Parallels Ships Desktop Update

Parallels has shipped a significant update to Parallels Desktop for Mac, a virtualization program that enables owners of Intel-based Macs to run Windows and other operating systems within Mac OS X. Parallels now supports any amount of RAM in Mac Pro models and Core 2 Duo iMacs; previously, users of such machines with more than 2 GB of RAM had to limit the RAM Parallels used artificially, an awkward measure that required a trip to the command line. The new version of Parallels Desktop also offers partial support for Windows Vista betas and release candidates, works with developer builds of Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, supports a broader range of USB devices, has better sound and video quality, and fixes various bugs. The full list of changes details these and other improvements.

Parallels has taken the unusual stance of avoiding any reference to a version number when discussing this release; it’s not mentioned in the press release, which simply calls it the Official Update (as opposed to unofficial, or beta, updates), and the Web site lists only the current build number on the download page. For those who are curious, the application is currently at version 2.2, with a build number of 1940. The update is free for owners of any previous version and is available either from the Parallels Web site or using the program’s auto-update feature.