Parallels Launches Apple Boot Camp Rival

Parallels, a Herndon, Va.-based startup said June 15 that its Desktop for Mac virtualization software has emerged from beta and is available for $49.99.

The software, which allows Intel-based Apple computers to run Windows XP, lets Apple users run Windows XP and Apples OS X at the same time.

Apples Boot Camp software requires a restart in Windows or OS X.

Parallels software takes relies on hypervisor-powered virtualization engine, and supports Intel Virtualization Technology, included in Intel-powered Macs.

Desktop for Macs features let users:

• Run any version of Windows at the same time as Mac OS X at near-native speeds, without dual booting or restarting.

• Use Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, OS/2, eComStation, or MS-DOS programs alongside Mac OS X applications.

• Cut and paste information between Windows and Mac OS X programs.

• Expand a virtual machine to full-screen size on a primary display, or export to a secondary display.

• Cut Windows 2000, 2003 and XP virtual machine hard drive size by 50 percent or more with Parallels Compressor technology.

According to Parallels, its software was tested by 100,000 users in 71 countries; among users who tested it was eWEEK Labs, which rated the software at least good or excellent in four of five areas. It was rated fair in the management category.

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