- Parallels Desktop 11 / macOS Sierra. Discussion in 'General Questions' started by tomtom1, Aug 3, 2016. Tomtom1 Bit Poster. I tested the trial version of parallels desktop 11 for mac and I liked it. In autumn the new mac OS version will be released. Will parallels desktop 11 run on mac OS sierra?
- Today, Parallels announced the latest version of its leading virtualization solution, offering deeper integration with Windows 10. Now, you can purchase Windows 10 directly from the Parallels.
Today, Parallels launched Parallels Desktop 11 for the Mac. Windows users on Apple hardware were given a taste of Windows 10 during the Windows Insider Preview with an update to Parallels 10. Parallels 11 FREE Download - Parallels Desktop 11 for Mac is the easiest, fastest, and most powerful solution for running Windows on Mac without rebooting.
- 9.0Outstanding
Pros
- ✓Runs Windows and Linux VMs on Macs
- ✓Tight integration of Windows and Mac features
- ✓Improved performance and battery life
- ✓Supports Windows 10 and OS X El Capitan
Cons
Parallels 11 For Mac Download
- ✕Requires plenty of memory and processor power
- ✕Poor documentation for newcomers
Updates to the popular Parallels Desktop virtualisation program generally coincide with new versions of the Mac operating system, so it's no surprise to see that Parallels Desktop 11 arrives just a few weeks ahead of Apple's new OS X v10.11 -- a.k.a. El Capitan. But, of course, this year's update also follows the recent arrival of Windows 10, which means that Parallels Desktop 11 is a fairly major update that provides support for both of these new operating systems.
Hey Cortana, where's Siri?
The most impressive aspect of Parallels Desktop 11 is not simply that it allows you to run Windows as a virtual machine (VM) on the Mac (along with various versions of Unix, and even Android and ChromeOS too), but that it continues to integrate the Mac and Windows environments so that features from each operating system become almost interchangeable.
One of the headline features in Windows 10 is Cortana, the 'personal assistant' that lets you use voice commands to find information on the web, send messages and perform a variety of other tasks. Cortana is often compared to Apple's Siri, but Siri is currently only available on Apple's iOS devices and doesn't run on the Mac. Parallels Desktop 11 therefore pulls off quite a trick by allowing Cortana to not only run within a Windows 10 virtual machine, but also to run with the VM hidden or running in the background while you work in native Mac apps. So, while I'm typing this review in Apple's Pages wordprocessor, I can say 'Hey Cortana - schedule a meeting'. The Cortana window then pops up from the Dock on the Mac desktop and lists options for my meeting.
OS integration
Other examples of this OS integration include the Mac's QuickLook option, which now works within Windows too, allowing you to preview documents stored on a Windows virtual machine just by hitting the space bar on your keyboard.
Top ZDNET Reviews
You may not have Siri in OS X yet, but the new Parallels Desktop 11 release allows you to make use of Microsoft's Cortana virtual assistant.
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Of all the ways to run Windows on a Mac, Parallels Desktop is my favorite because it just works. It's fast, it's reliable, and there's no need to futz about with confusing setting or convoluted setup processes.
Along with your Mac and a copy of Parallels Desktop 11 you will also need an installation of Windows 10. Installation of Parallels Desktop 11 is a breeze (and it's even simpler if you are upgrading from a previous version), and even installing Windows 10 onto your Mac is a breeze.
You're then ready to use Windows 10 on your Mac.
When it comes to Cortana, Parallels Desktop 11 allows you to interact with the virtual assistant in three ways:
- From the Windows 10 desktop
- From Windows 10 with voice control
- From an OS X application
If there's a Windows 10 killer feature, Cortana is it, and with Parallels Desktop 11 you have direct access to it from the OS X desktop.
Along with tight integration of Cortana into OS X, Parallels Desktop 11 brings with it the following features:
- Quick Look viewer for Windows docs
- Travel Mode battery extender
- Use OS X Location Services in Windows apps
- Easy Windows 10 upgrade
- OS X 10.11 El Capitan ready
There's also numerous performance improvements:
- Boot up and shut down times in Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 up to 50 percent faster
- 15 percent increase in battery life
- Windows performance up by up to 20 percent (based on PassMark performance tests)
- Moving files between OS X and Windows is 5 percent faster
- Virtual machines suspend up to 20 percent faster
For developers who need access to Windows within OS X comes the new Parallels Desktop for Mac Pro Edition. In addition to all the tools already built into Parallels Desktop 11, the Pro Edition adds:
- Support for popular developer and testing tools
- Advanced debugging and network tools
- Business cloud support sharing
- More powerful virtual machines (up to 16 vCPUs and 64 vGB of RAM)
Foe those wanting more support, centralized management, and unified volume licensing keys there's also a Business Edition available.
Parallels Desktop 11 costs $79.99 (an upgrade from a previous version is $49.99) while the Pro Edition and Business Edition cost $99.99 per seat per year.
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