Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac [Old Version]

by Parallels Software

Product Features

• Use a wide variety of 3D design programs and games with full DirectX 9.0c/9Ex and Shader Model 3 support
• Use the graphics capabilities and unique features in Windows applications whether you?re a gamer, student, architect, designer or engineer
• Use Mac OX Lion features like Launchpad and Mission Control with your Windows applications
• Seamlessly run Windows and its applications side by side with Mac OS X and its applications on a single Mac
• Moving your old PC to a Mac is a breeze; if you need Windows, conveniently purchase and download it in the new Parallels Wizard

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 5.2 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B005FDK7J6
• Item model number: PDFM7XL-BX1-EN
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 1, 2011
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (413 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #256 in Software (See Top 100 in Software)
  • #3 in Software > Utilities > Cross Platform
  • #61 in Software > The Mac Software Store

Product Description

Amazon.com

Run Windows Applications Like They Were Made for Your Mac

Great for home or school

Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac enables one Mac to handle all your computing needs. Run Windows and Mac OS X side-by-side; even use parental controls to manage access to Windows applications. In school? Run the PC programs your school requires and the Mac applications you love.

Fast, easy way to run Windows and Mac applications side by side, without rebooting.

A Mac-based business must-have

An office full of Macs can still run the business-critical PC applications that you, your clients and your partners need. On the go? Parallels Mobile Pro for your iPad and iPhone lets you remotely use your Mac and Windows applications from anywhere.

Made with Mac lovers in mind

If you love Mac, you'll love Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac. Run Mac OS X and Windows without rebooting. Experience Windows applications with the same elegant look and feel as Mac applications with features like Mac OS X Lion Launchpad, full screen support, gestures and Mission Control support.

90+ New Features and Enhancements

With more than 90 new, exciting features and enhancements, Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac is the smart solution for running Windows on Mac.

New Features:

• New! Use Mac OS X Lion features like Launchpad, Mission Control and gestures and you'll think your Windows applications were made for Mac
• New! Parallels Mobile Pro lets you remotely access all of your Mac and Windows applications in your iPad or iPhone from anywhere while you're on the go
• New! Purchase, download, and install Windows right from the Parallels Wizard
• New! Easily share your iSight or FaceTime HD camera between Mac and Windows applications
• New! Run Mac OS X Lion as a guest operating system

Enhanced Features:

• Enhanced! Automatically move your programs, data and media (My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, My Videos, My Downloads, and settings) to the appropriate folders on your Mac
• Enhanced! Choose up to 1GB of video memory for your most graphically intensive Windows programs -- Parallels Desktop 7 delivers unmatched visual fidelity
• Enhanced! Super-fast 3D graphics performance to run the most graphics-intensive Windows programs
• Enhanced! All new help and documentation in the Apple style standard make it easy to find the information you need

Benefits:

• Have the Mac you want and still use the Windows programs you need
• Windows programs can be launched right from the Mac Dock
• You can copy & paste and drag & drop files and data between Windows and Mac applications
• Use all your Windows-based programs on your Mac, even graphically intense apps

What's in the Box

Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac, Quick Reference Guide, Quick Start Guide, Getting Started Booklet, Kaspersky Internet Security 2012 for Windows, Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Mac 2011, Acronis Online Backup 2010

Product Description

With Parallels Desktop for Mac, you can seamlessly run both Windows and Mac OS X Lion applications side-by-side with speed, control and confidence. Setting up Parallels Desktop for Mac is simple both Windows and Mac OS X - on one seamless desktop. Multiple view modes make it possible for you to customize the level of integration between Mac and Windows without compromising performance. Parallels Mobile App for iPhone and iPad links you back to the to your Mac and Windows applications. You can even use Mac OS X Lion features like Launchpad and Mission Control with your Windows applications, and run Mac OS X Lion as a guest operating system.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 119 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A little better then Parallels 6 September 7, 2011

By John E. Scott

I am not going to go into my whole experience with Parallels. I have had good and bad with all versions. The problem is three fold in how well Parallels will work. You have the host OS which can be Snow Leopard (very mature) Lion (has its own quirks yet) or maybe your still with Leopard. The second is your hardware, because running not only a Mac OS but then a program that runs in OS X and also runs a version of Windows is going to need RAM and a decent CPU. The third thing is to decide if you want to run Windows native too for things like gaming. If so consider installing BootCamp from Apple first. Its free and it will make Parallels easier too.
Now for Parallels 7 review. It is faster on my 2010 Macbook Air then Parallels 6 to a point. I am limited to 2GB RAM so any virtual OS is going to have to deal with that limitation. If you don't tend to run a lot of programs in OS X and/or Windows at once then 2GB will do. But you will notice slowdowns at times. If you have Lion OS BootCamp will limit you to Windows 7. Parallels is the way to go if you want XP or cringe :( Vista. Parallels 7 does take advantage of some of Lion's new features. Full screen for one. It does make Windows look as though your running only Windows. But if your not a Lion user then Parallels 7 may not have anymore then a speed bump for you.
As far as using it, I have used it about a week and for the most part it does work OK. Its never going to run as fast as a native PC running Windows or even in BootCamp. If you really want to see what Windows can do on a Mac then use BootCamp. It is one reason Apple only really supports BootCamp. My cons about Parallels 7 are high CPU usage at times,slow downs when opening lots of browser tabs or programs. Needs 4GB ram to run well. Have to buy Parallels and a copy of Windows. So it gets kind of expensive. If you really need to go back and forth between the two operating systems. (Windows & OS X) then Parallels is a good choice. For better performance and saving a little bit of money try BootCamp first.

53 of 59 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars VMWare Fusion users ... the time to switch is now!!! September 8, 2011

By Ron M

I have been using VMWare Fusion almost since it was released, and have been generally happy with it. However, after a recent update my machines seem to have slowed down, and VMWare consumes a lot of CPU even when my virtual machines are idle. I decided to try Parallels 7, and I am SO GLAD that I did. It is way faster, way more polished, and easy to customize the way I like. I wish I would have switched years ago!!! Importing from my VMWare machines as as simple as pressing a button ... it was all automatic and worked perfectly for me. I like to run in "full screen" mode when I am using Windows, and Parallel's Lion support makes this much smoother (each machine in full screen mode gets its own "space" in OSX Lion).

Anyone who is using VMWare and who isn't totally happy with it should consider switching now!!!

p.s. VMWare Fusion users can get a copy for $29 from Parallel's web site ... do a google search to find the order page. You just need to enter your VMWare Fusion license to qualify.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential October 20, 2011

By Mr. P. Howard

It's difficult to admit that, although I'm an avid Mac user, I need access to Windows on a regular basis. Apps like Visual Studio and Beyond Compare are essential to my workflow, yet the rest of my time is spent doing things better suited to the Mac; chopping up graphics and working in PHP.

Parallels has been my saving grace almost from the moment Macs made the switch to Intel. I can remember being genuinely excited about the prospect of virtualising a Windows desktop on a Mac, and doing away with my clapped-out Windows computer forever. Have I looked back since? No.

Parallels works beautifully, integrating Windows so seamlessly with Mac OS that you'd be forgiven for thinking that there was no Windows running on your computer at all. You don't have to take it to that level, though, you can run Windows-in-a-window and compartmentalise. Parallels 7 introduces support with Lion's new window management features, meaning that it gets its own desktop in full-screen mode and you can easily hold down CTRL and use number or arrow keys to switch instantly between Windows and Lion.

As far as running Windows 7 is concerned, Parallels eats it for breakfast. Boot times stay fast, mainly because a virtualised windows is used less and thus is less prone to getting bogged down with random nonsense. And you can back up your whole virtual machine, for a quick and easy restore if Windows decides to implode.

Even running games is possible, right up to modern titles like Battlefield Bad Company 2, although not so well as you might want. Less recent games, such as those you might find on GOG.com, run beautifully, and Parallels really makes exploring those childhood classics possible.