Parallels today announced the launch of Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac, an updated version of the popular virtualization software that allows Mac users to run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems alongside OS X. The update reportedly brings over 70 new features to the software package, along with significant performance enhancements.
According to performance research conducted by Crimson Consulting Group, Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac performs 22% faster than the nearest Windows-on-Mac competitor in standard productivity testing of Windows 7 64-bit on a MacBook Pro. In addition, version 5 is up to 300% faster for virtual machine operations than the previous version. For 3D and graphics performance, tested under the industry standard 3Dmark 2006 Professional test suite the new version performs up to 7 times better.
Among the new features in Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac are full Aero support for Windows Vista and 7, the addition of more "Mac-like" features in Windows such as trackpad gestures and horizontal scrolling, copy and paste of formatted text and layouts across operating systems, and multiple monitor support.
Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac is priced at $79.99, with upgrade pricing of $49.99 available for current Parallels users. Customers who purchased Parallels Desktop 4 for Mac on or after October 1st, 2009 are eligible for a free upgrade to the new version.
