A few General Parallels Questions

I already own VMware Fusion and looking for an alternative. I recently picked up Fusion to run Vista Business & XP Pro. Installation went fine on both, but theres this issue where activation for neither works and is extremely flaky. Windows wouldn't stay activated and required me to phone Microsoft each time it needed to be done (per VMware recommendations). Strangely enough I had general net access and could browse the Web, yet not be able to activate any software online. I own licenses for both Windows versions and I'd rather not waste all my activations just installing the systems.

I'd like to ask, have any of you had this problem with current versions of Parallels? VMware has frustrated me enough that I'm most likely returning it. I'm hoping that Parallels would be easier to use.

My system specs: iMac 24" Penryn 2.8GHZ Core2Duo, 4GB Ram, 500GB Hard Disk, 512MB Geforce 8800 GS, Mac OS X Leopard (with all current updates). I'm not a heavy game player, although I might install a strategy game that doesn't require much dedicated video. I use my machine in a home office environment and when I answer my client's computer questions, I like to have their operating system of choice on my screen so I can be as accurate as possible.

Thanks for your help!

 

For compatible games I can suggest you to check http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/features/3d/

Current version is build 5608

I suppose other questions should be answered by users

 

Ryan:

I have been using Parallels on both my C2D mini and mac book pro since version 2 and I can tell you that for me, it has been a very solid product. Yes, everyone gets a hiccup now and then, these things happen, but all in all, I have been very pleased with how well parallels has worked.

I have used XP, 2000, 2003 Server, Vista (I still think it is junk), Linux and Solaris and they have all run with no major issues. As for having to re-activate windows, Vista did it once since I only run it every other month or so and have no clue why it did that. XP and the others have never asked me for activation of any kind.

MV