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Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac Allows You to Run Windows and Even Another Copy of Lion

Thursday September 1, 2011 12:13 am PDT by Arnold Kim

Running Windows 7 and OS X Lion

Parallels has announced version 7 of their popular virtualization software that allows Mac users to run Windows on their machines alongside Mac OS X. The new version is said to include 90 new features and enhancements including:

- Lion integration and support, including Launchpad and Mission Control for Windows programs
- Shared iSight and FaceTime HD cameras in both Windows and Mac
- Up to 1GB of video memory, for ultra-high resolutions
- Improved graphics performance, up to 45% faster 3D
- 60% faster resuming Windows
- Windows on Demand - purchase and automatically install Windows on your Mac from Parallels Desktop 7 in the U.S.

Parallels 7 supports running OS X Lion as a "guest" operating system under virtualization, meaning you can run a completely separate copy of Lion within your main copy of Lion. In July, we reported that Apple had changed the license agreement in OS X Lion that allowed users to run up to 2 additional copies of Lion on a single machine without the need for extra licenses.


iOS app on iPad

Parallels also released a update to their Universal iOS app that allows you to control your Mac, virtual machines, and all their applications.

Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac will be available today as an upgrade for current Parallels Desktop version 5 and 6 users for $49.99. Full price will be $79.99 with student version at $39.99. Parallels 7 will be available for download and in retail starting on September 6th.

Tag: Parallels
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Silentwave
99 months ago
So, if we were to run a copy of Windows 7 in Parallels on Lion in a Parallels VM in Lion...which was itself being run in a Parallels VM on Lion as well, would Leo DiCaprio show up?
Rating: 28 Votes
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duffy666
99 months ago
Yo dawg, I herd you like Os X Lion, so I put a Parallels in your Os X Lion so you can use Os X Lion while you are using Os X Lion.
Rating: 13 Votes
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Feek
99 months ago
I like Parallels and I've been a [registered] user for quite a few versions now but I don't really like their pricing upgrade structure.

It's also frustrating because I know that I could buy this upgrade and then in a few months time it'll be included in one of the bundles, probably for less than I have to pay for the upgrade :(

I know I'm not being forced to buy the upgrade as Parallels 6 works perfectly well and this time I may just wait for whatever bundle it is this time to come along.
Rating: 9 Votes
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lostngone
99 months ago

So, if we were to run a copy of Windows 7 in Parallels on Lion in a Parallels VM in Lion...which was itself being run in a Parallels VM on Lion as well, would Leo DiCaprio show up?


No, but the memory manufactures would really love you...
Rating: 7 Votes
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VulchR
99 months ago

So, if we were to run a copy of Windows 7 in Parallels on Lion in a Parallels VM in Lion...which was itself being run in a Parallels VM on Lion as well, would Leo DiCaprio show up?


Ouch. My head hurts.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Shivetya
99 months ago
Upgrade price is obnoxious.

I like 6, but damn if I am going to give them $50 to upgrade to 7.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Wingsy
99 months ago

This was changed in July. The client is allowed to be virtualized now too. It's even mentioned in this article.


What is mentioned in that article is that the EULA was changed to allow LION client to be virtualized, not SNOW LEOPARD client.

What I need, before I switch to Lion, is to be able to virtualize Snow Leopard so I can run a few apps that require Rosetta. Some of those apps have no upgrade path to Lion and they are essential to my business, so I'm stuck using SL.
Rating: 4 Votes
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foidulus
99 months ago

But which one works better?


Depends on your definition of "better"

VMWare is updated less often which means that it doesnt always have some of the cutting edge features(for instance you still cannot virtualize Lion on it yet), but at least in my experience it is significantly more stable and performs better to boot. However since I do not virtualize Windows, I virtualize Leopard Server and Linux, and dont do any graphics stuff on either platform YMMV.
Rating: 4 Votes
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godrifle
99 months ago

Depends on your definition of "better"

VMWare is updated less often which means that it doesnt always have some of the cutting edge features(for instance you still cannot virtualize Lion on it yet), but at least in my experience it is significantly more stable and performs better to boot. However since I do not virtualize Windows, I virtualize Leopard Server and Linux, and dont do any graphics stuff on either platform YMMV.


My experience is exactly the opposite. Parallels outperforms VMWare across the board, and is rock solid stable for me.

But I don't like the upgrade pricing. :-(
Rating: 3 Votes
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heisetax
99 months ago
How about Leopard & Snow Leopard?

This was changed in July. The client is allowed to be virtualized now too. It's even mentioned in this article.

The article about the change (https://www.macrumors.com/2011/07/01/os-x-lion-allows-running-multiple-copies-on-the-same-machine-virtualization/)

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This is why I'm always sticking to VMWare. If I make any VMs on other systems (or even have some from work) they are always VMWare. If parallels made it possible to directly open VMWare-created VMs without having to convert them first, I'd consider it.

Having said that, this virtualization of Lion is a great thing and I hope VMWare will offer this soon too. They've always been a bit behind parallels in terms of features and performance but this is really a major feature they should catch up with soon.


This only says that we can legally run up to 2 more copies of Lion on the same computer. It says nothing of changing the older Mac OSes. One idea was to run Leopard or Snow Leopard under virtualization under Parallels or VMWare. But it appears to not have been changed. We appear to still need the Server version of the OS. All of this would allow those of us that need to run the older PPC only programs using Rosetta while still running Lion. This could make a lot of people that need Rosetta running to allow use of their many mission critical programs be able to run Lion & still use their Rosetta required programs.
Rating: 3 Votes

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