Parallels is a virtualization engine that allows your intel based Mac to run Windows, Linux, or any other intel based operating system. This is especially good if you can’t let go of Windows or you have special Applications that only run on Windows.

Features:
• Easy Installation
• Allows you to run Windows in OS X
• Easy Drag and Drop between OS X and Windows
• Coherence Mode
• Full USB 2.0 support
• Full Networking support
• Boot Camp support

Parallels is fairly easy to install. All you have to do is double click on the Parallels icon and it installs in seconds. After you get you key and registration set you need to configure a virtual machine to install Windows or what ever other OS you want. The wizard make it so easy, simple clicks and you are on your way. If you have a Boot Camp partition set up on your Mac then all you need to do is click on the Boot Camp option and you are all set. Parallels starts the Virtual machine and installs the necessary drivers. If you are an avid gamer then the Boot Camp partition is the way to go. It would allow you to set enough space for Windows for your games as well as those simple tasks that you need to do in Windows from within OS X like check your bank account and other windows related stuff without having two separate Windows Installations. Parallels, unfortunately, does not allow Windows Vista and Boot Camp to work together. So if you have Windows Vista on a Boot Camp partition and you want to use Vista on OS X then you need to set it up in its own virtual machine. Hopefully Parallels 3.0 would have this feature but as of today, nothing is shown on the Parallels site.
Parallels 3.0 is going to be released sometime in the coming weeks. It features support for 3D gaming and better support for USB 2.0 devices. It also has a feature called “SmartSelect” which allows you to open any file from either OS X or Windows by binding that file to a specific program in either operating systems. Another feature allows you to browse the virtual machine files without even starting the virtual machine it self with an application called Parallels Explorer. Other features include better Linux support as well as shared printers for cross platform printing. Parallels is also offering this upgrade at a reduced price, $39.99, if purchased before June 6th. After that date the upgrade price jumps to $49.99. If you have purchased Parallels sometime after May 1st, 2007 then you are eligible for a free upgrade.
Since we here at q8mug always try to find you free alternatives, I have come across a piece of open source software that does what Parallels does and its free. It is not of the same quality or caliber as that of Parallels but hey its free. It sets up a virtual machine in minutes and is as fast and as responsive as parallels. It has none of the features of Parallels but does a good job. VirtualBox is an excellent piece of software that is quite easy to setup and use. Give it a shot and see if it is what you need or you could always go with Parallels. Take a look at the images of VirtualBox running Windows and Ubuntu Linux.
Sources:

  • Parallels
  • VirtualBox