Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac - Standard Edition

Reviews for Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac - Standard Edition

Customer Reviews and Ratings

5.0 out of 5 stars

Based on 111 reviews

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Best of both worlds

    • Written by from North royalton

    425 of 492 people found this useful

    I was hesitant for a while to use a Mac because I have been a PC user for a long time and was used to Windows operating system (currently Windows 7), but I needed a new laptop and everyone is telling me to switch to a Mac. I have Windows programs that I must use for work but I heard there are programs out there that will allow me to use my Windows programs.
    So I felt confident in buying a Macbook Pro. After much research I choose Parallels to run my Windows operating system. I did not want to use Boot Camp that Apple offers because then you have to decide at the time you start your computer which OS you want to use. You can't share between the two.
    Set up was easy. I loaded Parallels and then Windows 7. After 2-1/2 months - it's been great! It took a while to understand the "Apple" way of doing things compared to what I was used to (i.e.; file folders and such), but so far so good. I can easily share and switch between the two OS's. I have files in the Mac OS that I open up with programs from my Windows OS. Also, Windows 7 seems to run better and faster. Another cool thing is - you know how Windows always has updates and sometimes it requires a restart for the updates to take effect - that when you do a Windows restart, it only restarts in the Windows environment! I can still use my Mac while Windows is restarting!
    Parallels has made switching to a Mac much easier with no worries about losing the ability to use Windows programs and with the ability to share files between the two OS's.

    Was this useful? Best of both worlds

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Near seamless integration of Windows apps

    • Written by from Hendersonville

    223 of 257 people found this useful

    I love my Mac for work (and home) but needed to be able to use MS Visio and MS Project for my consulting practice. Tried both Parallels and VMware and found Parallels to be the most bug free and well integrated with the Mac workflow.

    Was this useful? Near seamless integration of Windows apps

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Love Parallels

    • Written by from Silver Spring

    213 of 244 people found this useful

    I switched this year to Parallels from Fusion and I love it. Parallels is much better integrated into Mac OS and works seamlessly. None of the messy fits and starts I had with Fusion.

    Was this useful? Love Parallels

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Windows or Mac or Both

    • Written by from San Francisco

    114 of 117 people found this useful

    Being able to use Windows when needed is good... and being able to use it without rebooting is great! Runs very smooth and no more need for a separate PC.

    Was this useful? Windows or Mac or Both

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    A necessary evil made pleasant...

    • Written by from Valparaiso

    57 of 60 people found this useful

    I only need one or two Windows apps b/c of work (don't ask/get me started!), and Parallels makes this necessary evil painless and almost pleasant. Easy to install, setup, configure, and maintain, Parallels is fast & unobtrusive. While I'd prefer to have no Windows related cruft on my MBAir, Parallels makes it tolerable, and that's pretty darnned good!

    Was this useful? A necessary evil made pleasant...

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Works great, efficient

    • Written by from Littleton

    46 of 46 people found this useful

    I use parallels in software development for Mac OSX, iOS, and Windows Development. Parallels allows me to run older versions of the various compilers and operating systems. Quite often I have multiple virtual machines running at the same time. Parallels handles this without trouble. When comparing Parallels with the competition, I find parallels is more efficient with power consumption. This is important for me because often I am traveling and must run with battery power.

    Was this useful? Works great, efficient

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Windows Rocks on Mac!

    • Written by from White Plains

    47 of 48 people found this useful

    I recently switched to MAC due to repeated failures of PC machines. It actually took me four years to make the transition because I was leery about moving everything into a different environment .
    WOW!!! The MAC is not only more reliable as a machine, I think it runs Windows better using Parallels 8 than a PC! Being able to easily switch from one format to another makes me wish I had done this a lot sooner. I've even caught myself forgetting which OS I was using!

    Was this useful? Windows Rocks on Mac!

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Parallels 8!

    • Written by from Fargo

    44 of 44 people found this useful

    I have 2 Windows programs I sill need to use and running Parallels 8 on my 2012 Macbook Air 13" has worked perfectly. Highly recommended.

    Was this useful? Parallels 8!

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Simple effective and it works!

    • Written by from Watchet

    45 of 48 people found this useful

    An easy to use windows operating environment for the iMAC with no messy file changes it just works.... Having looked at several so called recommended systems, the only system that works from the box is Parrallels

    Was this useful? Simple effective and it works!

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Great for developers.

    • Written by from Muskego

    42 of 43 people found this useful

    I have been writing software for over 16 years now for Windows computers. With the explosion of Mac and iOS platforms, it was time to port my Windows software.

    I purchased a MacBook and Parallels and now it's super easy to switch between a Windows desktop and a Mac desktop giving me the best of both worlds. This has made porting my software extremely easy.

    Was this useful? Great for developers.

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    parallels desktop is the best VM so far

    • Written by from Baltimore

    41 of 41 people found this useful

    I run windows 7 and 8 on parallel desktop 8, and it is great, also i run linux on it to do my homework. However, windows doesn't support retina display, parallel good, windows not so much.

    Was this useful? parallels desktop is the best VM so far

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Don't forget to include the price of your Windows

    • Written by from Plainfield

    41 of 42 people found this useful

    Even though you own a valid license for Windows, it is not always transferrable from another machine. I discovered halfway through the process that Widows is licensed to the laptop, not the user and is not transferable. Even if the laptop is ready for the recycler.

    You may purchase Windows during the time of the transfer through this product, but it was a big sticker shock. Thank you former Windows laptop. Parallels is very versatile in how you purchase your Windows license. You are not required to go through them, but their price was comparable.

    Was this useful? Don't forget to include the price of your Windows

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Work Data

    • Written by from SANTA ROSA

    41 of 43 people found this useful

    I need windows for access to work documents. This is the best program so far and not a bad price when you upgrade from a previous version.

    Was this useful? Work Data

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Parallels Desktop is a great tool!

    • Written by from Oak Park

    40 of 42 people found this useful

    I love the performance of my virtual machines

    A short list of virtual machines used for support and testing
    >Windows {XP, Vista, 7 & 8}
    >Linux {Ubuntu, CentOS}
    >Software appliances {JumpBox, BitNami and manual builds}.

    Feature wish list for upcoming version(s)
    Build VM's on desktop and deploy/manage the VM's to a Parallels Server instance. Either the Mac or Bare Metal versions of Parallels Server.

    Was this useful? Parallels Desktop is a great tool!

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Legacy PPC programs live .... On 2012 MBP

    • Written by from Memphis

    38 of 39 people found this useful

    I bought a new 2012 MBP and upgraded to Mountain Lion.

    I soon found many of my old legacy apps were unusable. I have many apps that will someday become replacements.... But for now I run Snow Leopard Server in a virtual window using Parallels to run legacy software like AppleWorks an Quicken!

    Was this useful? Legacy PPC programs live .... On 2012 MBP

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    running the latest a greatest

    • Written by from NORTH ATTLEBORO

    31 of 32 people found this useful

    As a free lance consultant I have to have many environments available to match with my clients. By running parallels, I can mimic the client environment and keep compatible with their desktop no matter what their environment. I also have a technet membership so I run the latest images from microsoft in my Parallels worlds.

    Was this useful? running the latest a greatest

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Parallel Desktop

    • Written by from Houston

    31 of 32 people found this useful

    Very easy to use!

    Was this useful? Parallel Desktop

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    The one of the best software you want to install in your mac

    • Written by from Anaheim

    31 of 32 people found this useful

    If you can only install one software in your mac it will be parallels. This mac your mac beyond the boundaries. There is no limitation to your mac. I love parallel

    Was this useful? The one of the best software you want to install in your mac

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Fast & Powerful

    • Written by from Parker

    29 of 29 people found this useful

    Parallels does everything I need. My virtual machines are fast and have the power to do all my tasks without bogging down or impacting my Mac's performance.

    Highly recommended!

    Was this useful? Fast & Powerful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    it more better Parallels 8 for Mac

    • Written by from La Puente

    28 of 29 people found this useful

    The best products ever, Great application and easy and quick running windows 8 on Mac, I'm happy with this software ^_^

    Was this useful? it more better Parallels 8 for Mac

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