I purchased and just received a 17" MacBook Pro 2.33 Ghz Core 2 Duo, 3 Gb ram, 160 HD.
Here is my experiences the good and the bad.
Number one missing feature USB 2.0, Number two missing feature IEEE1394 (Firewire) support.
Steps of the process.
1) Downloaded Parallels Desktop for Mac (build 1970).
2) Get Trial key (3 dyas left, and I need to make decision!)
3) Attempted to install Windows XP Professional, but boot failed with No device available message, even after I verified the option selection for CD-Rom.
4) Anyway, after surfing the web, I decided to reset the MBP's NVRAM. This worked.
5) After using Parallels Easy Install for Windows XP and resetting NVRAM, the installation of Windows XP went flawlessly. Installed XP Service Pack 2, Office XP Professional (2002), PC-Cillian anti-virus software all flawlessly. Installed Parallels Tools. All worked well.
6) The only major negative is that the video driver resolutions is very limited on my machine, and attempts to change it result in a screen so large I can't do anything with it, and the VM is basically useless. That said, if I leave the video at 1024x768 default, chosen by Parallels/Microsoft(?) works great.
7) I have no problems with this Windows XP VM using the the default video mode. This allows me to use Microsoft Office for corporate and post graduate work.
8) Next tried to install Fedora Core 6 from DVD iso image, and all I can say is that this was a very unsuccessful. First problem is keyboard mapping appears broke, screen resolution was so large that most of the viewable area was off the screen, add the video driver was unable to display the X11 graphics window correctly, either frequency or other graphics configuration not correct.
9) Next attempted to install Suse Linux 10.1, same experience as Step 8. However, as result of this, it appears that is caused problems for Parallels, because trying to launch Parallels, Parallels crashed my MBP hard (reboot).
10) After surfing the web, I took the following actions, I changed Parallels VM configuration to prohibit auto-launch feature, and then I deleted the Fedora Core 6 and Suse Linux 10.1 folders and emptied the trash. Restarted the MBP and was able to start Parallels and bring my Win XP VM up.
11) I then tried to install Kubuntu 6.10 from an iso CD-Rom image. To my surprise, I had to chose other linux 2.6 kernel option, it installed fine. I then tried to change the video around and was greet by a window so large I could not do anything with Kubuntu. As I continued to try to adjust the screen size Parallels crashed my MBP again! Ugh!
12) I deleted the VM and emptied trash!
13) This time I opened Parallels application but I did not start my Win XP VM, and I re-created the Other Linux 2.6 kernel VM and re-installed Kubuntu 6.10 from iso CD-Rom image, everything proceed as expected, I just ignore the PCI error message that every version of Linux 2.6 kernel presents at start-up, and the installation ran successfully. This time I left well enough alone and have resigned myself to living with 1024x768 screen (window) size. I then installed Samba and the Samba file system. Configured Samba, but it does not seem to work very with MBP HFS+ hard disk. Interestingly enough, it works fine against the Win XP VM. Oh well, another issue to deal with. However, at least now I have realized my dream, I have Mac OS X as my native OS, and Win XP guest in 512 Mb of ram, and Kubuntu 6.10 Linux (KDE) in 256 Mb running just fine.
14) I run Parallels with 1024 Mb of ram, I have the CD- Roms configured, but not connected, I removed the floppy disk from both VM as it just doesn't make sense for my needs.
15) At work I run VMware Workstation and Server products, so my comments about performance are strickly subjective, I have not run any bench marks as that is besides the point. I find that both VM are very response, however, occasionally, the mouse and keyboard seem unresponsive for about 30 seconds when I switch back to the Mac OS. I haven't been able to devise a repeatable sequence of events.
16) Now, turning my attention to Parallels GUI, there are some bugs which surprise me for a released product. For example, when you create a VM, Parallels ask you for a name which it promptly ignores and uses a hard-coded lower-case folder name instead. (i.e., I named my Win XP VM WinXP Pro, and Parallels chose winxp for the folder name, the configuration name and the hard disk file name. I chose Kubuntu for my Linux VM and Parallels chose lin26 for the folder name, the configuration file name and the hard disk name). So, the worst part is name displayed at the top of the window of each running VM is the folder name. I have just one question. Why ask me for a name at all? Launching the second VM is anything but user friendly. I'm going to stay out of the whole dock debate, and just say I would like to see a better way to launch VMs. Secondly, I would like to be able to review the VM configuration of a running VM.
17) If you are only interested in running Windows on the Mac, then Parallels is a great product. If you want want to also running Linux on a Mac, Parallels needs some help, because in my opinion, it isn't there yet. While I was able to get Kubuntu configured and running, I was unseccessful with every other distro I tried. Your mileage may be different. Remeber, I'm reporting on my experiences. I have not had the same problems installing various Linux distrros on VMware. Note, I'm not a gamer, so I can not comment on using the Win XP VM for games. I'm a software developer who specializes in media work, video and audio, and no, I don't do DRM or streaming, I focus on media production, DVDs, CDs, etc.
18) So, would I recommend Parallels? That is a tough question because I have to make a buy decision in the next couple of days. I'm leaning towards yes, if only because Parallels does support Windows XP pretty well for my needs. I was able to install both VIsual Studio 6 Professional and MSDN library, and Visual Studio .Net 2003 Professional and MSDN library and both applications seem to run reasonably for me. To a large extent, I've realized my dream of running the three OS's at the same time on a single box. In the past, I've need two or three machines to run all of the OS's I wanted to run. So, from that perspective, Parallels makes sense. Perhaps, more importantly, Parallels is the only game in town right now for the MBP. Yes, I am aware of VMware's Fusion, I even have a copy, but this a production machine in every sense of the word, and I just don't have the courage to try it. But, at the current price I'm leaning to supporting Parallels even if I switch later, first counts for something, who knows Parallels may surprise me yet.
19) I hope my comments help others.
Here is my experiences the good and the bad.
Number one missing feature USB 2.0, Number two missing feature IEEE1394 (Firewire) support.
Steps of the process.
1) Downloaded Parallels Desktop for Mac (build 1970).
2) Get Trial key (3 dyas left, and I need to make decision!)
3) Attempted to install Windows XP Professional, but boot failed with No device available message, even after I verified the option selection for CD-Rom.
4) Anyway, after surfing the web, I decided to reset the MBP's NVRAM. This worked.
5) After using Parallels Easy Install for Windows XP and resetting NVRAM, the installation of Windows XP went flawlessly. Installed XP Service Pack 2, Office XP Professional (2002), PC-Cillian anti-virus software all flawlessly. Installed Parallels Tools. All worked well.
6) The only major negative is that the video driver resolutions is very limited on my machine, and attempts to change it result in a screen so large I can't do anything with it, and the VM is basically useless. That said, if I leave the video at 1024x768 default, chosen by Parallels/Microsoft(?) works great.
7) I have no problems with this Windows XP VM using the the default video mode. This allows me to use Microsoft Office for corporate and post graduate work.
8) Next tried to install Fedora Core 6 from DVD iso image, and all I can say is that this was a very unsuccessful. First problem is keyboard mapping appears broke, screen resolution was so large that most of the viewable area was off the screen, add the video driver was unable to display the X11 graphics window correctly, either frequency or other graphics configuration not correct.
9) Next attempted to install Suse Linux 10.1, same experience as Step 8. However, as result of this, it appears that is caused problems for Parallels, because trying to launch Parallels, Parallels crashed my MBP hard (reboot).
10) After surfing the web, I took the following actions, I changed Parallels VM configuration to prohibit auto-launch feature, and then I deleted the Fedora Core 6 and Suse Linux 10.1 folders and emptied the trash. Restarted the MBP and was able to start Parallels and bring my Win XP VM up.
11) I then tried to install Kubuntu 6.10 from an iso CD-Rom image. To my surprise, I had to chose other linux 2.6 kernel option, it installed fine. I then tried to change the video around and was greet by a window so large I could not do anything with Kubuntu. As I continued to try to adjust the screen size Parallels crashed my MBP again! Ugh!
12) I deleted the VM and emptied trash!
13) This time I opened Parallels application but I did not start my Win XP VM, and I re-created the Other Linux 2.6 kernel VM and re-installed Kubuntu 6.10 from iso CD-Rom image, everything proceed as expected, I just ignore the PCI error message that every version of Linux 2.6 kernel presents at start-up, and the installation ran successfully. This time I left well enough alone and have resigned myself to living with 1024x768 screen (window) size. I then installed Samba and the Samba file system. Configured Samba, but it does not seem to work very with MBP HFS+ hard disk. Interestingly enough, it works fine against the Win XP VM. Oh well, another issue to deal with. However, at least now I have realized my dream, I have Mac OS X as my native OS, and Win XP guest in 512 Mb of ram, and Kubuntu 6.10 Linux (KDE) in 256 Mb running just fine.
14) I run Parallels with 1024 Mb of ram, I have the CD- Roms configured, but not connected, I removed the floppy disk from both VM as it just doesn't make sense for my needs.
15) At work I run VMware Workstation and Server products, so my comments about performance are strickly subjective, I have not run any bench marks as that is besides the point. I find that both VM are very response, however, occasionally, the mouse and keyboard seem unresponsive for about 30 seconds when I switch back to the Mac OS. I haven't been able to devise a repeatable sequence of events.
16) Now, turning my attention to Parallels GUI, there are some bugs which surprise me for a released product. For example, when you create a VM, Parallels ask you for a name which it promptly ignores and uses a hard-coded lower-case folder name instead. (i.e., I named my Win XP VM WinXP Pro, and Parallels chose winxp for the folder name, the configuration name and the hard disk file name. I chose Kubuntu for my Linux VM and Parallels chose lin26 for the folder name, the configuration file name and the hard disk name). So, the worst part is name displayed at the top of the window of each running VM is the folder name. I have just one question. Why ask me for a name at all? Launching the second VM is anything but user friendly. I'm going to stay out of the whole dock debate, and just say I would like to see a better way to launch VMs. Secondly, I would like to be able to review the VM configuration of a running VM.
17) If you are only interested in running Windows on the Mac, then Parallels is a great product. If you want want to also running Linux on a Mac, Parallels needs some help, because in my opinion, it isn't there yet. While I was able to get Kubuntu configured and running, I was unseccessful with every other distro I tried. Your mileage may be different. Remeber, I'm reporting on my experiences. I have not had the same problems installing various Linux distrros on VMware. Note, I'm not a gamer, so I can not comment on using the Win XP VM for games. I'm a software developer who specializes in media work, video and audio, and no, I don't do DRM or streaming, I focus on media production, DVDs, CDs, etc.
18) So, would I recommend Parallels? That is a tough question because I have to make a buy decision in the next couple of days. I'm leaning towards yes, if only because Parallels does support Windows XP pretty well for my needs. I was able to install both VIsual Studio 6 Professional and MSDN library, and Visual Studio .Net 2003 Professional and MSDN library and both applications seem to run reasonably for me. To a large extent, I've realized my dream of running the three OS's at the same time on a single box. In the past, I've need two or three machines to run all of the OS's I wanted to run. So, from that perspective, Parallels makes sense. Perhaps, more importantly, Parallels is the only game in town right now for the MBP. Yes, I am aware of VMware's Fusion, I even have a copy, but this a production machine in every sense of the word, and I just don't have the courage to try it. But, at the current price I'm leaning to supporting Parallels even if I switch later, first counts for something, who knows Parallels may surprise me yet.
19) I hope my comments help others.
