Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop gives you the possibility of running the Windows operating system in Mac OS X. It provides everything you would expect from a virtual machine utility, but it also comes with its own unique features, which you wouldn't find in other similar applications. Besides setting up a Windows-powered virtual machine without any effort, Parallels Desktop can also migrate all your data from a Windows PC to a Mac.

There are no predefined virtual machines waiting for you when you run the application for the first time, but creating one is quite easy. You can use a Windows DVD, a USB drive or a virtual image file. The options are laid out in front of you as large icons, accompanied by clear and easy to understand instructions. It is also possible to migrate huge amounts of data from a Windows PC to your Mac, over a network or from an external storage device.

Parallels Desktop is not limited to virtual machines powered by Windows. It allows you to create virtual machines with other operating systems as well. Furthermore, it provides you with a series of options, for downloading free systems, like Ubuntu, Chrome OS, Android and even a technical preview of Windows 10. The options are located beneath the two main options, for creating a Windows virtual machine or migrating from a PC.

Virtual machines are listed on a main control center. It is a compact window, which displays your virtual machines, along with their installed operating systems, as well as options for starting them or reconfiguring them. Also, it should go without saying that, like other similar applications, Parallels Desktop allows you to allocate specific resources to each virtual machine, without any limitations.