Older version Parallels for Mac and Leopard

I recently upgraded my Mac Book Pro 17", Core Duo 2.1 GHz, to OS 10.5.8. I had been using Windows XP on a Bootcamp partition, but would now like to use Parallels. I have a copy of Parallels Desktop for the Mac from about 2006.

First, is this version of Parallels compatible with the Leopard OS? Secondly, I use an industrial printer that need to be driven through a firewire connection. The computer has the firewire output that I was able to use from the Bootcamp partiion. Is this port available when using Parallels?

Thanks,

Dave Matz

 

I'd say yes and yes. Parallels 5 should run fine on Leopard (although why don't you use Snow Leopard?), and as long as you have a Mac driver for your printer, Parallels will send any Windows print job to that printer, regardless of the way it is connected to your Mac.

 

Must use Leopard and Firewire.

Shaddam,

Thanks.

Unfortunately, I need to connect to a major corporate PC network (100,000 PC users) whose designers never considers MAC connection. There have been problems with Snow Leopard making connection to the Servers. That's why I stopped at Leopard for the moment. The printing I'm doing is on a 2.5 meter wide roll-fed Mimaki printer being fed data by an Onyx Postershop Raster Image Processor(RIP) The printer needs firewire input or the data can't keep up with the printer. When running on a standard PC box, you need to add an IEEE1394 firewire card and then use the special firewire port driver supplied by the printer manufacturer. Running the RIP in a Bootcamp partition, worked fine.

It sounds like there isn't a history here, but no fundamental reason that Parallels won't work for me.

 

I don't think that Parallels offers a firewire connection, at least I haven't ever seen a setting for that. The printer driver that's used within the VM is an HP laser printer (forgot which one) and its output (presumably PS) is routed thru to the Mac, where it is sent to whatever printer is set as the default printer. So, if your Mac is connected to the RIP and the RIP is set as your default printer on the Mac, your VM print jobs should eventually arrive there (and from the RIP to the Mimaki, of course).
I've found that the very first print job that I do from my VM to a printer that's connected to the Mac usually fails. I then repeat the procedure and the second time I try printing (and any subsequent time), printing works fine. For whatever reason the first print job "dies" on the way and never seems to invoke the Mac's printing processes. But I don't print from the Mac all that often so I can live with that.

Hope this helps. Have a happy new year!

 

Fallen back to Bootcamp.

Shaddam,

Thanks. I did some research and I couldn't find any Windows emulator that discussed a firewire connection - Parallels or other. This is so key my to business need that I gave up, added a Bootcamp partition, and installed Windows there. I have some friends with Macs who might like to use my Parallels license.

Thanks for your help.

Dave

 

Dear Dave,
Parallels Desktop does not support FireWire yet.

 

Last news on this item is of feb 2009 (allmost one year ago). Is it stil nog suported?

 

hi raymondo,
the latest version of Parallels Desktop (5) does not support FireWire.