Parallels Desktop, the industry-leading software for running Windows applications on a Mac, now includes a new version of the software for developers, designers, and power users: Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition.
- 8.1Excellent
Pros
- ✓Runs Windows and Linux VMs on Macs
- ✓Provides Touch Bar controls for Windows apps
- ✓Improved performance for USB/Thunderbolt storage devices
Cons
- ✕Business and Pro Editions require annual subscription
- ✕Virtual machines require large amounts of memory and storage
- ✕Poor documentation for first-time users
Parallels Desktop isn't the only virtualisation software that allows Mac users to run Windows apps within a virtual machine (VM), but its cycle of regular annual updates has allowed it to take a lead over rival tools, such as VMware's Fusion. The company normally releases updates to coincide with new versions of Apple's OS -- macOS, as it's now styled. However, the forthcoming High Sierra is still very much in its beta phase, so the developer has gone ahead and released Parallels Desktop 13 with a number of features that focus a little more on developments in Mac hardware instead.
Parallels Desktop For Mac Pro Edition
Getting in touch
The biggest update to the Mac range recently was the introduction of the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro laptops, so Parallels Desktop 13 now allows the Touch Bar to display a number of tools and features from within Windows virtual machines. When launching a Windows VM, the Touch Bar on the MacBook starts by duplicating the Windows Task Bar, and displaying icons for pinned items such as Cortana or the File Explorer.
You can also use the Touch Bar to control Windows apps, just as you can with native Mac apps. Parallels Desktop 13 includes predefined Touch Bar controls for the Windows version of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, and there's a wizard tool built into the program that allows you to customise the Touch Bar to work with your favourite Windows apps.
Parallels Desktop 13 doesn't simply focus on the MacBook Pro, though.
Following the introduction of Thunderbolt 3 on recent Mac models, Parallels Desktop 13 has improved performance when using external drives via both Thunderbolt and USB interfaces.
Parallels Desktop For Mac Pro
Any Mac model can now view contact info from the People Bar -- a new Taskbar feature introduced in the latest Windows Insider Preview -- in the Mac's Dock bar, while a new Picture-In-Picture mode allows you to view live previews of multiple VMs running onscreen simultaneously. And, intriguingly, the company tells us that it's exploring the possibility of using external graphics upgrades, such as the Sonnet eGFX Breakaway Box, to enhance performance of virtual machines running high-end graphics apps such as the Windows-only Dialux software for lighting design.