[auramac]

What I don't understand is going through all this trouble to play Windows games. I can understand using the functionality to be able to run other applications, but.. then again, forget it- I guess what I'm really saying is why bother with games on any computer, phone, etc.? I have too many other interests- music, etc. That's just me. I realize games sell a lot of computers, and iPhones. To each his own.

[Wizardling]

auramac said:

What I don't understand is going through all this trouble to play Windows games. I can understand using the functionality to be able to run other applications, but.. then again, forget it- I guess what I'm really saying is why bother with games on any computer, phone, etc.? I have too many other interests- music, etc. That's just me. I realize games sell a lot of computers, and iPhones. To each his own.

You don't understand games and wanting to play and have fun? Or you just don't like computer games and for some reason you think everyone else should feel the same way? I think I feel sorry for you.

[beluga1]

I gave an extensive description of my own problem with Parallels on this thread almost 2 weeks. I had emailed Parallels that same day, trying to get some answers about why my virtual machine update was crashing, and howe to fix it. They never responded. I emailed them again a week ago. They still haven't responded. This level of discourtesy to a paying customer who is merely trying to get software not to crash, is a first for me in almost 20 years of using computers. Don't buy this, no matter how good the reviews may be, because the company is simply not at home for their customers if you happen to need tech support.

[sat54]

My basic response is AMEN. I am sending my 4.0 back for a refund. They told me that there were not any known bugs BUT today I noticed an update to fix a long list of bugs. I have reverted to 3. and will go elsewhere if I have to.

[whitedog]

beluga1 said:

I gave an extensive description of my own problem with Parallels on this thread almost 2 weeks. I had emailed Parallels that same day, trying to get some answers about why my virtual machine update was crashing, and howe to fix it. They never responded. I emailed them again a week ago. They still haven't responded. This level of discourtesy to a paying customer who is merely trying to get software not to crash, is a first for me in almost 20 years of using computers. Don't buy this, no matter how good the reviews may be, because the company is simply not at home for their customers if you happen to need tech support.

I had trouble with Parallels customer support over a year ago trying to figure out a bug in version 2. The answers were late in coming and unsatisfactory when they did show up. I found some workarounds posted by users on their support forums which their tech support people apparently didn't bother to read. The bugs were eventually fixed. In the meantime, though, I bought a copy of VMWare Fusion which has worked with considerably less difficulty.

It's disappointing to learn that Parallels' customer support has not improved. Their product has gotten better - and version 4 is excellent if you can get it to work. But it may not be worth the trouble for some people.

It should be noted that Parallels 4 is still in beta. Some problems are to be expected. If you want to avoid the risks inherent in beta software, you should not get version 4 till it's been more fully road tested. If you are already invested in Parallels 2 or 3, it may be wise to avoid the version 4 beta - unless you have the time and energy (and curiosity) to deal with potential difficulties.

One thing that has changed with the Parallels updates is that I no longer have to restart my computer after installing the latest version of Parallels Tools. The VM restarts, but I didn't get the usual network error message advising me to restart my Mac. Small favors.

If you didn't see my earlier posts, I managed to get the Parallels 4 upgrade to work, moving up from version 3, but it was not without hazard and I count myself merely lucky that I managed to stumble through it successfully. I consider my experience to be a caution rather than a recommendation to others to take the plunge.

[ptsapralis]

I had a rather different experience with Parallels suport during the last couple of days while trying to resolve a problem in one of my VM's on my newly upgraded PD 4.0. The person, who dealt with my issue, offered some advice within 3 days (they had warned me about that as soon as they registered my inquiry into their database and - quite honestly - I find this to be a reasonable period of time, especially if you take into account that they have just released a new version and they must be dealing with a flood of support requests). The advice was correct and I was able to resolve my issue and continue using my VM.

However, I wouldn't say that PD 4.0 is considered to be beta software (otherwise, why pay for it?...). I understand that Parallels is a small company (at least when compared to VMWARE) and may not have the resources and the strength to test their products before launch as rigorously as VMWARE does - as soon as they launch their new release into general commercial availability, though, one would expect them to invest in supporting it in the best possible way (I hope they do so...).

One good piece of advice is to wait for some time to go by before stepping into these new releases (so that the initial bunch of more or less inevitable bugs goes away first). It's a matter of choice actually: if the software is critical in your day-to-day work, then you should wait a little bit before upgrading - otherwise, you can ahead and be a pioneer (and offer some good service to the rest of the community...).

In my case, I use PD for serious work - however, I decided to upgrade as soon as release 4.0 came out because I also use SUN's Virtual Box and VMWARE Fusion and I figured that it would not kill me if I encountered any serious bugs in the new version.

[huzzam]

Macworld staff, why do you never mention that there's a COMPLETELY FREE option, competing directly with Parallels & VMWare?
VirtualBox, now under Sun's wing, is stable, simple to use, and FREE (mostly open source, and no charge). Yes, it lacks a few features from the commercial offerings (multiprocessor support, double-click launching of cross-platform apps), but has everything I've ever needed from a virtualization app, including Snapshots, mouse & display drivers for Win & Linux, & lots more. I stream Netflix, test websites in various browsers, update my BlackBerry's software in Windows XP Pro, and also have a full Ubuntu installation, so I can use some of the best & most current free software available (Inkscape has fully replaced Adobe Illustrator for me, for example). Everything runs at good speed, even though it only uses one core of my Core2Duo.
Editors, please consider at least mentioning VirtualBox next time you review a new, costly Parallels or VMWare version. You'd do your readers a great service!

[sat54]

Someone said this was Beta! I see no reference to a beta and the pricing and sales literature do not refer to 4.0 as being in beta. Sounds more Microsoft, put together a program and let the users find the bugs or problems.

[Leto_Parallels]

huzzam said:

Macworld staff, why do you never mention that there's a COMPLETELY FREE option, competing directly with Parallels & VMWare?

VirtualBox, now under Sun's wing, is stable, simple to use, and FREE (mostly open source, and no charge). Yes, it lacks a few features from the commercial offerings (multiprocessor support, double-click launching of cross-platform apps), but has everything I've ever needed from a virtualization app, including Snapshots, mouse & display drivers for Win & Linux, & lots more. I stream Netflix, test websites in various browsers, update my BlackBerry's software in Windows XP Pro, and also have a full Ubuntu installation, so I can use some of the best & most current free software available (Inkscape has fully replaced Adobe Illustrator for me, for example). Everything runs at good speed, even though it only uses one core of my Core2Duo.

Editors, please consider at least mentioning VirtualBox next time you review a new, costly Parallels or VMWare version. You'd do your readers a great service!

VirtualBox is decent software, but you may not represent everyone out there in opinion. Many people are willing to pay for the extra features and ease of use that Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac gives, and you can't blame them for that. There are certain things Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac offers that VirtualBox doesn't, like Coherence mode and better 3D support. And while Parallels offers free e-mail and knowledgebase support, Sun charges for these things.

Aside from any performance benefits, Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac also comes bundled with Parallels Internet Security (powered by Kaspersky) and Acronis True Image Home backup software to use with your guest OS.




Anyway huzzam I see your point and assume you're just a big VirtualBox fan. If you're officially associated with Sun, though, you should probably state it openly.

sat54 said:

Someone said this was
Beta! I see no reference to a beta and the pricing and sales literature
do not refer to 4.0 as being in beta. Sounds more Microsoft, put
together a program and let the users find the bugs or problems.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac was in beta for a while. The beta test
was successful and helped us develop final builds, then we released the
software in stores on November 11th as planned. If someone said
Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac was still in beta, they were either
mistaken, or they were saying they participated in the beta when it was active.

[wymapper]

Parallels 4.0 still acts like a beta, especially if you are upgrading from 3.0 with the initial downloaded version (11-19-08) with an existing XP Service Pack 3 with lots of software installed. 4.0 is working now, four service phone calls, with little help, though I got a TEC each time. The TECs just gave me what I read in the manual. After three emails I got a hold of an software engineer who tried, but failed. A second engineer emailed me with a fix, a new bug fix, but I have already found it. I had to delete all the older 4.0 and restore my 3.0 version, almost stopped their because 3.0 worked well.

I reinstalled the latest version from the WEB, and in about another hour+ I had everything up and running, except I can't get my Bluetooth PDA to function with VM, but it works with the Mac. I bet I spent over 8-10 hours with this conversion, about the worst I spent in the last 10 years.

Parallels Desktop 4.0 works well, and maybe for a new install it would be easy. Next time I'll wait six months for all the debugging to be completed. Also I paid an additional $10 for an Out of date CD version.

Bruce

[tims099]

This is truly the equivalent size debacle of the failed Win Vista launch. I have had issue upon issue and when parallel tools "ate" the entire free space on my physical hard drive, I had reached my limit of patience. Oh, and I had to pay to experience this stress.
Contacting tech support on a reinstall issue caused further grief and yet again additional cost ($40 cdn).

So for $80 cdn - $103 USD - in an upgrade from v3 I do not have v4 running.

I use a Mac machine in a windows world to earn a living. I use if for MS exchange access, native active directory authentication to network shares and meet my companies limiting MS only policies.

Not having this working is bad, tech support not being able to resolve the issues is worse, and being referred to "level 2"support and now two days later - never hearing back from them, spells one word "PATHETIC" Having their tech support in India may be %50 cheaper - but you get what you pay for. Oh, and isn't North America needing more job creation. Had I know I wasn't supporting a free trade partner; I would have second thoughts about upgrading.

This was once a great company breaking new boundaries and I supported it from the first launch day. But I will not spend another cent on it.

DONT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE UPGRADE!!!!!!! It has become crap ware.... version 3 was rock solid and I loved it. I may end up back at version 3 and stay there, but right now I am trying a 30 day trial of VMware because frankly I am pissed big time at this company.

[sat54]

I can only say that I agree that 4.0 is not woth the grief and loss of functionality. Prehaps as a stand alone new install it would be ok but why chance it. My advice is to return the 4.0 for a refund. Their ad is no qusttions ask within a certain time frame.

[Leto_Parallels]

tims099 I'm sincerely sorry to see you had such a frustrating experience trying to upgrade. If you're willing to give it another shot, I'll do my best to help. Your problem with Parallels Tools sounds very odd. I've never heard of a tools installation that ate hard drive space as you describe.

I'd like to help you; but you need to help me help you help me help yourself, know what I mean? Yeah me neither.

Since you've already contacted our tech support, coud I please get your to e-mail me at Leto@Parallels.com with your support ticket number? All support for Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is currently free, including phone support, so if somehow you were really charged then it was a mistake and I can see about getting you refunded for it.

I can also see about the delayed responses on your issue, though we did hit a weekend and now that it's over you've hopefully been contacted.

[rbrown050]

Want actually working USB peripherals? buy VM Fusion
I bought parallels 3.0 in November
I was thoroughly disappointed in its performance, I felt cheated because almost none of my usb peripherals worked, it didnt begin to live up to expectations.
My USB GPS or USB broadband modem or my USB Game controller didnt work, making parallels almost entirely useless to me, I could have saved my money and simply used boot camp.
Parallels release 4.0 supposed as a free upgrade to new 3.0 purchasers.
I submitted my proof of purchase receipt on the 1st of Dec 08 its now January 2009 and till this date I still haven't received a 4.0 activation key for the Parallels Manufacturer.
I bought VM Fusion and imported my VM machine and instantly every one of my usb peripherals worked perfectly.
Do not waste time and money on a product or company that cant or wont even attempt to deliver what it claims.
I dont own stock or interest in either company. but with VM fusion I do have a Virtual windows machine on my Mac with working USB peripherals.