Parallels is for me a long time synonymous with a virtualized Windows on the Mac, I had last version 7 in use.
Surroundings:
I installed Parallels Habee a 27 iMac (Mid 2011) with i5 and Yosemite, as a virtual machine to Windows 8.1 are used.
Installation:
The first look at the box produces the same times a silly face, because in the box there is no media, but just an advertising leaflets (same discarded) and a Quick Start Guide, including glued serial number. So first the program loaded 283 MB.
The installation is straight forward, entering the long activation codes arouses ever looking forward to the upcoming Windows installation).
A new virtual machine is created as fast as a new document in Word, namely click the File New, and off you go. In addition to Windows, I was also a free alternative Ubuntu, Windows 10 (as a Technical Preview), Chrome OS and Android version 4 (!) Offered (naturally always connected to the free download of a mating Images).
Windows itself can be installed on Parallels of DVD image file, as well as USB flash drive, a so-called. Wizard accompanies doing the installation process. If like me you want to install Win 8 you will be asked if you want to use Win 8 in its tile look or like Win 7 Start Button (then the additional programs Start8 and ModernMix are also installed) handy for users who do not use the tile surface can do much. I opted for the genuine tile optics. Otherwise, the Windows installation settings adjustments proceeds exactly from, as we know it, the virtual machine is a couple of times up and down driven, here, there and ready.
After installation, I found a Win8 ago, as I know it well from her work, the installation of additional software (such as MS Office) took place exactly as we know it from a real win machine. For a perfect illusion can turn the VM in full screen mode.
Work with the VM designed in everyday life as pleasant as soon as eg a USB stick is plug Parallels announces itself with active VM automatically is intended for which system the USB stick. Other configurations were not necessary, for example, Internet ran under Win8 out off the box.
What already been able to convince myself in version 7 of Parallels was the integration of the virtual machine in the Mac OS X environment, it can be defined for file exchange between the two worlds folder, all I / O ports (USB, microphone, camera ... .) are under Windows as well as OS X is available, without the need to change any tedious configurations / settings (such as eg VirtualBox) here makes the love for details and user-friendliness very noticeable.
PS: As a joke I once again Android installed by Windows me, along with an APK from the Internet, I had a short time a functioning machine WhatsApp very nice.
However, it should say that there are limitations, Google Play does not work well and the Java Native Interface (JNI), which is required for various apps such as Angry Birds, is not supported.
The biggest gripe with Parallels I see in the updated policy. Although there are (if necessary) free product updates, but if a new Windows and / or Mac OS X is coming out as good as getting a new purchase by Parallels or Paid product upgrade to a newer version needed. That was also the reason why I switched from Parallels to the free VirtualBox two years ago (which worked, but not nearly as comfortable as Parallels).
Conclusion: Parallels in my eyes is still the best (and most convenient) solution of virtualization in a Mac environment, although it is more cost effective but because at the expense of usability and convenience. Just a pity that at the latest in autumn 2015, when (as in recent years) a new OS will be presented for the Mac, back an upgrade to the next version is needed there's a star deduction.
