We talked about XP Mode—which runs programs that work in XP but not in Vista—in our Windows 7 RC1′s hands-on. Now Microsoft is coming up with details about what hardware and licenses this will need.
Ironically, it’s one of the biggest decisions you make when you get a Mac: How should I run Windows on it? Parallels or Fusion? An exhaustive battery of benchmarks by MacTech reveals a clear winner.
Ok, this is even cooler than we expected: a Nokia N800, loaded with VMWare’s MVP hypervisor, is seen here running Windows CE and Android, at the same time. This is a big deal!
Just a quick note for Mac users lusting for some PC software functionality: Local distributor Conexus today announced Parallels 4 for Australia. New users can pick it up for $140, and if you happen to own a previous version the upgrade only costs $70. If you picked up Parallels 3 after September 1 this year though, you’re eligible for a free upgrade to the latest version, which as you remember purports to be 50% faster. [Conexus]
Those running Intel Macs are probably at least familiar with Parallels, the famed virtualisation software allowing you to run Windows alongside OSX. Well now the company has just announced their fourth revision of the software, Parallels 4, that promises to run 50% faster than the previous version.
VMware, which consumers know mostly for their Fusion desktop virtualisation software, is moving into the mobile space, albeit surreptitiously. The company has announced VMware MVP, a thin layer of software that will interface between handsets’ hardware and operating system, allowing for a standardised development platform across any handsets that include it. What does this mean for regular consumers? For now, not much. If the tech finds enough support for hardware vendors, though, the consequences could be major.
Remember that completely arbitrary rule by Microsoft limiting virtualisation (which lets you run Windows concurrently with OS X on a Mac) to only the more expensive versions of Vista? It’s now gone.
The three methods for running Windows on a Mac (Boot Camp, Parallels and Fusion) have been around for a while, but Mactech’s numbers seem to be the first we’ve seen on how the three stack up on Leopard. The results weren’t that surprising.
In CEO-orgasming news, Pano Logic announced their network-based Pano Device, which, using a main host, virtualizes a copy of Windows XP and Vista without the need for an actual PC. Coming equipped with an Ethernet jack for the network connection, along with three USB ports, a VGA port for the display and audio I/O jacks for dedicated speakers and microphones, the tiny Pano promises to cut Total Cost of Ownership by 70%.
The Pano Device requires a Pano Management Server that hosts copies of XP or Vista and will cost $20 dollars a month per Pano device attached to the network. The server and device will be available in September and will bring a tear of joy to a business owner’s eye. [Panologic via Electronista]
Thanks to the magic of VMWare and Parallels (which let you run other operating systems on top of your own), you can try the OLPC operating system without actually having to be a child in a Third World country. All you have to do is download a pre-configured image, change some settings, and you’re set. Possible uses (besides as a prop when you play Angelina Jolie and the Adopted Child) are developing OLPC-specific software and web apps for the upcoming market. [UneasilySilence]
