What are the main features of Parallels?

Parallels Desktop: Running Windows on Your Mac, Made Easy

Ever wished you could run Windows on your Mac without the hassle of rebooting? That’s where Parallels Desktop comes in. Think of it as a clever piece of software that lets you run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems right alongside macOS, like they’re old friends sharing the same space. Developed by Parallels (now part of Corel), it creates these little virtual environments – we call them virtual machines or VMs – that act like separate computers within your computer. Pretty neat, huh?

So, how does it all work? Well, Parallels Desktop is basically a hypervisor. Sounds complicated, but it’s not. It’s just a fancy way of saying it juggles your Mac’s hardware – things like RAM, CPU, and storage – and shares it with the virtual machine i. You get to decide how much of each resource to give to the VM, so you can tweak performance to suit whatever you’re doing. And let me tell you, Parallels is known for being quick. Switching between macOS and Windows feels almost instantaneous, which is a huge win.

Let’s dive into what makes Parallels Desktop tick.

• Plays Well with Others (Operating Systems, That Is): Parallels isn’t picky. It supports a ton of operating systems. We’re talking different versions of Windows, all sorts of Linux flavors, and even macOS itself i. Now, if you’re rocking a newer Mac with Apple silicon, you’ll be running ARM versions of operating systems like Windows 11 Pro, Ubuntu Linux, and others i. Got an older Intel-based Mac? No problem, it’ll handle the x86 versions just fine i.
• Integration That Feels Like Magic: This is where Parallels really shines. It doesn’t just run Windows in a box; it makes it feel like part of your Mac i. Drag and drop files between macOS and Windows? Easy. Copy and paste? Done. You can even launch Windows apps to open files sitting right there on your Mac, and vice versa i. And then there’s “Coherence” mode. This is where things get really cool. It makes Windows apps appear as if they’re native macOS apps, sitting right there in your Dock. It’s like the two operating systems become one.
• Speed Demon: Nobody wants a slow, clunky virtual machine. Parallels gets that. It’s designed to be fast and smooth, using your Mac’s hardware to its full potential i. Whether you’re running demanding software or just browsing the web, you shouldn’t see much of a performance hit. They’ve even made improvements like faster NVMe drivers to make Windows feel even snappier i.
• Productivity Powerhouse: Parallels isn’t just about running Windows; it’s about getting things done i. Sharing files between your Mac and VMs is a breeze, and you can take “snapshots” of your VM to quickly revert to a previous state if something goes wrong i. Plus, they throw in a bunch of one-click tools for things like securing files, grabbing screenshots, and downloading videos i.
• Graphics That Don’t Disappoint: Need to run some graphics-heavy applications? Parallels has you covered i. It supports DirectX 11 and OpenGL, so you can even play some games i. They’ve been working hard on improving OpenGL support, which means even more CAD software will run smoothly on your Mac i.
• Setup That’s a Piece of Cake: Installing an operating system in a virtual machine can be a pain. Parallels makes it surprisingly simple i. It can even download and install Windows 11 for you, completely automatically i.
• Touch ID Love: If you’ve got a Mac with Touch ID, you can use your fingerprint to log in to your Windows VMs i. It’s a small touch, but it makes life just a little bit easier.
• AI Gets a Virtual Machine: Parallels Desktop 20 has AI-ready virtual machines that come preconfigured for working with artificial intelligence tools and models locally on a Mac i.
• Virtualization Inside Virtualization: With the version 20.2 update, virtualization is now supported inside Windows VMs, allowing users to run tools like WSL and Docker within a VM i.

Which Version is Right for You?

Parallels comes in a few different flavors: Standard, Pro, and Business i.

• Standard Edition: This is the one for most home users. It lets you run Windows and Linux without any fuss i. It’ll handle VMs with up to 8GB of RAM and 4 virtual CPUs i. You can buy it outright or get a yearly subscription i.
• Pro Edition: If you’re a developer or a power user, the Pro edition is worth a look i. It supports way more RAM (up to 128GB) and more CPUs (up to 32) i. It’s a yearly subscription i.
• Business Edition: This one’s for businesses, offering centralized management and licensing for multiple machines i. It’s also a yearly subscription i.

Keep an eye out for student discounts, and remember you can always try a free 14-day trial before you commit i.

Can Your Mac Handle It?

Before you jump in, make sure your Mac meets the minimum requirements i. Generally, you’ll want:

• A fairly recent version of macOS (Sonoma 14.0 or newer is ideal) i.
• An Apple silicon chip or an Intel Core i5 or better processor i.
• At least 4GB of RAM (but 16GB is much better) i.
• Some free storage space (at least 16GB for Windows) i.

Parallels vs. the Competition

The big competitor here is VMware Fusion. Both do the same basic thing, but Parallels is often praised for being easier to use and faster i. VMware Fusion might be a better fit for larger organizations i.

The Bottom Line

If you need to run Windows or other operating systems on your Mac, Parallels Desktop is a fantastic option. It’s easy to use, it’s fast, and it integrates beautifully with macOS i. Whether you’re a developer, a gamer, or just someone who needs access to Windows apps, Parallels is definitely worth checking out i.