Parallels Workstation 2.1 Beta5 for Mac OS X released with USB support and more Parallels has released Parallels Workstation 2.1 Beta5 for Mac OS X which allows users to use Windows, Linux and virtually any other operating system at the same time as Mac OS X, enabling users to enjoy the comfort of their Mac OS X desktop while still being able to use critical applications from other OSes.

Parallels Workstation 2.1 Beta5 for Mac OS X features:

• OS Support: Use any version of Windows (3.1, 3.11, 95, 98, Me, 2000, NT, XP, 2003), any Linux distribution, FreeBSD, Solaris, OS/2, eComStation, or MS-DOS in secure virtual machines running alongside Mac OS X.

• Performance: Driven by full support for dual-core processors and Intel Virtualization Technology (included in almost every new Intel-powered Mac), virtual machines created using Parallels Workstation 2.1 Beta5 offer near-native performance and rock-solid stability.

• Ease of Use: Download the program and install it with a single click. Build a virtual machine in seconds using helpful wizards. Configure virtual machines using a simple web-inspired interface.

• Works on any Intel-powered Mac: Any Intel Powered Macintosh running OS X 10.4.4 or higher is compatible with Parallels Workstation 2.1.

I am VERY impressed by Parallels, I installed it on my iMac last night. It's great being able to run Windows XP without needing to reboot like you have to do with BootCampI can run OS X and Windows simultaneously on the same screen. I've used Virtual PC in the past, and felt it wasn't fast enough. Parallels is extremely fast, and easy to setup. It's great to see the developers are listening to users and releasing updates very quickly. There are already over 100,00 beta users of Parallel, so there is a need for this software. I definitely recommend this over installing BoootCamp.

  ¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 4/27/2006 09:42:00 AM