Parallels For Mac Coherence Mode

Nevertheless, outside the office I'm in Coherence mode mostly. It gives an opportunity to use Windows applications along with the Mac® ones.

Quick Summary

Parallels Desktop lets you run Windows apps on your Mac. That can be very handy if you rely on certain Windows apps for your business, or have switched to Mac and can’t find alternatives for everything you need.

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Is it worth it? If you have Mac apps for everything you need you won’t need Parallels, and if you need just a few non-critical Windows apps a free alternative may meet your needs. But if you rely on Windows apps to get your work done, you’ll need the premium Windows performance that Parallels Desktop provides.

• Windows is very responsive
• Pauses when not in use to save resources
• Coherence mode lets you run Windows apps like Mac apps
• Also run Linux, Android and more

• My mouse became unresponsive once
• macOS and Linux are less responsive than Windows

Parallels Desktop for Mac

Quick Navigation

// Why Should You Trust Me?
// What Is Parallels Desktop for Mac?
// Parallels Desktop for Mac: What's in it For You?
// ​Reasons Behind My Reviews and Ratings
// ​Alternatives to Parallels Desktop
// Conclusion

Why Should You Trust Me?

My name is Adrian Try. After using Microsoft Windows for over a decade, I made a deliberate move away from the operating system in 2003. I enjoyed the change, but still needed certain Windows apps on a regular basis. So I found myself using a combination of dual boot, virtualization (using VMware and VirtualBox) and Wine. See the Alternatives section of this review.

I hadn’t tried Parallels Desktop before. I was provided a review license, and installed version 12 on my macOS Sierra-based iMac. For the last week I’ve been putting it through its paces, installing Windows 10 (purchased just for this review) and several other operating systems, and trying just about every feature in the program.

Version 13 was released last night, so I immediately upgraded. This review reflects my use of both Parallels Desktop 12 and 13, and all of the screenshots are from version 13. Third-party reviews that I reference are all of version 12.

In this review I’ll share what I like and dislike about Parallels Desktop. The content in the quick summary box above serves as a short version of my findings and conclusions. Read on for the details!

What Is Parallels Desktop for Mac?

Parallels Desktop allows you to run Windows apps on your Mac. It does this by allowing you to install Windows on a virtual machine — a computer emulated in software. Your virtual computer is assigned a portion of the RAM, processor and disk space of your real computer, so it will be slower and have less resources.

Other operating systems will also run on Parallels Desktop, including Linux, Android and macOS — even older versions of macOS and OS X (El Capitan or earlier).

What’s New in Parallels Desktop 13?

Parallels has added a number of new features to version 13. According to the release notes from Parallels, those include speed improvements, making GIFs, presentation mode, Picture-in-Picture, Retina display enhancements, etc. Watch this 3-minute video for more.

Is Parallels Desktop Safe?

Yes, it is. I ran and installed the app on my macOS Sierra based iMac and scanned it for viruses. Parallels Desktop 13 doesn’t contain any virus or malicious processes.

Be aware that when you install Windows in Parallels, you become vulnerable to Windows viruses (on the virtual machine and the files it can access), so make sure you protect yourself. A trial version of Kaspersky Internet Security is included, or install your security software of choice.

During my use of the app, my mouse froze once when switching between Windows and Mac. This required a reboot to fix. Your mileage may vary.

Is Parallels Desktop Free?

No, it isn’t freeware though a full-featured 14-day trial is available. There are three versions of the app to consider:

1. Parallels Desktop for Mac ($79.99 for students): Designed for home or student use.
2. Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition ($99.99/year): Designed for developers and power users who need the best performance.
3. Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition ($99.99/year): Designed for IT departments, it includes centralized administration and volume licensing.
4. You’ll also have to pay for Microsoft Windows and your Windows applications if you don’t already own them.

How to Install Parallels Desktop for Mac

Here is an overview of the full process of getting the app up and running:

1. Download and install Parallels Desktop for Mac.
2. You’ll be asked to choose an operating for your new virtual machine. To install Windows, you have three choices: purchase it online, install it from a US stick, or transfer it from a PC. Enter the Windows product key when prompted.
3. Windows will be installed along with some Parallels tools. This will take some time.
4. Your new Windows desktop will be displayed. Install any Windows application software you need.

Parallels Desktop for Mac: What’s in it For You?

Since Parallels Desktop is all about running Windows apps (and more) on your Mac, I’m going to list all its features by putting them into the following five sections. In each subsection, I’ll first explore what the app offers and then share my personal take.

1. Turn Your Mac Into Several Computers with Virtualization

Parallels Desktop is virtualization software — it emulates a new computer in software. On that virtual computer you can run any operating system you like, including Windows, and any software that runs on that operating system. That’s very convenient if you need non-Mac software.

A virtual machine will run slower than your real computer, but Parallels has worked hard to optimize performance. Trusted Reviews ran some benchmark tests and were impressed: “Performance is excellent, with Windows feeling responsive and snappy. I ran GeekBench 3 on both Mac and the Windows virtual machine and got similar scores: Mac OS scored 5,833 in the multi-core test, and the Windows virtual machine scored 5,057.”

But why run a slower virtual machine when you can install Windows on your actual computer using Bootcamp? Because having to restart your machine to change operating systems is slow, inconvenient, and incredibly frustrating. Virtualization is an excellent alternative.

GeekWire’s Daniel Rasmus agrees. “Parallels virtual machines can run almost any operating system, even those that are no longer supported (as long as you have a CD and license key)… Parallels works closely with Apple, Microsoft and the open source community to ensure that Parallels Desktop will not only run their operating systems, but that they run relatively fast in a very stable environment.”

My personal take: Virtualization technology provides a convenient way of accessing non-Mac software while using macOS. If you need regular access to Windows apps, Parallel’s implementation is superb.

2. Run Windows on Your Mac Without Rebooting

You may need to run Windows on your Mac for a variety of reasons. Here are some examples:

• Developers can test their software on Windows and other operating systems
• Web developers can test their websites on a variety of Windows browsers
• Writers can create documentation and reviews about Windows software.

Parallels provides the virtual machine, you need to supply Microsoft Windows. There are three options:

1. Purchase it directly from Microsoft and download it.
2. Purchase it from a store and install from a USB stick.
3. Transfer Windows from your PC or Bootcamp.

Transferring a previously-installed version of Windows is the least-recommended option, as it can lead to

licensing issues or driver problems. David Ludlow from Trusted Reviews explains:

“But there are caveats. Foremost, is that Windows’ licensing prevents you from moving an OEM version of an OS to a new computer, even to a virtual machine. In other words, you can only transfer an old PC if you bought a retail version of Windows.”

“Secondly, Windows 10 doesn’t particularly like being moved, and Windows apps won’t necessarily run. I got a warning when trying to run some apps, such as Edge, telling me that they ‘can’t be opened using the Built-in Administrator account’.”

In my case, I purchased a shrink-wrapped version of Windows 10 Home (with USB an enclosed USB stick) from a store. The price was the same as downloading from Microsoft: $179 Aussie dollars.

I started up Parallels Desktop 13, inserted my USB stick, and Windows was installed without fuss.

Once installed, Windows feels snappy and responsive. Moving from Windows to Mac and back again is fast and seamless. I’ll explain how that’s done in the next section.

My personal take: For those needing access to Windows while using macOS, Parallels Desktop is a godsend. They have obviously worked hard to optimize their software for Windows, as it is incredibly responsive.

3. Switch Conveniently between Mac and Windows

How easy is switching between Mac and Windows using Parallels Desktop? You don’t even notice it. By default it runs inside a window like this.

When my mouse is outside of that window, it is the black Mac mouse cursor. Once it moves inside the window, it becomes the white Windows mouse cursor automatically and instantly.

For some uses that can feel a little cramped. Pressing the green Maximize button will make Windows run full screen. The screen resolution adjusts automatically. You can switch to and from Windows using a four-finger swipe.

Very fast, very easy, very intuitive. Switching between Mac and Windows couldn’t be easier. Here’s another bonus. For convenience, I found myself leaving Windows open even when I wasn’t using it. When not in use, Parallels pauses the virtual machine to reduce the load on your computer.

Once your mouse enters the Windows environment again, Windows is up and running again within about three seconds.

My personal take: Whether running Windows full-screen or in a window, switching to it is simple and seamless. It’s no harder than switching to a native Mac app.

4. Use Windows Apps alongside Mac Apps

When I first moved away from Windows, I found myself still relying on a few key apps. You might be the same:

• You switched to Mac, but still have a number of Windows apps you rely on — perhaps the Windows versions of Word and Excel, the Xbox Streaming app, or a Windows-only game.
• You may still absolutely depend on a legacy app that no longer works on modern operating systems.

It’s surprising how reliant businesses can become on out-of-date software that is no longer updated or supported. Daniel Rasmus from GeekWire explains:

“People working outside of large corporations may be surprised by how much of the world continues to run on old software — some supported, some not. If a financial application relies on an old Windows NT or other legacy framework that doesn’t run on Windows 10, let alone on macOS, the choice comes down to investing in new software and the associated implementation costs, or keeping old hardware in play, or using a virtualization solution.”

Parallels Desktop provides a Coherence Mode which lets you work with Windows apps without dealing with the Windows interface. David Ludlow sums it up: “Coherence turns your Windows apps into Mac ones.”

Coherence Mode hides the Windows interface altogether. You launch the Start Menu by clicking the Windows 10 icon on your dock.

You can search for and run the Windows Paint program from Spotlight.

Paint runs right on your Mac desktop, no Windows in sight.

And the Mac’s right-click Open With menu even lists Windows apps.

My personal take: Parallels Desktop allows you to use Windows apps almost as if they were Mac apps. You can start the from your Mac’s Dock, Spotlight, or a context menu.

5. Run Other Operating Systems on Your Mac

The convenience of Parallels Desktop doesn’t stop with Windows. You can run a variety of operating systems, including Linux, Android and macOS. Why would someone want to do that? Here are some examples:

• A developer working on an app that runs on multiple platforms can use virtual computers to run Windows, Linux and Android to test the software on.
• Mac developers can run older versions of macOS and OS X to test compatibility.
• A Linux enthusiast can run and compare multiple distros at once.

You can install macOS from your recovery partition or a disk image. You can also install older versions of OS X if you still have the installation DVDs or disk images. I chose to install macOS from my recovery partition.

I found macOS significantly less responsive than Windows — I assume Parallel’s main priority is Windows performance. It was definitely usable, though.

Installing Linux is similar. You can either choose to have Parallels Desktop download a number of Linux distros (including Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, Debian and Linux Mint), or install from a disk image.

Like macOS, Linux seems less responsive than Windows. Once you have a few operating systems installed, the Parallels Desktop Control Panel is a handy way to start and stop them.

My personal take: Parallels Desktop can run macOS or Linux on a virtual machine, though not with the same speed as Windows, or with as many integration features. But the software is stable and usable all the same.

Reasons Behind My Reviews and Ratings

Effectiveness: 5/5

Parallels Desktop does exactly what it promises: it runs Windows apps alongside my Mac apps. Running Windows in a virtual machine was convenient and responsive, and allowed me to access Windows apps that I rely on. Windows paused when not in use, so unnecessary resources were not being wasted.

Price: 4.5/5

Although there are free virtualization options, $79.95 is a reasonable price to pay for the amount of work Parallels have put into optimizing performance and integration. The $39.95 option should be affordable to most students.

Ease of Use: 5/5

I found launching Windows and switching between Mac and Windows absolutely intuitive. The integrated approach of displaying Windows software in Spotlight searches, context menus and the Dock is brilliant.

Support: 4.5/5

Free support is available via Twitter, chat, Skype, phone (Click-to-Call) and email for the first 30 days after registering. Email support is available for up to two years from the product release date, though you can purchase phone support when required for $19.95. A comprehensive knowledge base, FAQ, Getting Started guide and User’s Guide are available.

Alternatives to Parallels Desktop

VMware Fusion 8.5: VMware Fusion ($79.99) is Parallel Desktop’s closest competitor, and is a little slower and more technical. A major upgrade is about to be released.

Veertu Desktop: Veertu (free, $39.95 for premium) is a lightweight alternative. It’s almost as quick as Parallels, but has fewer features.

VirtualBox: VirtualBox is Oracle’s free and open source alternative. Not as polished or responsive as Parallels Desktop, it’s a good alternative when performance is not at a premium.

Boot Camp: Boot Camp comes installed with macOS, and allows you to run Windows alongside macOS in a dual-boot setup — to switch you need to restart your computer. That’s less convenient, but has performance benefits.

Wine: Wine is a way of running Windows apps on your Mac without needing Windows at all. It can’t run all Windows apps, and many require significant configuration. It’s a free (open source) solution that just might work for you.

CrossOver Mac: CodeWeavers CrossOver ($59.95) is a commercial version of Wine that is easier to use and configure.

Conclusion

Parallels Desktop runs Windows and other operating systems in a virtual machine alongside your Mac apps. It’s a good option for those who still rely on certain Windows apps for their business, or gamers who can’t live without a favorite Windows game. It’s also a great solution for developers who need to test their apps or websites on other platforms.

If you’ve found native Mac apps that meet all of your needs, you don’t need Parallels Desktop. If you need to run just a handful of non-critical Windows apps, one of the free virtualization alternatives may be all you need. But if you’re looking for best performance, Parallels Desktop is your best option. I highly recommend it.

Utility • Feb.13, 2020

Choosing between Windows and Mac can sometimes be tricky. When it’s about playing high-end games, the choice is a Windows computer. At other times it’s a Mac, because you want to be productive and have a pleasant user experience layered in elegant design and compatible hardware.

While both of these operating systems do their jobs well, they can, at times, be quite limiting from a user’s point of view.

If you are a Mac user, you’d want to be able to play a few Windows games or run Windows-only software. There’s no point in spending hundreds of dollars on a new Windows setup, and the best option you have is to run Windows on Mac.

But running Windows on Mac? Hmmm….leaves room for a lot of questions: Is it safe? Will it run well? Is it easy to install and use?

These questions are legitimate, considering how knotted this whole procedure might sound. But you don’t have to worry about these as Parallels Desktop lets you run Windows 10 on Mac without any hassle.

What is Parallels Desktop? Why use Parallels instead of Boot Camp?

Sure, you could set up your Mac to run Windows with Boot Camp, but that means restarting your computer every time you need to use Windows. Parallels Desktop 15 for Mac lets you install Windows 10 on Mac through a virtual machine in a few simple and easy steps.

Since Parallels runs through a VM, you don’t have to reboot your Mac at all. This allows you to quickly switch between the Mac and Windows desktops. You can even combine the two desktops, if you want, and run Windows software right on your Mac desktop from your Mac’s dock.

The program supports the latest version of Windows and comes with compatibility for all hardware of your Mac. It has native support for gestures, camera, audio, Touch Bar (for apps such as SketchUp, OneNote, and AutoCAD), Retina Display, and more.

What’s new in Parallels Desktop 15 we like?

Every time Apple releases a new macOS, Parallels Desktop releases a new version to support that OS. The latest release comes with some exciting features.

Support for DirectX 11

Parallels Desktop 15 also supports Direct X 11. It leverages the innovations and integration points of the newest macOS 10.15 Catalina to provide performance enhancements and more.

The inclusion of DirectX 11 comes with the help of Apple’s Metal API. Metal gives access to Mac’s graphics processing unit (GPU) so that users can maximize the graphics and computing potential of their Mac hardware. With this update, Parallels Desktop is capable of running a wide range of applications and games.

Performance improvements

Parallels Desktop 15 is fast, and by that, we mean that you can do a lot of the regular stuff with ease. Compared to the last version — Parallels Desktop 14 — it can start Office applications 80 percent faster. The user interface is more responsive, and the 3D graphics are also better.

Better integration with Mac

Love the Preview feature on your Mac? Select a file or a folder and press the spacebar to find out its properties?

The new update brings better integration. You will now be able to save your Windows passwords in keychain, preview thumbnails, drag and drop files from Safari, and even send a file through the Window’s mail app.

Some of the Windows apps integrate really well with your Mac. You will find MS Pain and Preview in the suggestions when you right-click on an image file on your Mac and select Open With. You can even set defaults.

How does Parallels Desktop 15 work?

Downloading and installing Parallels Desktop 15 on Mac was straightforward. The latest setup file was a little over 210 MB, and it immediately started downloading Windows 10 after it was installed. The installation process was also fast — the speed depends on the speed of your Mac.

We used a Macbook Air 2017 for our testing purposes to see how the app performed with aging hardware.

The installation took place in a window in Mac. There were no reboots required. A reboot did happen, but it was inside the Windows virtual machine as it is while installing Windows.

What we liked was the simplicity of the entire download and installation process. Parallels Desktop has been released with ordinary users in mind. The installation process as a whole Windows is smooth and hassle-free.

You find minimal prompts, and it doesn’t even ask you to have a Windows disk image ready with you. It just downloads it for you directly from Microsoft. You can activate Windows later by purchasing it or entering a valid product ID.

Another great thing about Parallels Desktop 15 for Mac is that it comes with Snapshot. Snapshot lets you save a guest system in multiple configurations that work well. This is really helpful when you want to go back to an older setting after making changes in your system that you do not wish to keep.

There’s also a rollback option that lets you get rid of all the changes to the system when you shut it down. It works great for spaces such as schools where the systems get messier as different people use it.

If you are worried about all that space on your little flash storage running out, then Reclaim Disk Space has got your back. You can also delete your snapshots and shut down Windows to get some extra space. To use Snapshots, just go to Options and click on Take Snapshot.

What is it like to use Parallels Desktop 15?

On the feature front, the highlight point of this release has been Parallel Desktop’s excellent integration with Mac. This integration comes in the form of Coherence mode.

Coherence mode on Parallels Desktop

If you are a Mac user who loves windows as much, then this is a feature that has just been crafted for you. The Coherence mode is the coolest feature of Parallels Desktop and the handiest one too. It lets you run Windows software on Mac as if it was a Mac software. You won’t really have to directly interact with the Windows UI while doing that, which means that you won’t have to manage the Windows desktop.

To enter Coherence mode, go to view and click on Enter Coherence. Once in the Coherence mode, you won’t be able to see the Windows UI at all. There will be a Windows 10 icon in your dock, clicking on which will reveal the Start Menu of Windows 10. From there, you can open any application and even drag them to your Desktop to create a shortcut.

Coherence mode really sets the tone for a fluid and Windows 10 experience on your Mac. Done with the day’s work and just want to play some RPG? Just click on the game’s icon from your Mac’s Desktop, and you are good to go — you can enjoy a Windows game in Mac’s interface.

Performance and speed

One of the notable problems for emulators and virtual machines has been imitating the speed and performance of a native OS. How fast could a Windows virtual machine be on a Mac? Well, the results were not too disappointing.

We ran Windows 10 on our older Macbook Air to find out if we could perform our regular tasks without any noticeable delays. We were not disappointed with what we saw. Since the OS itself was in a clean state, sometimes it felt faster than our Mac.

We did notice some lag when we opened YouTube to stream a high-quality video, along with other open tabs on the Edge browser. It was a bit annoying at times.

We tried to look at how it was affecting the resources of our Mac. The CPU usage would peak at different times, and there would be occasional glitches if you had many tabs opened.

Of course, things would have been different with a faster processor. The newer MacBooks can take Windows 10 really well. You can even play games such as Skyrim on Mac by installing Windows 10 through Parallels Desktop.

With the CPU consumed in all the process, the battery was also draining fast. We do not really recommend you to play big games or run heavy applications while you are away without your charger. If you have an old Mac, the best way to get the most out of your Windows 10 set up would be to close all applications on your Mac and then try running Parallels Desktop.

However, with more powerful Macs, the difference will hardly seem noticeable, and you can have an excellent experience with Windows 10. It’ll be fast and fluid, and you will be able to use it like any other original installation.

Handy preferences

The Preferences menu of Parallels desktop has some useful options that can help you customize the way you use virtual machines. There is an option to view shortcuts for a particular virtual machine. You can even add or remove shortcuts from the list. There are also application shortcuts that you can customize.

Apart from this, you can further tighten up the security for Parallels desktop by having a password for creating, adding, removing, cloning, and even for entering the preferences of the software. You can also set a custom password for added security.

A good knowledge base

Parallels Desktop has been around since 2007, which means that there are plenty of resources around it. In case you ever get stuck and want to see tutorial videos for specific actions, you can always check out their knowledge base. There’s also an active and dedicated forum where you can talk about the software and ask questions around it.

Is Parallels for Mac safe?

If you are careful, then yes, it’s not a big deal.

Parallels for Mac works as a virtual machine, so it does not allow any access to the keychain or home folder of your macOS. Malware targeting the Windows you will be running won’t be compatible with your OSX.

However, you are still vulnerable to attacks if you are using your Windows on Mac to run banking applications and such. This way, you could be susceptible to malware attacks. This is one part that you should genuinely watch out for. Use your Windows only to browse safe websites. You must also make sure that you do not share your folders across virtual machines. If you do this, then any application or virus inside your virtual machine will be able to access your cookies and directories to hijack your accounts.

Just be careful what you are doing on your virtual machine, and you will be good to go.

Is Parallels Desktop 15 free?

No, Parallels Desktop is not free. It does come with a 14-day trial version, which you can use to figure out if this is the software you need to keep running Windows 10 on your Mac. Frankly speaking, with the kind of integration it brings, you won’t be missing Windows when you are on your Mac.

A home and student package of Parallels desktop costs $79.99. The Pro and the Business editions come at a subscription cost of $99.99 per year.

Upgrading to Parallels desktop 15 costs $49.99 and is the same for all the versions.

It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is Parallers Desktop 15 worth it?

Growing up around computers and software, a lot of us have wanted to install Windows on a Mac, or the other way. Virtual machines are complicated, but Parallels Desktop has been proving that it can make the process of installing Windows on Mac really simple and user-friendly.

There are other virtual machine options available to Mac users, including the free and open source VirtualBox, but Parallels is different in that it’s designed exclusively with Mac users in mind. Parallels isn’t free, but there are hundreds of little design touches that help make running Windows within macOS as painless as possible, and that make setting everything up quick and easy. It’s well worth the cost.

So if you like bringing things together, and enjoy utilizing the power of both Windows and macOS, then Parallers Desktop 15 is a must-have for you.