Parallels Desktop 4.0 Gets Performance Boost, DirectX 9.0 Support
Parallels has released Parallels Desktop 4.0, an update to the company's desktop virtualization solution for Mac OS X. The new version adds more than 50 new features, including support for DirectX 9.0 and significant performance improvements.
Parallels Desktop is a virtualization solution that allows users to run Windows, Linux, and other operating systems alongside Mac OS X on Intel-based Apple hardware, such as the MacBook, MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, and iMac. The new 4.0 release, which began shipping Tuesday, offers performance up to 50 percent faster than Parallels Desktop 3.0, according to the company. Other new features include:
- Support for DirectX 9.0, DirectX Pixel Shader 2.0, and OpenGL 2.0;
- New security and backup features integrated into the software, including Acronis True Image Home (backup and restore), Acronis Disk Director Suite, and Parallels Internet Security (firewall, scanner, antivirus);
- Adaptive Hypervisor for dynamic allocation of resources;
- Overall 15 percent to 30 percent improvement in resource consumption owing to an optimized virtualization engine;
- A redesigned user interface;
- New Screenview modes;
- Speech Recognition;
- A new Security Manager feature; and
- Support for more than 45 guest operating systems.
"We run a high volume of Macs and it's absolutely vital that they deliver on fast performance and ease of use. Parallels has met this need well with features like Coherence and SmartSelect in creating a seamless Windows-on-Mac experience," said John Hermes, Chief Technology Officer at Oklahoma Christian University, in a statement released Tuesday. "Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac builds on this, providing blazing speed and all-round performance through innovations such as the Adaptive Hypervisor, which gives our users the resources they need on the fly; and advanced graphics support, which provides a very smooth experience."
Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is available now for $79.99 for the full version. Upgrades will run $39.99 through the end of the month. Free upgrades are available for those who purchased Parallels Desktop 3.0 Sept. 1 or later. Volume and site licenses are also available. A 15-day evaluation version is also available. Further information, including links to downloads, can be found here.
