CNET Editors' note: The 15-day trial of Parallels Workstatation requires free registration at the Parallels Web site.
CNET Editors' review
Create, install, and run additional operating systems on your PC with this flexible tool, but the extensive setup and customization is for experienced users only. Using various interfaces with common functions and layouts, Parallels Workstations for Windows creates templates for building and implementing additional virtual machines on your system. These additional operating systems cleanly share your hard drives, network cards, memory, and other hardware.
Installation of this package is relatively simple. Intermediate to experienced users will find it takes but a few minutes. However, the next step is as simple or complex as the operating system installed. Each additional OS must be added in the same manner as a new installation. After that point, this program takes over, switching between the installations on the fly. You'll have to install a subset of the program in the new OS. Parallels Workstations for Windows makes the process easy with a single command on the program's main interface under the original OS. Switching is easily accomplished with a hot-key combination, and the chosen OS immediately takes control of the mouse and keyboard. As with any such arrangement, you may need to install special drivers in the new OS to handle your hardware.
Expert users should have little difficulty adding additional operating systems and switching back and forth. However, the difficulties of drivers, hardware conflicts, and such could stymie less-experienced users. Parallels Workstations for Windows isn't the most simple to implement in the genre, but the 15-day trial should be plenty of time to find out if it fits your needs.
Publisher's Description
From Parallels:
Parallels Workstation is a powerful and easy to use desktop virtualization solution. It empowers any user to create completely networked, totally secure independent, maximally stable virtual machines on a single physical machine. Virtual machines can run nearly any OS, including Windows 3.1--XP/2003, Linux, FreeBSD, OS/2, eComStation, Sun Solaris, and MS-DOS.
Version 2.2 includes a redesigned interface, better networking, full Unicode support, suppport for multi-interface USB devices, full support for Windows Mobile 5 devices, and many other new features and fixes.
What's new in this version: Version 2.2 includes a redesigned interface, better networking, full Unicode support, support for multi-interface USB devices, full support for Windows Mobile 5 devices, and many other new features and fixes.
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All versions:
3.7 starsout of 3 votes
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Current version:
3.0 starsout of 2 votes
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My rating:
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"Lack of support and maintenance"
Version: Parallels Workstation for Windows 2.2
Pros
It does seem to provide basic functionality under a variety of conditions, and if your requirements fall within this range than it is probably fine. Make sure to test it carefully before even considering to buy it...
Cons
However, there are also a variety of problems with this program. Check out the forums at forums.parallels.com.
More importantly the support for this program (for PAYING CUSTOMERS) is minimal at best, which includes a lack of fixing of known issues (see user comments in forums). Given that there are various free solutions available with better support (e.g. VMWare Server) I would be tempted to advise against investing time and money in this particular program.
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