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| Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac (Intel Mac) | 
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| From: Nova Development US
Category: Software
List Price: $79.99
Buy New: $45.00
You Save: $34.99 (44%)
New (29) Used (3) from $45.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  256 reviews
Sales Rank: 35
Format: Cd
Platform: Mac Os X Intel
Media: CD-ROM
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:
 Near Perfect With Boop Camp Partition June 13, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought Parallels for Mac because of previous problems with other similar program, VM Ware. In all fairness, the VM product was a beta so I should have guessed it would be buggy, but even the non beta version had its fair share of bugs.
Although VM Ware loaded XP home without a hitch, using the program was fraught with difficulties. First, it was slow as molasses in January. Im not taking just a little slow, Im talking go to lunch and maybe itll be finished slow.
Secondly, it was prone to mouse failure. Although it would recognize my mouse, it was always at least 2 inches off the mark. If I wanted to click a box I finally learned to position my mouse at least 2 inches below the intended button and then click.
Finally, VM Ware allows for the import of an existing Boot Camp partition (see below) but the process is slow and one slight misstep spells doom. For the novice, its intimidating.
Then I went to Boot Camp, which is Apples built in Windows capable utility. It worked without a hitch but you had to reboot to either OS X or Windows and hold the option key to get a boot menu. Of note, Boot Camp runs Windows natively, that is, at the same speed as a regular Windows machine. Fact is, it runs quicker on a Mac! All you have to do is go to the Boot Camp utility (under Utilities in the HD icon) and it walks you through it.
I got Parallels because I was tired of rebooting my computer to get to Windows. I use Quicken 2008 quite a bit and Quicken for Mac really bites so I do have to use Windows. With Parallels I dont have to reboot.
How difficult is it to access the Boot Camp partition with Parallels? Well for starters, it takes about as long as reading this sentence. Once you install Windows into Boot Camp you then install Parallels in Mac. Upon opening Parallels the first time itll ask you if you want to import the Boot Camp partition with Windows on it. Click yes and youll get a desktop icon that states My Boot Camp. After a few minutes of tweaking youll have Windows running on your Mac desktop.
Of course, its not all fun and games. For example, youll get a warning that your Windows serial number is no longer any good because of significant hardware changes on your computer. Not a problem. I called the Microsoft toll free number and they issued me a new serial number when I told them what happened. Also, until Parallels recognizes and installs your mouse in the window, youll have to revert to the old ALT routine (the underlined Y in Yes means you have to press the Y key to enter the command. Making things weird is that you sometimes have to hit the ALT or CTRL key, sometimes you dont. Go figure).
Also, you must learn to read instructions. Your mouse cursor will be stuck in the Parallels window that appears. It will seem you cant get it out of the box. Read the bottom of the box and itll tell you to hit CTRL and ALT to get the cursor out of the box and back to Mac. It you go to full screen mode, youll have to remember to key in ALT and ENTER to access the Mac screen again (it merely minimizes the window that has XP or Vista in it).
By the way, the default memory allocated to Parallels is 512 MB. Some may find this a tick slow and you can increase it to half of your available RAM if you desire (I have 4 GB so I could go to 2). I found 512 to be just about right, but Vista will require at least 1 GB.
If done properly, Windows will act just as fast in Parallels on Mac as it does in Boot Camp. I could detect no discernible difference, but there are a couple things to remember:
1.If Windows is open in Parallels, shut it down as you would any Windows machine. Shutting it down by closing the window may make it crash.
2.Maximize the window for best performance. If you use the default window size things get really crowded very quickly.
3.Dont think you can get away using a hacked or cloned version of Windows. Parallels demands a serial number before it will load Windows, unless you import it from Boot Camp and then Windows asks for a serial number. Either way, youre out of luck if you attempt to use a fraudulent copy.
For the price I paid (about $20 when I bought my Mac) you really cant lose with Parallels. It works as intended and actually runs Windows better than a Windows machine.
 Terrible - ton of problems and bugs - Appalling customer support June 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have had nothing but problems with Parallels, both in version 2 and version 3. Always crashing, slow, problems with USB ports.
The customer support is appalling. The application cost $59.00 and if you want to speak to tech support (even within 30 days of purchase) they charge you $29.00. Their free tech support is via email which they will get back to you within 3 DAYS. Once they get back and their solution does not work (which is usually the case) you have to email them back again and wait.
Other colleagues using Parallels have had major problems with Parallels as well. Perhaps if it worked and you did not have to constantly seek tech support it wouldn't be that bad.
DO NOT BUY!
Works great June 2, 2008
I use both Parallels and Fusion to run XP on Mac. They both work wonderfully.
Parallels Desktop 3.0 June 1, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Alert ! This does not support Bluetooth devices. Support for product is HORRIBLE ! The company is run very poorly "buy it - you own it" "hope it works for you" attitude by the company. For me it was a bad purchase and have no use. I bought it to run one Windows based navigation software product and it cannot connect to the GPS without being wired. Don't waste your money.
Parallels problems May 30, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
When installing Parallels 3.0 on my iMac it hung at a window asking to reauthorize my Windows XP. I could not close Parallels without going to Windows to shut down. I had to use Boot Camp to go to Windows, but Windows crashed while booting up. So next an Apple Store tech spent 3 hours trying various strategies to get Parallels up and working & in this process had to delete the Windows partition & never was able to get Parallels to function. His supervisor finally decided that there was a corrupt file in Parallels. Now I will try Focus and try to reconstruct my Windows partition & files. No fun at all.
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