If you work in a cross-platform environment and need a solution that allows you to run a licensed version of Windows on your Mac M1, the new Parallels Desktop 18 update is here for you.
Run Windows on a Mac with ease
There are many enhancements to Parallels Desktop for Mac M1 users looking to run Windows applications, but the biggest one seems to be the ability to download, install, and configure Windows 11 on your Mac in a virtual Parallels environment with one click. The company introduced support for Windows on ARM chips in Parallels Desktop 17, but the OS installation is now integrated and you no longer need to use the Windows 11 Insider Preview build for ARM.
I spent very little time using the solution and it is remarkable how easy it was to install a working version of Windows on my M1 Mac. Installation was relatively easy, and performance within the virtual machine seems solid.
It does exactly what it promises to do, making it quicker to get multiple operating systems up and running on your Mac. When used in Coherence mode, you get the added thrill of not having to think about what operating system the software you're using is running on. It works fast and well.
What has improved in Parallels Desktop 18?
The Corel-owned software company has significantly improved its performance. It claims that it is now possible to run more than 200.000 Windows applications and games on your Mac; made the software compatible with Apple's Pro Motion display, and (for gamers) made it possible to run Windows games with a gamepad attached.
It all depends on the performance of Windows in Parallels. When running on an M1 Ultra chip, like in Mac Studio, you'll experience up to 96% faster performance than Parallels Desktop 17. It's still safe to say that running Windows in Parallels on a Mac can be faster than on a Mac. PC, and someone will definitely test that.
The company also claims that 99,99% of existing Intel PC applications will work properly on Apple Silicon Macs using Parallels.
The company promises compatibility with macOS Ventura from day one. This support should extend to Stage Manager on Mac, so you'll see your Windows or Linux virtual environments appear in the left view when using Coherence mode. Additional enhancements include support for macOS Ventura, better support for x86 applications (including major applications like AutoCAD), and better USB 3.0 support for video devices.
Significant enhancements for business and professional users.
Software developers will want to use the network conditioning tools to help them configure their network in the Pro edition. They can also use the enhanced plugin for Visual Studio to analyze application performance.
The Business edition, however, adds valuable enhancements designed to better support Windows on Mac in remote workgroups. These include:
- Single Sign-On Authentication (SSO/SAML) that allows employees to log in and activate Parallels Desktop with a corporate account.
- The ability for administrators to deploy, provision, or transfer a Windows 11 virtual machine to employee Mac computers.
- The ability to centrally manage Parallels Customer Experience Program participation in My Parallels Account.
This means it's much easier to maintain tight Windows licensing control over fleets of remote devices. These enhancements also allow for a better employee onboarding experience, as it seems possible to ship a new Mac to a remote worker and manage the entire setup and installation process (including Windows) from there with a single password thanks to Parallels. and your chosen MDM provider.
Pricing, Availability, Support
Used with an Intel Mac, Parallels allows users to create virtual machines to run Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, Debian GNU, Mint, Red Hat, Suse Linux, and Kali. It allows Mac users to install virtual versions of every iteration of OS X on Lion. And it is compatible with Windows 2000 to Windows 11
On Apple Silicon, support is a bit more limited, mainly due to the need for ARM support. If you're using an M-series Mac, it can support Windows 11, Windows 10, macOS Ventura and Monterey, Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian GBU, RHEL, CentOS, and Kali.
Parallels Desktop 18 for Mac costs €99,99 per year, but is also available as a perpetual license for €129,99. The Pro edition costs €119,99 per year, while the Business edition will cost €149,99 per year. You can upgrade from any previous version of Parallels Desktop to version 18 for Mac for €69.99 or Pro edition for €69.99 per year.
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