Parallels today announced the availability of the fastest, most seamless Windows-on-Mac solution ever: Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac.
This is the latest version of the number 1 Mac system utility,
currently enabling more than 2 million users to run Windows, Linux and
other operating systems side-by-side with Mac OS X. According to
performance research conducted by Crimson Consulting Group, Parallels
Desktop 5 for Mac performs 22% faster than the nearest Windows-on-Mac
competitor in standard productivity testing of Windows 7 64-bit on a
MacBook Pro. In addition, version 5 is up to 300% faster for virtual
machine operations than the previous version. For 3D and graphics
performance, tested under the industry standard 3Dmark 2006
Professional test suite the new version performs up to 7 times better.
Users can test this for themselves with a free trial from www.parallels.com/desktop.
"As the OS battles rage between Microsoft, Apple and Linux, we
provide a completely customizable solution that enables people to use
the applications they need with the fastest performance available,
regardless of the operating system," said Serguei Beloussov, CEO of
Parallels. "Parallels continues to build on its proven track record of
innovation, responding to our customers by providing the fastest,
smartest and most powerful Windows-on-Mac experience available."
There are more than 70 new features in Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac,
many of which give users the flexibility to work in the way they want.
Users can choose how much or little Windows they want to see, from
running Windows in Full Screen mode where Windows completely covers the
Mac user interface to the new Crystal view mode which makes Windows
completely disappear. Users can even get a Mac-like experience in their
Windows applications, using the intuitive Apple Trackpad Gestures
technology to pinch, swipe, and rotate as they do in Mac applications.
"Ideally PC emulation should be transparent and invisible, and
Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac goes a very long way towards this," said
beta tester and executive in the mining industry Nic Clift. " The thing
that strikes me most about Parallels Desktop for Mac is that it is
trouble-free, consistent with what I expect of Mac software, and has
proved to be a remarkably convenient and easy way for me to maintain as
much access to the world of Windows as I want. Parallels works as
neatly with Boot Camp as it does when running seamlessly in the
background, along with my everyday Mac software. If anything, version 5
has made Windows emulation even more transparent and trouble-free and
unless one wants to get involved with the details of set-up it is easy
to forget that it is even running."
Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac introduces more than 70 new features and enhancements, offering a computing experience that is:
Faster…
- Full support for Aero in Windows Vista and 7 through Windows WDDM driver, including Aero Flip 3D
- Virtual machine size automatically optimized for best performance with Parallels Compressor
- Improved performance for Linux guest OS from KVM paravirtualization
"The excellent 3D graphics performance of Parallels Desktop for Mac
makes it Autodesk’s preferred Mac virtualization software for customers
who choose to run AutoCAD or our other design and engineering software
on the Mac," said Andrew Mackles, Director of AutoCAD Product
Management at Autodesk. "We are excited about the further graphics
enhancements in Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac and the potential to
improve the customer experiences."
Smarter…
- A more Mac-like experience in their Windows applications
through Apple Trackpad Gestures technology (pinch, swipe, rotate and
more), horizontal scrolling and the application of Full Screen active
corners and curl page effect - Copy & Paste fidelity for formatted text and complete layouts including images, even between Windows and Linux guest OSs
- Freedom and flexibility to run Windows and Mac applications across multiple monitors
More Powerful…
- 7 times better graphic performance for games and 3D
applications than the previous version with Direct X 9Ex with Shader
Model 3 and OpenGL 2.1 support - Superior graphics performance for Linux guests through OpenGL 2.1 support
- Full hardware resources can be utilized with support for 8 virtual CPUs, 64 bit Windows and Snow Leopard Server 64 bit
- Easily move PCs (including Windows 7) and 3rd party virtual machines to the Mac with the enhanced Parallels Transporter
Availability and Pricing
Parallels Desktop 5
for Mac is available in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish
starting today- Additional localized versions will soon be available in
Chinese, Czech, Hungarian, Japanese, Polish and Russian in the coming
weeks
The standard retail price (SRP) of Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is
$79.99, including $175 worth of additional software for free: Parallels
Internet Security 2009 by Kaspersky (1 year subscription); Acronis Disk
Director Suite 10.0 (Disk Management); Acronis True Image 11 Home
(Backup and Recovery Solutions).
Current Parallels Desktop users can upgrade their existing software
for $49.99. Users that purchased version 4.0 on or after October 1st
2009 qualify with a proof of purchase for a free upgrade to version
5. Customers who purchased from the Parallels Online Store will be
notified directly with their upgrade key. Customers who purchased
Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac with Channel/ Retail/ e-tail Partners
have to proactively claim their free of charge upgrade at www.parallels.com/keyfor5/.
Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is available starting today at the Apple Store, Amazon.com, Best Buy, Fry’s Electronics, MacMall, MicroCenter, Target and hundreds of other retail locations nationwide.
A free trial of Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is available along with
in-depth information, videos and screenshots of the new features at www.parallels.com/products/desktop.
