Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac - Old Version

3.4 3.4 out of 5 stars | 264 ratings

Price: 62.25

Last update: 04-03-2025


About this item

OpenGL 1.5 / DirectX 8.1 Support--Run supported games and 3D applications at native speed in Windows
Open documents in Mac OS or Windows using any available Mac OS or Windows application
Windows Start Menu Integration--Click the Parallels icon in the Dock to show the Windows Start Menu
Run Windows and Mac OS applications in a single integrated environment, or mount Your Windows File System and access its files and folders directly from Mac OS
Support for OS X Leopard--Full support for Apple's next generation operating system when it ships
Run Windows and Mac OS applications in a single integrated environment,
Or mount Your Windows File System and access its files and folders directly from Mac OS
Support for OS X Leopard--Full support for Apple's next generation operating system when it ships
Open documents in Mac OS or Windows using any available Mac OS or Windows application
OpenGL 1.5 / DirectX 8.1 Support--Run supported games and 3D applications at native speed in Windows
Windows Start Menu Integration--Click the Parallels icon in the Dock to show the Windows Start Menu

Top reviews from the United States

  • Wildness
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest pieces of software I've used since the invention of sliced bread
    Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2007
    I started my computer "career" on Apple II computers with big floppy drivers, green screen monitors, and a whopping 48kb of RAM! Those were the days. Ever since, we have been striving for the perfect computing experience where it is about the creative work or otherwise being done, not the work being done to keep the computer happy.

    Soon after the Apple II days, I spent time on a Sperry Univac before finally settling into MS-DOS on an IBM and then an HP; this lead to Windows 3.1, 95, 98, NT, (not) ME, 2000, XP, and the oh-so-not-ready for primetime Vista. Along the way, I operated a Graphics Lab that was half Windows NT workstations and half Apple Mac OS 9 computers. Those were not the days...I spent too much time getting them to talk to each other, to see the file server, and just keeping them running efficiently.

    Then there were Mac OS X and Mac Pro workstations! My creative work environment has been reinvented. But, there is always a legacy, and mine is Windows software without a Mac version or without a migration option - some things just can't get there from here...until now.

    Parallels Desktop allows for multiple virtual Windows machines to be created in Mac OS X; and, not just Windows, but Linux, OS/2 (people still use that??), FreeBSD, Sun Solaris, and plain old MS-DOS (talk about some serious legacy issues if you need this). I have no experience with the other OSs listed, but as far as Windows goes, it is amazing! Each virtual machine is a self contained computer to the operating system using it, and Parallels Desktop handles all of the communications with the hardware and the Mac file system and drag and drop capabilities between the two operating systems.

    Parallels Desktop creates disk image for each virtual machine that grows in size as the VM requires; this disk image holds all of the files - system, programs, and data - that is installed on the VM. It also offers an option to have your Mac documents folder and your desktop serve as the documents folder and desktop on your VM, streamlining the storage of all of your valuable files in one place.

    The single greatest accomplishment of this software is the Coherence Mode. This mode eliminates the window housing the VM and moves the Windows Task Bar and Start Menu down to the bottom of your Mac desktop. Any software or folder window you open from the Windows VM opens in its own window on the Mac and looks like a Windows window instead of a Mac window - you will always know where and what you are working on.
    Parallels Desktop also includes some nifty tools as well. The Snapshot feature allows you create a backup snapshot of your VM at anytime and revert back to it if necessary. But, the best tool, is Parallels Explorer, which allows you to view and work with the file system of the VM when it is not running.

    If I had one criticism, it would be how CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs are handled between the two - essentially, you have to connect to the CD/DVD drive for the Windows VM to see it, and if you are installing a multi-disk software package, you have to continually connect and disconnect to the drive...it is very laborious. I would like to see a more fluid and automatic process in the future.

    Overall, this is amazing software that blurs the line between Mac and Windows and allows for the best of both worlds. My Windows XP install runs better in the Parallels Desktop virtual machine than it did on my high-end laptop!
  • John Faughnan
    3.0 out of 5 stars Try before you buy
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2006
    Update: I am much more fond of this than when I first tried it. It is definitely a geek tool, but I am, after all, a geek. I have an old copy of Windows 2000 running with SP 6 or so, no antiviral because I don't give it network access. It runs the Windows apps I need, like Microsoft Access. It can't handle the children's games unfortunately, maybe XP would allow a bit better results.
    ---

    Download the demo version and try it out before you buy. This is not an application for the non-geek. If you're a geek (like me) it's not that hard to install, but the copious documentation is often incorrect. You're better off ignoring the documentation.

    It claims to support Win95, 98 etc. I tried Win98 release 2. Don't bother. Seriously. It's a disaster.

    XP works far better, but I think the current release has not been fully debugged for the newest Macs. I tried some older children's games -- the older they were the less they worked. They do work on an XP box.

    Batteries go fast when running this -- you're best off with a plug.

    Remember you need to budget for an XP license, and, if you allow network access, antiviral software.
  • CB
    1.0 out of 5 stars It worked once, then crashed, and now I have a worthless item with no support!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2008
    This product has potential; however I feel completely cheated by this company. I purchased this, loaded it up on my dual processor macbook, and it worked well. Then shut down the computer overnight, and when I started it up the next day, seized up, and has never worked since, despite following all the suggestions on Parallels' message board. I have unloaded and re-loaded the programs, to no avail. The company DOES NOT RESPOND to e-mails (except the automated response that they got them).

    I registered the Parallels and the copy of Windows I purchased after they worked initially; but can't get anywhere now. After approximately 12 hours of working with this, still have nothing. I feel ripped off and completely without recourse.

    Terrible product. Terrible company.

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