Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac Offers Premium Windows-on-Mac Experience with
Virtualization Enhancements Plus Internet Security, Data Protection and
Disk Management
Renton, WA — November 11th, 2008 — Parallels today announced the
availability of version 4.0 of Parallels Desktop for Mac, its
market-leading product that currently enables more than 1.5 million users
to run Windows, Linux and other operating systems side-by-side with Mac OS
X. This new version of the award-winning Parallels Desktop for Mac improves
OS integration, performs up to 50% faster and incorporates a range of
security, backup and power saving features to give Mac users a truly easy,
fast and powerful desktop computing solution.
“We run a high volume of Macs and it’s absolutely vital that they deliver
on fast performance and ease of use. Parallels has met this need well with
features like Coherence and SmartSelect in creating a seamless
Windows-on-Mac experience,” said John Hermes, Chief Technology Officer at
Oklahoma Christian University. “Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac builds on
this, providing blazing speed and all-round performance through innovations
such as the Adaptive Hypervisor, which gives our users the resources they
need on the fly; and advanced graphics support, which provides a very
smooth experience.”
Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac introduces support for DirectX 9.0, DirectX
Pixel Shader 2.0 and OpenGL 2.0, providing fast video performance, while
the Adaptive Hypervisor dynamically allocates resources to meet user needs.
The responsiveness to all applications is further enhanced as the
virtualization engine has been optimized to consume 15-30% less resources
than previous versions.
“Parallels is committed to continuing the innovation that has resulted in
Parallels Desktop for Mac winning more than 30 major awards and being a
premier Windows-on-Mac virtualization product,” said Serguei Beloussov, CEO
of Parallels. “With version 4.0, we’re delivering an advanced solution that
is easy, fast and powerful — with industry-leading tools and utilities
included at no extra cost.”
Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac addresses two other primary user concerns:
security and backup. The software offers users peace of mind through
Parallels Internet Security powered by Kaspersky for anti-virus, firewall,
scanner, recovery, filtering and identity protection as well as Acronis
True Image Home backup and restore and Acronis Disk Director Suite. These
three additions to Parallels Desktop represent $175 in extra value along
with a more complete user experience.
“Mac OS X is the world’s most advanced operating system and its ability to
run Windows on a Mac is yet another reason users are switching to the Mac
at a rapid rate,” said Ron Okamoto, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide
Developer Relations. “This rapid adoption is supported by applications like
Parallels Desktop for Mac, which enables users to get the most from their
hardware.”
Parallels Desktop 4.0 offers a computing experience that is:
* Easy — Get easy access to all your applications and data while enjoying
the full Mac experience with Improved Windows and Mac integration, True
Drag & Drop and Copy & Paste, SmartX Technologies and Built-in Installation
and Migration Tools.
* Fast — Experience the fastest speed for all applications with Adaptive
Hypervisor, FastLane Architecture, up to 8 way SMP and 8 GB RAM plus 64-bit
support for each VM, HyperBus and support for DirectX 9.0, DirectX Pixel
Shader 2.0, and OpenGL 2.0.
* Powerful — Get a complete suite of essentials for Internet security,
data protection and disk management with Parallels Internet Security
powered by Kaspersky, Acronis True Image Home backup and restore,
SmartGuard, PowerSaver, Full-hardware ACPI support and Acronis Disk
Director Suite disk management.
* Developer and Enterprise Ready — Additional features specifically for
Developers and IT administrators include Mac OS X Leopard Server and
Windows Server OS support, VM Directory, CLI and Scripting support, SDK and
API, remote control from iPhone, PXE Boot, improved networking and VM
Templates.
With more than 50 new features, additional highlights include a redesigned
user interface with quick access to all VMs, additional Screenview modes,
Clips for screenshots, Speech Recognition, Security Manager, Safe Mode,
Shut Down Mode and Over 45 Supported Guest OSs.
“The growth, in both performance and ease of use, of desktop virtualization
software is making it easier for Windows users to adopt Macintosh
computers. The availability of this technology is one of many factors
driving growth in the adoption of Mac desktops and notebooks, for which
shipments have grown 46.6% between the first half of 2007 and the first
half of 2008, according to our data,” said Michael Rose, Industry Analyst
at the research firm, IDC. “Those users leveraging virtualization software
on their Macintosh hardware will find that many of the new capabilities in
Parallels Desktop 4.0 represent another step forward.”
Availability and Pricing
Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is available in English and localized
versions will soon be available in Chinese, Czech, French, German,
Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Polish and Russian.
The standard retail price (SRP) of Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is $79.99.
New users can test a free, fully-functional copy for 15 days. Current
Parallels Desktop users can upgrade their existing software for only $39.99
— a 50% off promotional price available until November 30, 2008. Users
that purchased version 3.0 on or after September 1, 2008, qualify for a
free upgrade to version 4.0.
Parallels Desktop 4.0 for Mac is available at Amazon.com, Apple Store, Best
Buy, Fry’s Electronics, MicroCenter, Office Depot, Staples and hundreds of
other retailers nationwide.
Volume pricing and site-license opportunities are also available for new
customers by contacting the Parallels Sales Team at sales@parallels.com or
425-282-6400.
In-depth information on Parallels Desktop 4.0’s new features and major
improvements, as well as videos and screenshots of key features in action,
are available at http://www.parallels.com/products/desktop
About Parallels — Optimized Computing
Parallels is a worldwide leader in virtualization and automation software
that optimizes computing for consumers, businesses, and service providers
across all major hardware, operating systems, and virtualization platforms.
Founded in 1999, Parallels is a fast-growing company with 800 employees in
North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit
http://www.parallels.com
