Parallels Desktop for Mac
Parallels, Inc.
Price: $79.99
Pros: Easy install, efficient way to work while away from the office, best solution for Windows on a Mac.
Cons: A work in progress, guest operating system not included.
by Sean McPhilamy, SCPO, USCG
Wow. I like Parallels.
I'll begin with some background. I am a successful Coast Guardsman and a compulsive workaholic. I also love my Mac. I've been with Apple since before the Mac (and since before the Coast Guard), and I've had models ranging from the Apple IIc all the way up to my current black MacBook. Life is good!
The work situation, however, is similar to most military work centers, in that I'm in a Windows XP network environment, using Office 2003 applications, and controlled by hardware, software, and policy. This doesn't stop hackers, but it definitely makes life difficult for me since the Coast Guard network infrastructure requires those logging in remotely to be set up with a copy of Windows.
So, even though there are many ways for the Mac and Windows operating systems to work cohesively, there are few allowances for doing so within the Coast Guard information technology standard.
To get around this, I had purchased the Office for Mac Professional edition with Virtual PC. VPC has been a fairly manageable way to work, but it remains a very slow system as a Windows emulator.
Two months ago, I upgraded from the PowerBook to a MacBook with an Intel processor, making my copy of VPC obsolete. So, I came to desire a new way of connecting remotely on my Mac to my Windows desktop at work.
I was aware of the two major options: Apple’s Boot Camp and Parallels Desktop. To sum up my decision to go with Parallels, it comes down to this – I didn't want to have to reboot regularlly and I was hesitant to devote a partition of my hard drive soley to Windows XP [though Boot Camp partitions are adjustable].
So, I purchased Parallels, but still needed to obtain a copy of Windows and I did not want to shell out for a full priced version of Windows XP Professional. What I chose was the discounted Work-at-Home edition that Microsoft offers for those big-ticket contracts like the Federal government.
Details on Microsoft's Home User and Employee Purchase programs for military members are available on the MMAUG Deals page.
For under $180, or about a 15% surcharge to my MacBook purchase, I was ready to begin. While in terms of the Mac OS, the MacBook is a nice upgrade from the Powerbook, in terms of the supplementary Windows experience, the MacBook is truly a wonderful improvement.
This morning, for example, I am on leave in Alaska, and I logged into my work computer back in Massachusetts, checked email, reviewed message traffic, and logged back out in about ten minutes. And I'm up to date for when I return from leave.
The Parallels Desktop installation is a breeze. It is pretty much click and go. I was very impressed. And copies of the system are simple. I back up the entire hard-disk file (from ~/library/preferences) to an external hard drive periodically.
One of my only cautions about Parallels is that it is a work in progress. I read this morning that the beta of the next revision is being tested and one component that I will enjoy is the upgrade for resizing the window. I noticed some problems in this in my current edition so I tend to operate in full screen mode, shifting between environments with the Apple-Tab short-cut.
On my MacBook, I have one gigabyte of RAM, and I allocate about sixty percent of that to Parallels when I use it. Thus some other memory needy programs will slow down during a session of emulating Windows, but I don't mind too much at all, since I don't routinely keep Parallels running when I'm not actively working remotely.
So, all in all, I reiterate my initial opinion: Wow. I like Parallels for what it does well and I can live with a few minor issues. Especially since Parallels is dedicated to continued improvements. On that note, I recommend users stay in touch by routinely checking Parallels support notes and FAQs.
While not preferable to the Mac OS, the new ability to run Windows is helpful for defense personnel who work with Windows-only applications like Microsoft Access, want to access their office network (locally or remotely), or can’t settle for the limited game selection available for Apple’s OS. If you fall in one or more of those categories, I recommend Parallels Desktop. The benefit over Apple’s free offering – no restarts and side-by-side operation of both systems – is well worth the modest premium.
System Requirements:
* Mac OS X 10.4.6 or better
* Intel processor
* 512 MB RAM
* Guest operating system installer