| ![Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac [OLD VERSION]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51XBcQjLHKL._SL500_.jpg)
| From: Nova Development US
List Price: $79.99
Buy New: $44.90
You Save: $35.09 (44%)
New (32) Used (7) from $38.99
Rating:  271 reviews
Sales Rank: 230
Format: Cd-rom
Platform: Mac Os X Intel
Media: CD-ROM
Edition: Standard
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Operating System: Mac OS X Intel
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 1.5 x 7.5 x 5.2
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: 100722
Model: 23707
UPC: 727298404005
EAN: 0727298404005
ASIN: B000GHIV2Q
Release Date: July 17, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: SAME 2008 RETAIL BOX VERSION 3.0 AS DISPLAYED WITH INTACT (UPC) BAR CODE FOR REGISTRATION,UPGRADE & TECH SUPPORT ELIGIBILITY * CONTAINS ALL PRODUCT LICENSES ,WARRANTIES, REGISTRATION NUMBERS & USER GUIDE * NEED IT NOW? SAME DAY SHIPPING BY A VETTED 5 STAR STAFF THAT E-MAILS YOU A USPS DELIVERY CONFIRMATION NUMBER SO YOU CAN TRACK YOUR ORDER FROM OUR DOOR TO YOURS FOR WORRY FREE TRANSACTIONS!
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 16-20 of 271
 A good idea plagued by a mercenary and unresponsibe tech support October 24, 2006
Daniel Gaines'Ross (Bklyn, NY)
10 out of 18 found this review helpful
I must admit I found the concept of using windows on my new macbook quite exciting and was duly excited for the 24 hours that it seemed to work, that is before my virtual hardrive froze and then while I was awaiting tech assistance unexpectedly disappeared with all my data. For this I blame Sage's tech support which is designed to be little more than an additional source of revenue, perhaps greater than that derived from selling the product. Unless you are very well versed in computers, expect to pay more for your tech assistance than for the product. Let me explain.
Although I am far from a techie, after years of using Windows, I am far from ignorant. I set up my virtual system after overcoming a few hurdles -- the product manual has the usual problems -- using terms which it assumes the customer understands but which only the writer of the manual truly comprehends. A few items didn't work, e.g., my hp printer didn't work, apparently as I would later figure out because of bug, and I never did get connected to the internet. But what gauled me is that I had no one to assist me. Sage provides for email tech assistance. I sent three emails. One was totally unresponsive, telling me to install anti viral software when my question was about connecting to the internet. An initial question about my inability to install Windows was indirectly helpful. The response although not on point did lead to my figuring out what was amiss. And the third, having to do once again with connecting to the internet, again used terms which were totally unfamiliar to me and would require follow up emails to explicate. It seems as if there is competition among the Parallel tech representatives to be as brief as possible when responding to inquiries. To consider alternative explanations or to make further inquiry or even to write more than three sentences is beyond them.
Of course while all this was going on, time was wasting and days passing. My purchase of a new computer which I intended to use further my business had if anything seriously hampered my business and would have totally undermined it had I not had a spare PC to use in a pinch.
Giving in, I finally decided to telephone for assistance when my virtual operating system froze for no apparent reason. I hadn't even been using it at the time. Before I was actually allowed to speak to a representative, however, Parallel made sure that they first got their pound of flesh. You have to pay up front before they will give you a phone number. Desparate as I was, I paid and called. You guessed it -- the phone message indicated that all representatives were busy and would call me back. Five hours later, no one called. And guess what happened in the meantime? My virtual hard drive disappeared.
Thank you Sage for nothing. I have little doubt that had i had appropriate assistance, none of this would have happened. I also blame Apple. I have no problem with Apple tech help, but they will not assist on Parallel software even though they are making a pretty penny pushing the product so as to entice droves of Windows user to convert to Macs. Shame on them.
 Very Complicated but it works -- Kiss Virtual PC goodbye January 20, 2007
RonAnnArbor (Ann Arbor, MI United States)
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
The program works as stated -- but for anyone but a computer expert, installation and configuration is very complicated. I am a computer expert, and even I had trouble installing the drivers and getting the printers to work. Other things work surprisingly well right out of the box - installed the software and Windows (a separate purchase) and it instantly recongized all of the Macbook Pro hardware, and even recognized the wireless internet!
This company's tech support is virtually non-existant. Three hours of trial and error finally led to the correct installation of the printers. The manual reads like a translation out of a foreign language, so it is not always clearly documented and things are overly simplified...when the manual says "merely go to settings and change your USB port and your printers will install from their original disks" it actually is not explaining ANYTHING and you have no idea what you are supposed to do, what settings you are supposed to go in, and what USB drivers you are supposed to change. E-mails to the support team go unanswered (three days later I still have no response to any of my e-mails that I sent them) and there is no phone number provided - until I finally dug it up through a search online. Phone calls merely go to an answering system.
SO -- user be warned
Once you have it set up it works like a charm, and it is FAST -- nothing at all like Virtual PC which never worked correctly. Because it is so easy to switch back and forth from Mac to PC, you can literally pick and choose wether you want to use the Mac versions of software (such as Quicken and Microsoft Office) or the PC versions.
ALL WINDOWS ANNOYANCES ARE PRESENT -- once installed, the program LITERALLY emulates your WIndows XP desktop -- that means constant and daily balloon pop ups warning you to download and install upgrades, download and install Macafee upgrades, etc etc etc. All those reasons that most of us switched away from MS to begin with --
But for those of us who need to run the occasional proprietary software package, this program works beautifully.
ADDENDUM JUNE 24, 2007: Parallels has released 3.0 upgrade at this point. It incorporates many changes in the software, including the ability to drag files from Mac to Windows and vice versa. It also supposedly improves 3D graphics for games. It does NOT truly emulate 3D graphics, and many games do NOT run on Parallels 3.0, including simple games like Roller Coaster Tycoon II. I would highly recommend that you go directly to their own website to see the compatibility list for games before you upgrade if you want to play them. Otherwise, it is a stable upgrade.
WARNING: Terrible customer support June 9, 2007
Bruce E. Wampler (Glenwood Springs, CO USA)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
First, this is a decent product - but there really isn't anything to directly compare it to - VMWare is still in Beta for the Mac version.
But be WARNED! Parallel's customer support is simply the worst! And do NOT buy a retail version unless you are certain it is Version 3. I know the Amazon tag says latest version, but it doesn't say Version 3. If you buy and get version 2, you will get a free upgrade from Parallels, BUT IN EIGHT TO TEN WEEKS! And you have to dig around their web site to find the right link to get the upgrade info. I find this inexcusable.
This is totally shabby treatment of customers who buy retail, like from Amazon. You end up with the old product, and no way to get your free upgrade in a timely fashion.
So, if you really need this product (and I did), don't buy from a retail outlet unless you are positive you will be getting Version 3. And then don't be surprised with totally crappy support. The ONLY way to get any support is to read their forums ([...]), which they don't really tell you about in any easy to find place, and which have lots of information, but are difficult to sort through.
UPDATE: I guess most of the problems I had aren't much of an issue now. Now it is just the product. I know Parallels has gotten pretty good reviews as a product, but I gave up on it. After using it a while, I just kept having problems. Finally, VMWare Fusion was released, and that was a breath of fresh air. While VMWare might lack a few of the gee-wiz features of Parallels, it works, and it works well. None of the problems and crashes I was getting with Parallels. My recommendation: VMWare Fusion.
 Works better than advertised August 15, 2006
Beverly Hund
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
I was in an Apple store last week and someone was telling me about this product. I went to the Apple web site and read about 25 great reviews on Parallels. I found all the good reviews really informative. Check them out if you are interested in knowing more. Well I didn't end up buying it and decided to think about it. My husband ended up buying it for me as a present at Amazon and it's just great! I forget sometimes that I am using a Mac. Now I do not have to give up my Mac software but I still can use Windows. I am getting rid of my Gateway and using only the iMac. Parallels is my new favorite Mac product which is pretty funny.
so much faster than Virtual PC October 14, 2006
Living in Budapest (Budapest, Hungary (originally Ann Arbor, MI))
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
As a long-time Apple/Mac user whose office is PC based, I used Virtual PC for years. It saved me the cost of having to buy a Windows PC, but was sometimes agonizingly slow. Parallels on my MacBook runs refreshingly fast. It was fairly easy to install. The only problem with Parallels is that you need to buy a copy of the operating system and install it on Parallels. In my case I bought and installed XP Pro. I had some minor issues when trying to run a wireless app (SlingPlayer), but solved these fairly quickly. All other applications (all business) have installed and run with no problems.
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