, takes one's files and programs from a Windows XP or Vista PC and packages them up to be used on either a new PC or an existing one upgraded to Windows 7. If the programs are not compatible with Windows 7, Parallels uses its virtualization technology to allow the applications to run in the newer operating system.

Parallels Desktop Upgrade to Windows 7, as the product will … Read more