It doesnt matter if you run it from windows, mac, ios or android. Once you run the app once to setup your chromecast, then uou can use ANY device with your chromecast. Afterwards it can be flat out deleted.
Despite the Mac's recent gains in market share, Windows is still the dominant operating system, especially in businesses. That means there may be times when you need to run the Microsoft OS: perhaps there’s an application your company uses that’s only available for Windows, or you’re a web developer and you need to test your sites in a true native Windows web browser. Or maybe you want to play computer games that aren’t available for OS X. Whatever your reason for running Windows, there are a number of ways your Mac can do it for you.
To run macOS Mojave, you’ll need a Mac that was introduced in mid-2012 or later, with the exception of 2010 and 2012 Mac Pros that have Metal-capable graphics cards installed. So, to break that. Parallels Desktop is simply the world's bestselling, top-rated, and most trusted solution for running Windows applications on your Mac. With Parallels Desktop for Mac, you can seamlessly run both Windows and Mac OS X applications side-by-side without rebooting. After the download is completed, double-click on the setup.dmg file and install the software on your Mac; How to run Windows on Mac using Parallels? After the installation is completed, now it’s time to install and run Windows on your Mac machine using Parallels.
If you need to run just one or two specific Windows apps, you may be able to do so using CrossOver (), which can run such applications without requiring you to actually install Windows. (CrossOver's vendor, CodeWeavers, maintains a list of compatible apps.)
If you need a more flexible, full-fledged Windows installation, you still have several other options. You could use Apple’s own Boot Camp, which lets you install Windows on a separate partition of your hard drive. Or you could install one of three third-party virtualization programs: Parallels Desktop 7 (), VMware Fusion (), or VirtualBox (), each of which lets you run Windows (or another operating system) as if it were just another OS X application.
Of those four options, Boot Camp offers the best performance; your Mac is wholly given over to running Windows. But you have to reboot your system to use Boot Camp, so you can’t use it at the same time as OS X; it's Mac or Windows, but not both. And while VirtualBox is free, setting it up is complicated—downright geeky, at times—and it lacks some bells and whistles you might want. Which leaves Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion as your best alternatives.
So, of those two, how do you decide which one is right for you? In the past, I tried to answer that question by comparing virtualization programs head-to-head, to see how they did on specific tasks. This time, however, that task-based approach didn’t work, largely because (with a couple exceptions that are noted below) the latest versions of Fusion and Parallels Desktop are nearly indistinguishable in performance. So instead of picking one program over the other based on how well it performs a given task, the choice now hinges on some more subjective factors. So this time around, I’ll look at those and try to explain how the two programs differ on each.
Note that, for the most part, I've focused primarily on using these programs to run Windows on your Mac. You can, of course, use them to run other operating systems—including OS X Lion itself—but that’s not the focus here.
General Performance
As noted, both Parallels Desktop and Fusion perform well when it comes to running Windows 7 on a Mac. Macworld Labs ran both programs through PCWorld’s WorldBench 6 benchmark suite, and the results were close: overall, VMware Fusion beat out Parallels Desktop by a very slight margin (113 to 118, meaning Fusion was 18 percent faster than a theoretical baseline system, Parallels Desktop 13 percent). Parallels Desktop was faster than Fusion in some individual tests, Fusion was faster in others, and in the rest the differences were almost too close to call.
Parallels Desktop 7 vs. VMware Fusion 4
WorldBench 6 uses automated test scripts and eight different applications to simulate the real-world use of a system; we run the full suite multiple times then average the results together. For WorldBench scores, higher is better. All other results are in seconds; lower is better. Best result in bold. Tests run on a 2011 17-inch 2.2GHz Quad Core i7 MacBook Pro with 4GB RAM running OS X Lion 10.7.1; both Virtual Machines were configured to use a 200GB drive, 1724MB RAM, and 4 processors
Distill these numbers to their essence, and what you have are two fast, capable ways of running Windows on your Mac.
Advantage: Neither (or both).
Specific types of performance
While the two programs are practically indistinguishable in general usage, there are three specific scenarios in which greater differences emerge.
The first of them: gaming. If you want to run Windows in a virtual machine to play games that you can’t play on a Mac, then you’ll want to use Parallels Desktop 7. In my testing, it handily outperformed Fusion, especially on newer titles. One reason is that Parallels supports up to 1GB of video ram (VRAM), versus only 256MB in Fusion. Parallels Desktop also has better DirectX support; one game I tried looked fine in Parallels using DirectX, but awful in Fusion; switching to OpenGL in Fusion solved that problem, but not all games offer this option.
Overall, Parallels Desktop’s 3D engine seems to work much better for games in Windows than does Fusion’s engine. So if Windows gaming is your thing, Parallels is the one you want to use.
Advantage: Parallels Desktop.
Linux with Accelerated Graphics![]()
The second big difference between the two: Only Parallels includes accelerated 3D graphics in Linux virtual machines, so if you need that, you’ll need to use Parallels.
Advantage: Parallels Desktop. https://siteits226.weebly.com/blog/parallels-for-mac-education.
Virtualization Explorer
The third big difference: If you want to explore operating systems other than Windows, Fusion offers a much broader universe of alternatives. Both programs support “virtual appliances”—dowloadable, pre-configured operating systems, often bundled with specific applications. VMware’s appliance library is huge, with over 1,900 appliances available; Parallels Desktop’ library, on the other hand, contains only 98. (Desktop can use VMware’s appliances, but they must first be converted to the Parallels format; it doesn’t really seem fair to give the program full credit for that capabiity, if it’s reliant on the VMware ecosystem.) So you want to explore the wild world of operating systems and applications, Fusion is the way to go.
Advantage: Fusion.
So much for the three categories with relatively clear winners; now for the more subjective criteria.
Purchase and license
Fusion and Parallels Desktop both normally cost $80, but pricing for both is a moving target. For example, VMware is currently offering Fusion at a promotional price of $50. Meanwhile, Parallels will sell Desktop 7 as an upgrade to owners of older versions for $50; if you’re currently using Fusion, Parallels will sell you Desktop 7 for $30. No matter how much you pay for a virtualization program, remember that you’ll also need to factor in the price of Windows itself.
There’s a big hidden cost in those prices: the software license. Fusion’s license (for non-business users) allows you to install and use it on any Macs that you own or control. Parallels Desktop, on the other hand, requires one license per machine, and it uses activation to check those serial numbers. So if you want to run your virtualization program on more than one Mac, Fusion will cost less—potentially much less.
Advantage: Fusion (for the moment).
Installation and general operation
Installing Fusion 4 is surprisingly simple: You just drag and drop the program to any directory you wish. There’s no installer to run, and you can store the program anywhere. When you first launch Fusion, it asks for your administrative password and activates its extensions. But those extensions aren’t hidden away in some low-level system folder where you’ll never find them. Instead, they remain within the Fusion application bundle and automatically activate on subsequent launches.
More importantly, they’re deactivated when you quit Fusion. In fact, when you quit Fusion, unless you choose to leave the Windows applications menu item in your Mac’s menu bar, absolutely nothing Fusion-related is left running. This setup also makes uninstalling a snap—just drag the app to the trash, and you’re done. Taking a program as complex as Fusion, and making it as easy to install and uninstall as any simple utility, is a major accomplishment.
Parallels, by contrast, is installed via an installer, its extensions are installed in the System folder and are always present, even when Desktop isn’t running. In addition, two background processes continue to run after you quit Parallels. These processes don’t take much RAM or CPU power, but they’re there.
Advantage: Fusion.
Preferences and virtual machine settings
Both of these programs have lots of settings options; Parallels Desktop has more of them and, consequently, has a more complicated preferences screen. Both of their preferences panels are reasonably well organized, doing a decent job of categorizing the various settings. One thing I don’t like about Parallels is that it automatically enrolls you in the company’s Customer Experience Program, which collects anonymous usage data; you have to opt out by disabling it in the Advanced section of Preferences. Fusion offers a similar program, but you have to opt in, not out.
When it comes to changing the settings for a virtual machine, the two programs take a slightly different approach: Parallels Desktop uses a floating window that’s independent of the virtual machine being configured; that makes it easy to toggle between the settings and the virtual machine, but it’s also easy to lose track of the settings window if you click another window to the foreground.
Fusion, by contrast, dims the virtual machine, and presents a fixed window in the center of the screen, on top of the virtual machine. Its settings window mimics that of System Preferences, while Parallels uses a tabs-and-lists layout. Some users may prefer one over the other, but I find they both work reasonably well.
Advantage: Neither (or both).
Windowed windows
Both programs can be run in an “integration” mode, meaning Windows applications aren't bound inside a single Windows window; rather, they appear side-by-side in the OS X graphical user interface with Mac programs. (VMware calls this mode Unity; Parallels calls it Coherence.)
In this mode, both programs seem to treat these windows as though they're regular Mac apps. But there is a subtle but telling difference: Parallels Desktop actually treats the windows of your Windows apps as one, even though they display separately. You can see this if you activate Mission Control in OS X Lion: Regardless of how many Windows applications you’re running, they’ll all be lumped together in one Parallels Desktop entry. This means, among other things, that if you use a window-management utility, it may not work correctly.
Fusion, on the other hand, treats each Windows app like a window from any OS X application: The system treats them as truly separate from one another. If you open Mission Control while you’re using Fusion, each running Windows app gets its own entry.
![]()
Parallels for mac full screen. If you prefer to think of your virtual machine as a single entity, you’ll probably prefer Parallels Desktop’ Coherence mode. But if you’re going to the trouble of using an integrated mode, chances are you want your Windows apps to behave just like your Mac ones. And in that case it makes more sense to treat the windows the way Fusion does.
Advantage: Fusion.
Updates
Programs of this complexity require frequent updates; there’s just so much going on that there’s always going to be another feature to add or another bug to fix. The two companies handle updates differently, however. Parallels Desktop pushes out updates rapidly, so users get the latest features and fixes as quickly as possible. Fusion has a slower update cycle. Both programs have in-app updating now, so that portion of the routine has gotten simpler than it was in the past.
So which update methodology is better, frequent small updates or occasional larger updates? That's really up to you; some people like knowing that they’ve always got the latest bug fixes and features, while others may prefer longer periods between updates. The important thing, though, is that both companies do actively keep their products up to date.
Advantage: Neither (or both).
And the winner is…
So which virtualization solution should you purchase? In my comparison, Fusion comes out ahead (four wins, two losses, and three ties). But you may prioritize these features differently than I do. That’s why I suggest you download each program’s free trial version and see how each handles your particular needs. Both are excellent performers in the Windows arena, so you won’t be disappointed by either program’s speed. Instead, your selection will come down to your feelings about those other, less measurable factors—and for that, nothing beats hands-on experience.
Senior Contributor Rob Griffiths is master of ceremonies at Many Tricks Software.
[Updated 02/14/12 to clarify the number of apps that can be run under CrossOver.]
Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.
ScreenshotsDescription
Parallels Desktop Lite allows users to easily run Window, Linux, and popular applications on your Mac.
Avoid rebooting your Mac to switch between operating systems or when switching between Mac, Windows, or Linux applications. Note: Existing Parallels Desktop® for Mac users are not recommended to move to Parallels Desktop Lite. Run Internet Explorer®, Quicken®, QuickBooks, and hundreds of other Windows and Linux applications side by side with macOS apps like Pages® and Keynote®. Brought to you by the world-class developers of the #1-rated Mac virtualization software. ### Pricing: Running virtual machines requires an in-app purchase of an auto-renewable subscription (1 year). You can cancel at any time. There is a fully functional 14-day trial, so you can test Parallels Desktop Lite (including installation and use of Windows) before you commit. Note: Microsoft Windows is not included and must be purchased separately. With Parallels Desktop Lite, you can run the following operating systems in a virtual machine on your Mac: • Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista®, and XP • macOS Mojave 1014, macOS High Sierra 10.13, macOS Sierra 10.12, OS X El Capitan 10.11, OS X Yosemite 10.10, OS X Mavericks 10.9, OS X Mountain Lion 10.8, and OS X Lion 10.7.x • Most Linux distributions System Requirements: • Late 2011 or newer Mac • macOS High Sierra 10.13.2 or later • 4 GB of memory (8 GB recommended) • 450 MB of disk space on the boot volume (Macintosh HD) for Parallels Desktop installation • SSD is recommended for best performance • Additional disk space for virtual machines (varies on operating system installed) Seamless integration features between Mac and Windows, including productivity boosters built in. These features include, but are not limited to, the following: • Copy/paste formatted text between macOS, Windows, and Linux • Drag and drop files between macOS, Windows, and Linux • Share Mac folders with Windows—including Desktop, Documents, and Downloads—without duplication and saving precious disk space on your Mac • Resize window to get desired Windows or Linux resolution • 3D graphics acceleration up to DirectX® 10.1 • Use Mac printers in Windows • Mouse synchronization enables the mouse to move seamlessly between the macOS, Windows, and Linux We want you to be completely satisfied with Parallels Desktop Lite. If you have any feedback, problems or concerns, please contact us at https://www.parallels.com/products/lite/support/ --- LEGAL --- Duration and price of each subscription are displayed in the Parallels’ storefront, updated at the time of purchase. Payment will be charged to iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off no later than 24 hours before the end of the current period. Subscriptions and auto-renewal can be managed/turned off in the iTunes account settings. Privacy Policy: https://www.parallels.com/about/legal/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.parallels.com/about/legal/terms/ What’s New
This update for Parallels Desktop Lite 1.4.0 addresses overall stability and performance issues, and includes the following fixes and improvements:
Performance • Up to 80 percent faster application launch. • Up to 30 percent faster suspend operation on APFS partition. • Up to 130 percent more frames per second in Shared Camera. Linux support • Install Ubuntu 18.04, Fedora 28, and Linux Mint 19 in virtual machines right from Parallels Desktop. • Support for mmap() in Linux Shared Folders. • New pre-configured virtual machines with Debian GNU/Linux 9 and CentOS 7. • Resolves an issue with Parallels Tools not installing in openSUSE Leap 15 and Ubuntu Linux. • Resolves an issue with Parallels Tools not working in Linux virtual machines with X Server 1.20. • Resolves an issue with Ubuntu 18.04 virtual machines periodically crashing or locking up. • Resolves an issue with Ubuntu 18.10 virtual machines not installing. • Resolves an issue with not being able to mount the same shared folder twice in a Linux virtual machine. Graphics • The new “Auto” mode for graphics allows Windows to use more than 2 GB of Mac system memory for graphics, while allowing Windows applications to use it when possible. • Support for OpenGL 3.x in Windows virtual machines. • Improved the way a virtual machine is displayed on 4K+ monitors: • reduced the system and graphics memory consumption; • increased performance when 3D acceleration is turned off. • Improved the way a virtual machine is displayed on multiple monitors when the macOS “Displays have separate Spaces” option is turned off. Ready for macOS 10.14 Mojave • Parallels Desktop Lite supports Dark Mode. • Use the virtual machine’s Edit menu to insert pictures from your iPhone or iPad into Windows applications. • Quick Look in Windows has the same functionality as that in macOS. • Parallels Desktop Lite uses the Mojave technology to take screenshots. Integration with Mac • Use your Mac’s camera that supports up to 4K resolutions in a virtual machine • Use the Touch Bar to work with more Windows applications. • The size of the virtual machine hard disk (.hdd file) is optimized by means of native Windows defragmentation. Security • Backing up a virtual machine with Time Machine has been simplified. Now if you want to add a virtual machine to the backup list or exclude it from this list, just do what you need in the Time Machine preferences. • Backing up a virtual machine with Acronis True Image has been improved. Usability • Easier way to get help from Parallels - click Help > Support Center to access the webpage where you can find the most popular knowledgeable articles, links to the Parallels forums, social media and technical documentation, get personalized support and much more. • The “Free Up Disk Space” dialog has been redesigned and simplified. Now you can use it to reduce the amount of disk space occupied by all your virtual machines. • A paused virtual machine resumes automatically when you drag a file to its window. • As most of Windows customers have switched from Windows 8 to Windows 10, the “Enable swipe from edges” option is disabled by default in order not to confuse users. • Windows Maintenance feature has been improved. • For new virtual machines, the SmartGuard backup functionality now keeps 3 snapshots by default (not to occupy additional disk space). • The Resource Monitor has been redesigned. Use it to check how much CPU and memory is consumed by your Mac and all virtual machines. • Monitor the virtual machine CPU usage in the virtual machine status bar. • When you click a macOS notification that a technical data report has been sent, the report ID is automatically copied to the clipboard. Support for keyboard layouts • Improved support for the German keyboard layout. • Improved support for the Japanese keyboard layout. Bootcamp or parallels for mac. • Added support for the Brazilian Portuguese keyboard layout.
101 Ratings
Best option for Mac OS X (when it was free)
I'm only interested in running Linux occasionally in a guest on my Mac and it seems to be significantly faster than VirtualBox (at least when it comes to handling the retina display). Taking a star off as the lastest update requires a yearly subscription, although I've been given 1 year trial as an existing user (thanks!). I have a year to think about, try other options, but it looks like buying Parallels Desktop directly (one-off payment, possibly with the occasional upgrade) is still cheaper than the Parallels Desktop *Lite* subscription (from which Apple probably grabs a bing chunk).
Shame it now requires a subscription
I've been playing around with Ubuntu a bit, mostly for fun. Parallels Lite was decent for that when it was free, but, unless I fine a killer use for it before my year's free subscription is over, it's highly unlikely I'll want to pay a £74 per year subscription after that.
Unable to upgrade via Lite
I used the 14 day trial to test this out, and was pretty impressed. It allows you to work seemlessly between mac and windows applications. I was impressed enough to upgrade to the annual subscription. This has not worked for me, and it appears that the only option is to purchase the full desktop package from the website, outside the app store. This is a more expensive product than quoted in the app, and means I need to manage the subscription separately.
Not very impressed, and still deciding whether I want the hassle. I’m very supprised that I can not follow the upgrade model offered in the app, but from speaking to your online support there seems to be no way to resolve this issue. Run Plex On UbuntuDeveloper Response,
Dear RichardGWood, Thank you very much for the review and please accept our apologies for the inconvenience you have had. Parallels for mac touch drivers. Please drop us an email at [email protected] and our support will look into this for you. Thanks, Parallels Team
Information
Comments are closed.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |