Review: Parallels Desktop 3--Fast and Versatile

Parallels Explorer

Parallels Explorer is a newly bundled application that lets you view and modify your Windows virtual machines without actually launching Parallels Desktop. It's a great tool for moving files to and from a virtual machine, especially when you need to get a file or folder in a hurry and don't need the full Windows OS up and running.

Other Improvements

Parallels 3 features improved USB and USB 2.0 support. The newest BlackBerries and smart phones--no, not the iPhone as of yet--are also supported, and USB transfer speeds have been improved. When Parallels is running and you connect a USB device, a dialog box asks you to choose the OS that should control the device. I had no trouble getting Parallels to recognize and use a USB game controller during my game testing.

Parallels Transporter is a tool introduced in version 2.5 to migrate everything on a physical PC into a Parallels virtual machine, including the OS itself, applications, files, folders, and settings. Transporter was new in Parallels 2.5, and in Parallels 3 you can use Transporter on Linux and Vista, in addition to various other Windows OSes.

The Security Manager provides control over the degree to which information is shared between Mac OS X and Windows virtual machines. With the security level set to high, for example, Parallels will disable shared folders and Smart Select, and will not mount the Windows drive on the OS X desktop. At its lowest setting (medium), the Security Manager allows full sharing of folders, mounts the Windows volume on the OS X desktop, and enables Smart Select. In my testing, however, I had problems making this feature work as described. Regardless of the selected level, for instance, the Open With menus showed both Mac and Windows applications.

Like its competition, VMware Fusion (currently in public beta), Parallels 3 offers a selection of downloadable virtual appliances, which are pre-configured systems ready to be used with only a few mouse clicks. For example, I downloaded and installed a JumpBox virtual appliance set up with the Drupal content management system. Parallels recognized the virtual machine. All I had to do was answer a few Drupal configuration questions, and the system was up and running. I could then load the Drupal system from any browser on any machine in my home--in OS X or Windows. Using virtual appliances is an easy way to install and test complex software: there's no configuration required, and if you don't like what you're testing, you can just throw it away when you're done.

Finally, Parallels Tools, which helps integrate the guest OS into the Mac OS by allowing on-the-fly screen resizing and seamless control over the mouse, has been updated to work with all Linux virtual machines, in addition to its existing support for various versions of Windows, Solaris, and OS/2. I tested Parallel Tools with Fedora Core Linux, and the features worked quite well. For example, with Parallels Tools installed, you don't have to capture the mouse by clicking inside a virtual machine window; the mouse simply knows when it's within the virtual machine's window area.

Tech Support

One frequently heard complaint about previous versions of Parallels relates to technical support: for many, it's been difficult to get. The Parallels Web site offers a few choices, including a $30-per-incident phone support option, as well as a knowledge base and an FAQ. The company also offers free e-mail support, with a promised turnaround of three business days. I received a response to my inquiry in less than 24 hours (and I sent my request from a personal e-mail account, not one with a Macworld address).

One of the best resources for help isn't documented anywhere on Parallels' Web site: the Parallels Support Forum. Here, you can post questions and read answers from other Parallels users, and often find answers more quickly than you'll get via e-mail. It's unfortunate that Parallels chooses not to publicize this useful resource on its own site.

Macworld's Buying Advice

Parallels Desktop 3.0 is currently the best solution for running Windows, Linux, or any of many other operating systems alongside OS X. With the inclusion of (still limited) 3-D graphics support, Snapshots and Undo Disks, virtual appliances, and many other features, it's a compelling alternative to rebooting via Boot Camp. Tech support has improved, although you will pay somewhat dearly if you need an answer via phone. Unless you need full 3-D graphics support, or support for some esoteric hardware, Parallels will probably get the job done for you.

[Macworld Senior Editor Rob Griffiths runs the Mac OS X Hints Web site.