Filed under: OS, Software, Productivity
Parallels Desktop 3 officially released
After teasing us by announcing a release candidate for beta testers (and a sale that is now over) and posting videos of Quake 4 - a very resource-intensive game - running impressively well in Parallels, this powerful new v3.0 of the leading virtualization suite for Mac OS X has been released. Offering significant new features like we already mentioned, such as the highly-anticipated 3D acceleration (XP for now, Vista to come) and SmartSelect for specifying files types to open in apps across virtualized OSes, this could easily be called the most significant release of Parallels since the advent of Coherence Mode.
Parallels Desktop 3.0 sells for $79.99 and is ready for download now, with 15-day trial keys are available to those who already used trial keys for previous versions.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Edd said 5:04PM on 6-07-2007
Good stuff. Anyone know if this version supports D3D as well or only OpenGL rendering?
Reply
E-Rock said 5:16PM on 6-07-2007
@1: everything I've read says that it does. I'd tell you myself but...
the trial key that gets emailed to you does not work for v3.0. I read a confirmation of this over at MacNN
Reply
Mark Roedel said 5:45PM on 6-07-2007
@1: downloaded and installed the update using the upgrade key that was mailed to me, but I don't have any of my game cds with me at work, so I won't have any hands-on experience to talk about until later this evening. However, the release notes section titled "Accelerated 3D graphics" claims "OpenGL support" and "Limited DirectX 8.1 support." (I've not found anything yet to indicate what they mean by "limited".) They do list several Direct3D games (Baldur's Gate 2, Dungeon Siege 2, Max Payne) as known compatible.
Reply
Brian said 5:46PM on 6-07-2007
How do you upgrade to 3.0 if you preordered? I have the key they sent me, but where do I download the upgrade?
Reply
Mo said 6:06PM on 6-07-2007
Aye, the trial keys they're sending out at the moment are for “Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 Beta”, not for the final version.
Handy, really.
Reply
sergio.delagarza said 6:21PM on 6-07-2007
Trial Keys does not work =/
Reply
Dave Chartier said 6:29PM on 6-07-2007
I think I finally figured it out: the emails Parallels sends out say "Parallels 3 *beta*" in the subject. My guess is that they haven't updated the trial key system yet to work with the officially shipping version.
What I gotta wonder though: if they're trial keys that already stall out after 15 days, why do they have to change the key system *that* much so keys between a beta and a shipping version are incompatible?
Reply
Edd said 6:32PM on 6-07-2007
The new keys that they send out via the website work with the trial now. Looking forward to trying it out. :)
Reply
hessi said 6:37PM on 6-07-2007
Damn, guys, get off the line, right now, the 78MB will take me more than 2 hours.
I do have a 3.0 serial number and a few DX games here, let me test it, damn! ;-)
Reply
Shane said 7:43PM on 6-07-2007
What really sucks is that I purchased the previous version in late april for $80. They offer a $50 upgrade path. I understand paying for an upgrade, but if I had waited a month I could of paid the same $80 and had the latest version.
This sucks.
- shane
Reply
MikeCP said 7:43PM on 6-07-2007
anyone getting an invalid checksum?
Reply
artifex said 8:09PM on 6-07-2007
Anyone notice how they outsourced their support to some crappy third party? Look at this example:
"Can I use my free e-mail address?
You will receive important information and receipts via e-mail. Products are usually delivered by e-mail as well. You are welcome to use your free e-mail address when placing your order.
However, this does not apply to orders by credit card / UK debit card. To offer this payment type without incurring risks, we can only accept addresses from fee-based e-mail services. If the software publisher accepts free e-mail addresses without restrictions, you are welcome to use them."
Note that that's a non-answer taken from their faq to the simple question of using a free email address. No! Maybe! Yes?
Some support. Looking forward to seeing VMWare's pricing scheme; I know they have good support.
Reply
Edd said 8:36PM on 6-07-2007
Just to update; no Direct3D games I've tried so far have worked (tried PKR and a patched Final Fantasy 7 :P).
Reply
Rob said 9:36PM on 6-07-2007
#13, You need to go to VM properties and turn on Direct X
Reply
Jon H said 11:33PM on 6-07-2007
Crashes the VM every time I try to install the new Parallels Tools.
Reply
Edd said 7:25AM on 6-08-2007
2 #14 that's all done dude :(
Reply
spb said 10:02AM on 6-08-2007
Am I stupid, but where is VM properties where I can enable/unable DirectX ?
Reply
Edd said 1:42PM on 6-08-2007
#18 -- Under the VM properties (Edit->VM), go to the 'Video' section. Under the part where you specify custom resolutions there should be a checkbox to enable DX rendering.
However nothing I've tried so far has worked. They've all been D3D apps coughing out the error "cannot create a D3D device".
Reply
A prospective VMware Customer said 5:05PM on 6-08-2007
Did anybody else by the package with one years free upgrades that is not working with this version (4124)?
Can't see any small print anywhere that indicates any limitations.
Reply