Parallels Desktop for Mac
cnbcwatcher
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Looking at getting this for my Macbook Air (after I have the power adapter problem sorted) so I can run Windows 8 on it (don't have enough hard drive space to dual boot with Bootcamp and I have W7 on my Macbook Pro). I'm thinking of getting it because it's always handy to have Windows on a Mac. You never know when you might need it I know that I'd have to buy a copy of W8 as well as a copy of Parallels, but I have a couple of questions:
1) Does running W8 in a Parallels VM use a lot of RAM?
2) Would my Mac be more at risk of viruses?
3) If I use Coherence mode would it use a lot of RAM and would I get hit by viruses in Coherence mode?
4) Is Parallels any good for playing games whether in VM mode or Coherence mode?
1) Does running W8 in a Parallels VM use a lot of RAM?
2) Would my Mac be more at risk of viruses?
3) If I use Coherence mode would it use a lot of RAM and would I get hit by viruses in Coherence mode?
4) Is Parallels any good for playing games whether in VM mode or Coherence mode?
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I have only used Virtualbox which is similar but free, but I assume the answers will be the same.
1. It will use as much RAM as you allocate to the VM eg if you set up a 2GB VM, it will use 2GB plus a little more to run parallels.
2. Not really as the VM is generally self contained, but regardless the Mac can't run Windows executable files anyway.
3. Probably / probably not.
4. I doubt it. Virtualbox certainly isn't much good for it.
I have tried games on it but direct10x is only supported in beta so its a bit hit and miss.
The only negative is it kills battery life (due to the extra processes and the switching to the descrete video card) so I only have the virtual machine running when I need too.
I tried Bootcamp once but didnt like the idea of having to keep rebooting my machine.
There a free trial of Parallels so give it a go.
http://betanews.com/2013/09/11/parallels-9-for-mac-great-for-windows-8-linux-not-so-much-review/
Windows 8.1 consumer preview iso here;
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/preview-iso
The trial will start once you install it.
Did you get any error on the install?
Yeah I got an error telling me that Windows 8.1 couldn't install on this computer (VM) and that I should restart the install. I haven't restarted it yet. I thought it would be easy?
So, you come on here asking how to install Windows 8 in Parallels because 'you never know when you might need it' and then you complain it's useless.
W8.1 has two versions of Internet Explorer 11; the full screen 'Metro ' app, and the one from the Desktop. You can install any browser from the desktop if you wish.
True, a question for the OP. Do you really want to spend upto £150 for a copy of WIndows 8 and a copy of Parallels just because 'you never know when you minght need it'?
Seems a lot of money for nothing, unless there is a genuine need for Windows on a Mac (as in my case runing Sportstracks) I dont see the point, most programs have an equivelent and you allready have Windows 7 on your other Mac.
Well how was I to know it was useless? I only found that out after I had installed it. I think with Parallels you can drag back and forth between the two sides so I might have to do that. I hate IE but I was surprised not to see an icon or tile for it.
Well it is a lot of money for W8. They should pay me up to £150 to use it I dual boot Windows 7 on my other Mac for games but I thought it would be useful to have Windows on my Air as well. If it's gonna cost me a fortune though it's not really worth it.
Well Parallels is £65 to start with so not all that is for WIndows 8
I'm a student so I might be able to get it cheaper if I use software4students. Windows 8 would still cost a bloody fortune though. Typical Micro$oft :rolleyes:
I did and he's getting it for Christmas. I probably won't be using it. I'm getting a tablet as well but probably an iPad Mini or Nexus 7 or similar 7" tablet.
Students (as in real students - with a university email account) can still get discounted Office in the form of a 365 4-year subscription.
Everything else is basically just regular retail boxes.
Think she was replying to the hight price of Parallels at £65
Software 4 Students have this listed at £35, thats where I bought my copy, I'm not a student but have a 6 year old at primary school.
You have mentioned probably in every Windows 8 Thread on here how bad Windows 8 is - am amazed you would even consider getting it...unless you have been posting nonsense before.
It is rubbish but I'd be running it in a virtual machine so it wouldn't be taking over my Macbook Air altogether. It's probably tolerable in a VM
I was referring to Parallels and not Windoze. It's ridiculous that M$ charge so much for it. They should pay people to use it.
If you think it's rubbish then why buy it?
You can still get Windows 7 and use that instead - I'm not aware of any software that only runs on Windows 8.
I think it's more down to the fact it's not as rubbish as you keep trying to make out - if it was as bad as you say you would not use it.
Think yourself lucky Microsoft allows you to run Windows on a Mac as Apple don't allow their OS to run on a Windows machine. If it was me I would increase the price of Parallels.
nothing to do with Microsoft "allowing" it.
Windows is designed to run on multiple hardware configurations, and a macbook/imac/mac mini is just another piece of hardware as far as windows is concerned.
also, what is a "windows" machine?