New Parallels Desktop update is a winner
In July I posted this comparison of the just released Parallels Desktop 3.0 and VMware Fusion. However, with the latest Parallels update, the balance has shifted. Competition in the hot Mac virtualization software market has proved to be a good thing, with both companies scrambling to keep ahead of the other.
Parallels Desktop 3.0 has improved the Coherence feature, so windows act more natural rather than running all Windows applications in a single layer. Unlike VMware, Parallels will switch automatically into Coherence mode when it starts up.
Parallels has improved the Mac desktop integration, now allowing you to mirror your Mac desktop, documents, music, and pictures folders as their Windows equivalent folders.
The biggest winner for me is the performance. This is the first version of Parallels that doesn’t slow down my MacBook Pro to the point of being unusable. They really improved their CPU usage.
If you’ve switched to VMware, it’s time to take another look at Parallels. I’m sure VMware isn’t sitting still, though.
Tags: Intel, Virtualization
