Parallels Desktop for Mac is one of those Mac based software applications created and manufactured by Parallels, Inc. - one of the world’s leading developers of desktop and server virtualization software.
Parallels Desktop for Mac was first released in 2006 and was one of the most innovative Mac applications of its time. For the first time, Mac users were able to use the features of this Parallels Software on their Mac, and use the hardware virtualization tools to expand their capabilities.
Originally, Parallels Inc. released Parallels Desktop for Mac under the branding of 'Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X' and had similar Linux and Windows releases; however sales were slow because the Mac community believed that the product was branded too much like a PC application. Parallels, Inc. took hold of this feedback and embraced what the Mac community was saying, and released the following batch as Parallels Desktop for Mac.
Parallels Desktop for Mac is a highly successful creation for Parallels Inc., having won the MacWorld’s Best In Show award in 2007 for its 3.0 release.
Parallels Desktop for Mac draws on state of the art technology that allows the user to map the Macs computer hardware resources to the virtual machine’s resources. When it conducts this mapping and linking functionality, it means that the user is able to tap into not only the machine they are using but also the other virtual machines that are in effect as clones of the original machine to which the software was loaded.
Thanks to Parallels Desktop for Mac, each of these clones offers all the functionality of the original machine, including possessing their own processes, RAM, floppy and CD drives. It can also offer external pass through drivers for USB devices. And because the drivers are the same, irrespective of the hardware on the virtual machine, it means that the clone can be moved from Mac to Mac easily and quickly.
The Parallels Desktop for Mac application allows the user to virtualize or clone a complete PC, including CPU, motherboard, RAM, video RAM, floppy drive, IDE functionality, DVD/CD pass through access, sound card and an Ethernet providing connectivity with up to five network interface connections.
The new version of Parallels Desktop for Mac released in 2007 offered additional features including SmartSelect, which allows the user to open Windows based files using the Mac operating system. The same can be done in reverse also. In addition, this version offered Parallels Explorer which allows the user to browse the Windows file system through the Mac operating system – negating the need to open Windows.
But
Parallels Desktop for Mac is not without its
troubles. 2007 saw a lawsuit against Parallels Inc. for what
was perceived to be significant copyright infringements. The
lawsuit was bought against Parallels Inc. by Netsys who
claimed that Parallels Desktop and Parallels Workstation
were, in a sense, copied from a product which Parallels Inc
had been paid by Netsys to create. That product was
‘twoOStwo’. Netsys lost an initial proceeding and filed a
temporary injunction in a court in Berlin. Netsys has since
filed a new suit against Parallels Inc. |
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