Parallels Desktop 3 0 for Mac OLD VERSION

The first solution that gives Apple users the ability to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system and their critical applications at the same time as Mac OS X–without rebooting–on any Intel-powered iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook or MacBook Pro.

The killer app for Mac is now even better than ever!
Parallels Desktop for Mac enables you to run Windows, Linux, and more side-by-side with Mac OS X on any Intel-powered Mac, without rebooting. With Parallels’ award-winning virtualization technology, you can run Mac OS X and your favorite Windows applications at the same time. You can even drag-and-drop files between desktops!

The latest release of Parallels Desktop for Mac comes packed with 50+ new features and enhancements, including SmartSelect, Snapshots, and 3D graphics. Learn more about the new capabilities in the latest release of our award-winning product.

Top 5 reasons to run Parallels:
	Run Windows-only applications on your Mac. Many of today’s most popular applications are windows-only. Parallels enables you to run these applications on your Mac. Play computer games? Most PC games only run on Windows. With Parallels, you no longer have to sacrifice your favorite games!
	Run Selected 3D Games and Applications. OpenGL and DirectX support lets you explore a whole new world of 3D games and applications right on your Mac.
	Use any phone, MP3 player, and camera with your Mac. With Parallels, you can use your favorite devices, even if they’re Windows-only. Connect your Blackberry, phone, camera, and MP3 player to your Mac!
	Run OS X, Windows, and Linux at the same time. With Parallels, you can run all of your favorite applications at the same time, regardless of the OS! No more rebooting to switch between OSes to use the applications you need.
	No-worry migrations! Parallels Transporter takes the hassle out of migration. No more losing valuable data, customizing your computer all over again, or reinstalling software. In just a few simple steps, you can move your entire existing Windows system to your new Mac.

With the latest version of Parallels, you can:

• Use Windows and Mac OS X at the same time… without rebooting
• Run Windows programs like native Mac applications with Parallels Coherence
• New! Open Windows files with Mac programs and Mac files in Windows programs with Parallels SmartSelect
• Share files and folders between Windows and Mac OS X
• New! Browse through Windows folders and access files without launching Windows with Parallels Explorer
• New! Run today’s most popular PC games on a Mac with support for 3D graphics
• Achieve maximum performance by leveraging Intel Virtualization Technology
• New! Protect your Windows with Parallels Snapshots
• Migrate your entire existing PC to your Mac with Parallels Transporter

Coherence
With Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac, you can run Windows applications like they were native to your Mac! Experience the new Coherence mode to enjoy the benefits of both operating systems, without managing two desktops. In Parallels Desktop 3.0, Coherence has been enhanced to make running both operating systems simultaneously even easier and more user-friendly.

Using Parallels Desktop 3.0’s Coherence, you can:

• Navigate Windows using the Windows taskbar directly on your Mac desktop
• Hide the Windows taskbar until you need it
• Launch your favorite Windows applications and access the Windows Start menu straight from your Mac Dock
• Use your Windows applications right on your Mac desktop, without resizing Windows itself
• Manage your open documents and files on the Windows taskbar while enjoying your favorite Mac Dock applications at the same time
• View Windows applications in Dock at your convenience! Choose your level of integration from Never, Always, and Only in Coherence.
• Maintain seamless access to all of your Windows and Mac documents, files, applications, hardware, and devices, making your user environment truly hassle-free
• Drag-and-drop files and folders instantly between Windows and Mac OS X
• Choose the best application for your needs, without flipping from one operating system to another
• Prefer Coherence over managing two desktops? Boot your virtual system to Coherence at startup, and truly avoid switching between operating systems.
• Mount your Windows operating system directly on your Mac desktop and enjoy instant access to all of your files, regardless of their OS Enjoy two operating systems while managing only one desktop. Coherence eliminates your having to switch between operating systems to enjoy your favorite Windows and Mac applications. You can almost forget that you’re running two OSes!

Transporter
Transporter is a powerful tool that enables you to migrate your entire PC system to a Parallels virtual machine. Migrate your entire PC system, including operating system, applications, files, and personal settings–without losing data or reinstalling any software.

NEW! Now you can convert VMware Workstation/Server and Virtual PC virtual hard disks to a Parallels virtual machine AND migrate directly to your Mac using FireWire!

Installation Assistant built-in tool
Thanks to Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac’s Installation Assistant, installing Windows on your Mac is now even easier than installing it on a PC! This new built-in tool is already included in Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac.

How does it work?
With a powerful, easy to use “Express Windows OS Installation Mode” for Windows Vista and Windows XP, the Installation Assistant completely automates the virtual machine setup and installation of Windows–with almost no user interaction.

Start taking advantage of running Windows on your Mac in just three easy steps:

• Select which Windows operating system you want to install,
• Enter your name, company and Windows activation key,
• Click finish–and let the Installation Assistant do the rest!

You do not need to enter any additional information, select settings, or answer any potentially confusing technical questions. This built-in tool automatically completes the full installation in a pre-designed virtual machine.

After Windows is installed, the Installation Assistant automatically installs Parallels Tools, a free set of useful add-ons that improve networking, video, and sound support, syncs mouse activity and OS system clocks, and enables you to cut, copy, and paste of data, as well as file sharing, between Windows and OS X.

Need to run other operation systems on your Mac?
The Installation Assistant provides improved and user-friendly setup for other versions of Windows, plus any Linux distribution, FreeBSD, Solaris, OS/2, eComStation, and MS-DOS.

NOTE! If you are already using Parallels Desktop for Mac, updating Parallels Desktop 3.0 does not require a reinstall of any guest operating systems or applications. After updating, you should only reinstall Parallels Tools.

SmartSelect
Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac’s new SmartSelect enables Mac users to open any Windows or Mac file with whichever software they choose–regardless of its original OS! Now you can open Windows files with any Mac software and Mac files with any Windows software.

With support in both Windows and Mac OS X and deep document, email, and web-browser integration between the two operating systems, Parallels Desktop 3.0’s SmartSelect frees you to choose the best software for the job, without interrupting your workflow.

Previously, Parallels Desktop users had to copy a file into either Windows or Mac OS X to open the file with the application they wanted. Now, in Parallels Desktop 3.0, you can open any file from either OS and view it with the software of your choice.

With SmartSelect, you can:

• View and edit a file with any compatible PC or Mac software available on your Intel Mac
• Set file-associations to open a file-type with specific Mac or PC software
• Set SmartSelect software settings “on the fly” or as the default

Imagine being able to double-click on a text document in Mac Finder and immediately launch Microsoft Word in Windows. Or synchronizing your digital life by playing all the MP3s in your music library with Mac iTunes–even if the files are located in Windows.

Parallels Desktop 3.0’s SmartSelect goes beyond document integration. It also supports email and web browsing. Immediately view a PPT file a colleague sent you in Apple Mail using Windows PowerPoint. Click on any hyperlink in an email or document and have your default web-browser–such as Apple’s Safari or Microsoft’s Internet Explorer–launch. With SmartSelect, the possibilities are endless.

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Snapshots
Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac’s new Snapshots enables you to erase mistakes and recover your virtual machine from system crashes and viruses with the click of a button. Enjoy peace of mind with Parallels Desktop 3.0’s Snapshots.

A complete record of your virtual machine at the state it was created–OS, data, software, and settings–Parallels Desktop 3.0’s Snapshots enables you to quickly and easily create and save multiple snapshots, even while your virtual machine is running.

In the event a virus or a Windows system crash, you can conveniently rollback your virtual machine to any previously saved state with all of your data and software intact. (As opposed to losing all of your data and reinstalling Windows and all your PC software.) Additionally, periodically creating a set of backups facilitates faster recovery time to get back on your feet, if disaster strikes.

With Parallels Desktop 3.0’s Snapshot Manager, you can manage and view all of your snapshots in a tree pane that includes screen shots for each snapshot. Snapshot Manager enables you to revert back to previous snapshots, delete snapshots, and edit description information for each snapshot.

Snapshots are excellent for:

• Bulletproofing your Windows virtual machine from viruses and spyware
• Creating a regularly scheduled backup to revert your virtual machine to any previous stable state
• Rolling back your virtual machine after a software update, system crash, or software testing

In an unpredictable world, Parallels Desktop 3.0’s Snapshots safeguards your data and creates a more reliable virtual machine so you can focus on more important things.

Parallels Explorer
Just need that one document? Where did that pdf go? Thanks to Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac’s new Parallels Explorer, now you can access your Windows files and folders directly from your Mac desktop, without even launching Windows. With a deeper integration between Mac OS X and Windows, Parallels Desktop 3.0 makes it even easier to run Windows on your Mac.

Using Parallels Desktop 3.0’s Explorer, you can:

• Access your Windows files and documents directly from your Mac Desktop
• Browse your Windows system directly on your Mac Dock
• Maintain access to your important Windows documents, even if the virtual machine crashes
• Drag-and-drop files and folders between Windows and OS X
• Save time with direct access to all of your critical files, without having to wait for your virtual machine to start and Windows to boot
• Create and delete files in your Windows system “on the fly”
• Troubleshoot your Windows system for tricky file errors and deleted folders
• …all without even launching Windows.

Enjoy two operating systems while managing only one desktop. Parallels Explorer eliminates your having to wait for your virtual machine to start and Windows to boot just to access your key Windows files, folders, and documents. Running Windows and Mac has never been easier!

3D Graphics
NEW! Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac now supports DirectX 9 and OpenGL 1.5! No need to dedicate a separate Windows machine to running favorite 3D games and key graphics applications. Parallels Desktop 3.0 now brings the world of Windows 3D straight to your Mac like never before!

With Parallels Desktop 3.0, you can:

• Play Windows-only 3D games, such as Half-Life, World of Warcraft, and Unreal Tournament
• Render in complex 3D CAD programs such as AutoCAD 2008
• Work with CPU-intensive video and sound editing software such as Sony Vegas
• Run mission-critical 3D applications on your Mac
• Enjoy your favorite Windows-only games and graphics applications directly in your Windows virtual machine at full native speed–without rebooting

By including deep support for both DirectX and OpenGL, Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac brings a world of Windows-only key productivity and entertainment software to Mac users for the first time. Now you can truly experience the best of both worlds on one machine!

User Ratings and Reviews

1 Star parawhat?
Want actually working USB peripherals? buy VM Fusion

I bought parallels 3.0 in November

I was thoroughly disappointed in its performance, I felt cheated because almost none of my usb peripherals worked, it didnt begin to live up to expectations.

My USB GPS or USB broadband modem or my USB Game controller didnt work, making parallels almost entirely useless to me, I could have saved my money and simply used boot camp.

Parallels release 4.0 supposed as a free upgrade to new 3.0 purchasers.

I submitted my proof of purchase receipt on the 1st of Dec 08 its now January 2009 and till this date I still haven’t received a 4.0 activation key for the Parallels Manufacturer.

I bought VM Fusion and imported my VM machine and instantly every one of my usb peripherals worked perfectly.

Do not waste time and money on a product or company that cant or wont even attempt to deliver what it claims.

I dont own stock or interest in either company. but with VM fusion I do have a Virtual windows machine on my Mac with working USB peripherals.

1 Star Be careful
I’m not sure how good this product is, because I am still having installation problems. After installing the program, I was then told my product key was expired (Unless the store gave me a pirated version - which I doubt from the apple store.) I attempted to uninstall the current version and now can’t reinstall. after exhausting my web and user guide resources, I attempted to call ANYONE at parallels and spent an hour being frustrated before calling apple and asking for help. they somehow got someone on the line. So now, finally I have a person to talk to. To add insult to injury - the “tech support” has a decidedly heavily accented english and is talking on a static filled internet phone such that he can barely understand me or I him.

Keep in mind that if I hadn’t called apple, I would be paying 29.99 for this wonderful service PER INCIDENT!!! I sincerely hope that I never need customer service again, because if I do it will likely be for a refund.

5 Stars Parallels 3.0
I am a recently converted Mac user, but there are still many Windows programs I am either not willing to give up or are not available for Mac, thus I purchased this software to be able to run Windows and Mac OS X simultaneously.

I must say I am very happy with it! I simply click on my Windows Taskbar that sits quite nicely above the Mac’s dock and I can go anywhere in Windows I want.

4 Stars Does what it says and makes it easy
I was going back and forth over whether to buy Parallels or VM Fusion and just tried the free download. The product worked so well I didn’t even bother with a comparison test when the free demo expired; I just bought it.

1 Star Stay away
This is a disaster….get fusion instead. I have had nothing but difficulties getting it to load and function.

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X Rite EODIS2 Eye One Display 2

Reliable and affordable color starts here. The Eye-One Display 2, the next generation for monitor profiling, is a brand new, easy-to use powerful, solution that provides the best monitor profile quality ever! With enhancements to both hardware and software, you’ll achieve consistent, predictable color on all types of monitors - both LCD and CRT. The newest Eye-One Match 3.0 software’s easy-to-use interface provides an Easy Mode for great results with a few simple clicks, plus an Advanced Mode for experienced users to achieve individual and best possible monitor calibration. Ideal for photographers, creative directors, publishers and designers working in ad agencies and corporations. Easily attaches to both LCD and CRT monitors with built-in counterweight and suction cups Use at multiple workstations - no additional licensing fee Mac and PC compatible - OS X, Windows 98 / 2000 / ME / XP USB powered When you need additional color profiling functionality, use your upgrade voucher included in every Eye-One Display2 package, towards the purchase of any other Eye-One package

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars great product–worth the money.
easy to use and calibrated my Samsung LCD monitor fairly quickly. I would recommend this product!

5 Stars Great for home picture use and scrapbooking
I was becoming frustrated because when I sent my digital photos out to print at my local store I never knew if the color and exposure would turn out correct. I would have to re-edit them and sent them out for print again because my monitor was an unreliable reflection of the printed picture. The X-Rite EODIS2 Eye-one display 2 changed all that. It was really easy to use and my pictures turn out perfect. This device does not calibrate your printer so my pictures still do not look right when printed out on my printer. However, I use my pictures for scrapbooking so it is a must that they do not fade so I have to send them out to be professionally printed (For example: Kodak, Snap Fish, CVS, Walgreens). So for me, it really didn’t matter that my printer was not calibrated with my monitor .

Just remember to install the software before plugging the device or your computer will think it is a storage device and you will have to restore settings to previous date to get the Eye-one to work.

I wish I got the Eye-one years ago it would have saved me a lot of money in re-printed pictures.

4 Stars Excellent results despite clumsy user interface
The Eye-One Display 2 (designed by Gretag-MacBeth and now sold by X-Rite) gets only 4 stars because the user interface is clumsy, but it gets that many stars because it does exactly what it’s supposed to do. It calibrated my photo/graphics quality HP LP2475W monitor so that the photos on the screen matched the photos coming off the printer. I hadn’t been able to do that with an old Spyder calibration device I’d used previously on another monitor. Although there wasn’t a huge difference between the color balance settings I got with the Eye One vs. the Spyder, the Spyder couldn’t set luminance (brightness). The Eye One 2 can do that and it was critical in getting the prints to match the screen.

There are two adjusting modes - an automatic one and an advanced one. The automatic mode is very straightforward to use, but the software did not properly adjust luminance. The “advanced” mode is what you should use. But there’s one issue you need to be aware of. The printed instructions are so brief as to be useless, and the on-screen instructions for the advanced mode are not at all intuitive.

There are three linked modules in the advanced mode, one for adjusting contrast, one for adjusting color/white point and one for adjusting luminance/brightness. You have to page through the directions for each module by clicking on an arrow at the upper right of the program window, and then you start the module by clicking elsewhere, on a “start” arrow on the lower right. Once the module starts you open your monitor controls and adjust contrast to match the bar graph on the screen. Each time you make a small adjustment, it takes the software a few seconds to recalibrate the bar graph, so you need a bit of patience. When you have a match, click on Stop to return to the beginning of the next module. You then read the next set of instructions, one short page at a time, and find the start button to begin the color module. Repeat for the luminance mondule. This is very clumsy. The on-screen instruction should take you from the instructions directly to the first step of the actual calibration routine. When the first module is done, the interfact shoudl take you back to the instructions for the next module without having to jump back & forth between an instruction window, a separate start button, and the adjustment process. (If you start a module without finding the instructions, the software will run in an endless loop while it waits for you to open up your monitor controls and adjust the settings for each stage.)

When the “advanced” calibration process finishes you get a report on screen with a chart showing the color gamut of the monitor as it’s been calibrated. It takes about 20 minutes to complete. You can name and save the monitor settings and set a reminder to recalibrate in a week or a month, etc. (It’s a good idea to recalibrate often as monitors shift their output as they age. In fact that’s the reason why you buy one of these devices for yourself rather than passing it from friend to friend.)

To sum up, the Eye-One Display 2 is a very competent device with a non-intuitive, clumsy user interface for the adavanced mode. Buy it for its competence, not its elegance. The ability to calibrate luminance/brightness is a critically important ingredient and its not available on the less expensive “LT” version of this product.

3 Stars Good but not great
Firstly, this product shipped with basically no documentation on how (and what) SW to install — and no obvious installers to launch upon inserting the CD into your computer. Basically, the critical piece of software you need to install is the “Eye-One Match 3″. Recommend visiting xrite.com to get the latest version of the Match software and install that.

After I got the software all installed, I got started calibrating my Apple Cinema Display monitor - I’m on a Mac OSX computer. The software offers two modes - easy and advanced. Since I know about color, I thought I’d head straight for the advanced mode first. The software itself does provide instructions to walk you through the calibration process, so that was nice to see — given the absence of documentation. After following the on-screen instructions to the letter, my “advanced mode” calibration resulted in a very cold/harsh (heavy on the blues) color profile that was just obviously off. Figuring I had made some mistake, I tried it again — in advanced mode. Same result. Next time I tried the “easy mode” - which produced much better results. The only problem is that you’re stuck with the program’s defaults for gamma, white point, etc. In any case, the easy mode appeared to produce much better results — at least for me. In the end, due to the drastic differences between the easy and advanced mode, and essentially being stuck with the easy mode — I’m rating this product as three stars. Honestly, I think there are better products out there for this kind of cash.

4 Stars Good for non-pro level
This is a fine device for what it is. Using it in “easy” mode couldn’t be, well - easier. And, the difference will likely startle those who haven’t ever calibrated a monitor or laptop before.

But don’t get carried away with references to higher level systems. It’s true that the Blue Eye (which is just a re-branding of NEC’s pro displays) uses this as their measuring device (I’ve got one), but that’s the end of the similarity. The NEC/Blue Eye system is a two-way communication between the measuring device and the electronics in the display. During the calibration, the two devices do a great deal of sophisticated measuring and actual adjustment of the monitor itself, rather than just creating a passive profile for the computer to read. After the process is conmplete, the monitor then makes ongoing adjustments between calibrations to compensate for the inevitable color “drift” that happens on all monitors.

(This is the reason for the reminders to re-calibrate, by the way, and why, if you don’t do it at least monthly (regardless of brand), you’ll have wasted your investment.)

So by all means get one of these and move up a giant step towards “what you see is what you get”, but know that this is a prosumer level device.

By the way, this alone will only make your screen look better (realistic flesh tones, etc.). For printing, you’ll need to learn about and use printing paper profiles. This is part of “color management”, which is a whole topic by itself.

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