Fall is around the corner, which means a new version of OS X is almost here. That also means a new version of Parallels — the software that lets you run Windows on a Mac — is almost here, too, and this time there's a big emphasis on speed.
With Parallels Desktop 10 installed on your Mac, you won't just be able to run Windows on a "virtual machine" within your Mac, you'll be able to do it significantly faster then previous generations. Windows documents open 48% faster, and Office 2013 apps launch 50% faster, the company claims. At the same time, battery life is extended up to 30%, and the Windows "machine" uses 10% less memory.
The new version also further erases the line between OS X and Windows with a few new tricks: Windows apps are automatically added to the Mac's Launchpad, and you can even use the Windows 8.1 Start screen as the Launchpad. Parallels enables sharing from Windows apps to any of the user's .
Of course, Parallels Desktop 10 supports OS X Yosemite (scheduled for release "in the fall," according to Apple), and brings some of its features to Windows apps, including the ability to save to iCloud Drive, and share via iMessage.
The software supports older versions of OS X back to OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. You can create more than one virtual machine, letting you run multiple versions of Windows and even Android on the same hardware — very handy for developers.
Parallels Desktop 10 will be available Aug. 26 for $79.99, but if you have the previous version, upgrading costs $49.99. The Student Edition is $39.99. Big, obvious caveat: if you don't already have Windows, you have to buy a Windows license, too, and that costs $119. At least this edition of Parallels makes that easy, providing a way to purchase Windows during the creation of a virtual machine. There's also an enterprise edition that throws in a few extra features for device management.
