| Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac [OLD VERSION] | ![Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac [OLD VERSION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XBcQjLHKL._SL160_.jpg)
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| From: Nova Development US
Category: Software
List Price: $79.99
Buy New: $30.90
You Save: $49.09 (61%)
New (22) Used (10) from $19.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  273 reviews
Sales Rank: 414
Format: Cd-rom
Platform: Mac Os X Intel
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Standard
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 1.5 x 7.5 x 5.2
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: 100722
Model: 23707
UPC: 727298404005
EAN: 0727298404005
ASIN: B000GHIV2Q
Release Date: July 17, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Works like a Dream November 2, 2006
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
So grateful for the ease of this program. Smooth as silk installing it and is a wonder.
 A good idea plagued by a mercenary and unresponsibe tech support October 24, 2006
10 out of 18 found this review helpful
I must admit I found the concept of using windows on my new macbook quite exciting and was duly excited for the 24 hours that it seemed to work, that is before my virtual hardrive froze and then while I was awaiting tech assistance unexpectedly disappeared with all my data. For this I blame Sage's tech support which is designed to be little more than an additional source of revenue, perhaps greater than that derived from selling the product. Unless you are very well versed in computers, expect to pay more for your tech assistance than for the product. Let me explain.
Although I am far from a techie, after years of using Windows, I am far from ignorant. I set up my virtual system after overcoming a few hurdles -- the product manual has the usual problems -- using terms which it assumes the customer understands but which only the writer of the manual truly comprehends. A few items didn't work, e.g., my hp printer didn't work, apparently as I would later figure out because of bug, and I never did get connected to the internet. But what gauled me is that I had no one to assist me. Sage provides for email tech assistance. I sent three emails. One was totally unresponsive, telling me to install anti viral software when my question was about connecting to the internet. An initial question about my inability to install Windows was indirectly helpful. The response although not on point did lead to my figuring out what was amiss. And the third, having to do once again with connecting to the internet, again used terms which were totally unfamiliar to me and would require follow up emails to explicate. It seems as if there is competition among the Parallel tech representatives to be as brief as possible when responding to inquiries. To consider alternative explanations or to make further inquiry or even to write more than three sentences is beyond them.
Of course while all this was going on, time was wasting and days passing. My purchase of a new computer which I intended to use further my business had if anything seriously hampered my business and would have totally undermined it had I not had a spare PC to use in a pinch.
Giving in, I finally decided to telephone for assistance when my virtual operating system froze for no apparent reason. I hadn't even been using it at the time. Before I was actually allowed to speak to a representative, however, Parallel made sure that they first got their pound of flesh. You have to pay up front before they will give you a phone number. Desparate as I was, I paid and called. You guessed it -- the phone message indicated that all representatives were busy and would call me back. Five hours later, no one called. And guess what happened in the meantime? My virtual hard drive disappeared.
Thank you Sage for nothing. I have little doubt that had i had appropriate assistance, none of this would have happened. I also blame Apple. I have no problem with Apple tech help, but they will not assist on Parallel software even though they are making a pretty penny pushing the product so as to entice droves of Windows user to convert to Macs. Shame on them.
 Unpolished But Still Amazing October 20, 2006
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
This software has a lot of quirks and crashed on some environments (see notes below), but still the potential of what this software does is just amazing and the potential is incredible.
I mostly run Windows XP, and I do not notice any performance degradation, and I utilize this for a variety of chores in development, scripting, and Windiows system administration. I also do presentations, documentation, and accounting (Office, QuickBooks). It works flawlessly in this regard. I switch back between Windows and Mac OS X often without problems. I only have to limit the number of programs I run on both environments given that I only have 1 gig of memory.
Note, contrary to one reviewer stating that this is an emulator, that is not true. This is a virtual machine that uses some hypervisor technology. Essentially, it is almost like running a full Windows on your box, and is very similar to how VMWare works, except slightly better in some aspects.
Overall, this product is great and essential. There's no need to run one OS at a time through BootCamp, as this solution will work. It may have some rough edges as it has an unpolished feel, but it just works, and for that, I purchased this after trying the evaluation.
Crash Notes:
- booting up on Windows Vista RC1 DVD (distributed at SANS convention) crashes Parallels. (reported this)
- changing screen resolutions for testing with Mandriva Linux installation (xorg) crashes Parallels.
Anoyances:
- ALT-ENTER goes to DOS mode (when command shell windows is in foreground) as well as enter into full-screen. ALT-ENTER again switches out of DOS mode, but switches out of full-screen.
- Windowed Mode: window dimesions grow outside of screen-resolution, cannot resize and get scroll bars. This forces you to go to full-screen.
- Mac OS X envioronment: virual network device on Mac OS X is created (en2), but doesn't appear through any user interface or even Profiler, but appears in commands. Wierd behavior with this and default routes.
- Windowed Mode: cannot easily mount floppies, CD-ROMs, etc, by dragging them on icons in Window. Would be nice behavior, but then Parallels window extends beyond the Mac's screen depth.
- Full-Screen Mode: some mac dialogs super-impose over full-screen mode, cannot click on things behind Mac window.
- Windowed Mode: moving cursor across Doc inside Parallel's window causes cursor to interact with dock, but then it's still glued to dimensions within Parallels environment.
- other bizarre issues where cursors between Mac and Windows seem to fight for control. Don't hit key combination for using Dashboard widgets!
- Multi-Screen: if Windows on another monitor (full-screen), no way to return control to Macintosh cursor. Have to switch out of full screen mode in order to regain control of cursor, which sort of defeats the point of having multiple monitors and Parallels.
so much faster than Virtual PC October 14, 2006
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
As a long-time Apple/Mac user whose office is PC based, I used Virtual PC for years. It saved me the cost of having to buy a Windows PC, but was sometimes agonizingly slow. Parallels on my MacBook runs refreshingly fast. It was fairly easy to install. The only problem with Parallels is that you need to buy a copy of the operating system and install it on Parallels. In my case I bought and installed XP Pro. I had some minor issues when trying to run a wireless app (SlingPlayer), but solved these fairly quickly. All other applications (all business) have installed and run with no problems.
Simple to Use, Value for the Money, Stable September 28, 2006
13 out of 16 found this review helpful
I am not going to repeat all the great things about this product, but I am going to clear up some confusion for the rest of us. Unlike what the other recommender wrote, I had no problems with my Dell Photo 720 USB Printer (maybe s/he forgot to "connect" the printer). In the world of Parallels Desktop for Mac, all devices, e.g. iSight, USB ports, disc drives..., could be connected to either Mac OS X or Windows, but not simulateously. Therefore, his/her USB printer was probably "connected" to Mac OS X but not to Windows.
MacBook Pro 15" rev. A, Dell Photo 720 USB Printer, Canon Digital Rebel XT camera.
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