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Sarge
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Through work I got licenses for Windows Vista Business Enterprise edition and MS Office 2007 Standard, so only needed to download Parallels for Mac from online store. Now Parallels has released Build 3188 which offers support for Vista, although some users reported random Windows freezing, I never experienced that problem so far.
Installing Parallels is a breeze, I double-clicked the installer, follow the prompts, and wait for it to finish. After installation Parallels snuggles in the Applications folder. In the background, the software installs several files and commands on the Mac, including a kernel extension, a low-level tool that modifies the core of OS X. After launching the application, the first thing I did was to create a virtual machine, specifying Windows Vista as the OS of my choice. I answered a few questions in an easy to use setup wizard. Based on the OS one chooses, Parallels appoints values for the hard drive size, CD-ROM, video, RAM, etc. These settings can be customized at later stage.
After that it was matter to insert Windows installation disc and let the software do the magic for me, the incredible things is that the guest system really has no clue that it’s being installed on a machine running a virtual version of a computer under Mac OS X. To the installer, the machine looks like a dedicated, Intel-based computer system, with all of the appropriate hardware and software support. Cool stuff.
Parallels offers support for several more OS including various flavours of Linux; I assume that the installation process is similar to Windows. Side note, if you have Windows installed under Boot Camp, Parallels can work from there, no need to install the OS twice, that was my preferred option but at the moment Boot Camp only offers support for Windows XP, maybe things will change with the release of Leopard. We shall see
Once everything is up and running using Windows (or any other supported OS) under Parallels is essentially the same as using it on a standalone machine, with one or two exceptions. For a starter Parallels can’t presently handle accelerated 3-D graphics, so no games for now. Also the OS connects to the network sharing/using whatever set up the guest OS is operating under. Another cause of minor frustration is the lack of Windows driver for iSight built in webcam. It kind of feel strange having a webcam but not able to use it as the bright folks at Cupertino haven’t included support for both Yahoo and Hotmail messaging service. So to all my giks and chat mates I’m still cam-less.
One can also set up shared folders between OS X Windows virtual machine, making it easy to move data back and forth. Outside of shared folders, though, the Mac’s hard drive will be invisible to Windows. This can be beneficial as possible infected Windows file won’t be able to sneak across platforms. Another things to know is that Parallels allocates a certain amount of Mac HDD space, default is 32GB and if you think you’re going to need more than that, it’s important to resize it before you install apps and files as it may wipe any data during the process.
Overall, I’m pretty satisfied with the speed of Windows under Parallels; it lets me work all the business stuff I have appointed the application to do. I understand that Parallels will offer support for 3D apps later on this year and fix one or two minor niggles. In a way this lets have your cake and eat it, 2 OS under the same hood, one can work with Windows and play with Mac. I’ll post my view on Vista and the new MS Office at another time.
Sarge
Bonus pix: Windows on Mac
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 4:12 am on Mar. 18, 2007
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Sarge
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Parallels does offer support for USB devices and I can see iSight listed in drop down menu, the issues is that Windows needs a driver to make it work. At the moment (to the best of my knowledge) there isn't a Windows version of it, hence my dig at the eggeheads in Cupertino. Yes one can make work MSN thru Jabber but it doesn't offer the same functionalities and options as MSN or Yahoo in native Windows environment.
All is needed a Windows version of iSight driver
Sarge
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 2:45 pm on Mar. 18, 2007
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DaffyDuck
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Quote: from Sarge on 4:27 am on Mar. 19, 2007
All is needed a Windows version of iSight driver
I've told you the real reason, why under PARALLELS the iSight is currently not supported, but will be.
If you run it under Bootcamp, you will find the iSight to be supported, because USB 2.0 is supported. I will say it again, once USB 2.0 support is available under Parallels, then the iSight will be supported.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 9:08 pm on Mar. 18, 2007
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Sarge
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maybe you should tell the people at Parallels Inc. that their software doesn't support USB 2, or perhaps you should read their website where it definitely says that latest release of Parallels Build 3188 DOES INDEED OFFER support for USB 2 devices. Read on HERE.
I've told you that iSight built in web-cam doesn't work under Windows Vista operating in VM (Parallels) because it cannot find the driver to make it work. It recognizes iSight, it searches the HDD drive for drivers, it asks to insert CD and it even searches online for the driver. In the end it comes to a conclusion saying: "Windows Vista does not support Built-in iSight. This problem was caused by a compatibility issue between Windows Vista and Built-in iSight. This program was created by Apple Computer."
I will say it again; All is needed a Windows version of iSight driver
Sarge
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 2:40 am on Mar. 19, 2007
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FIB
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Let's look at what is working and what is not:
Parallels + iSight + Windows XP work ok with the iSight Windows XP drivers from BootCamp. I know I had it to run on one of my machines.
But I have never heard of anybody managing to make Parallels + iSight + Vista with the XP drivers work. However, those same iSight XP drivers work ok with Vista under Boot Camp (not that I tried it myself, but google that and you'll find howtos to guide you to do it).
So, again, Parallels supports the iSight, but under XP only. It seems that Parallels has issues that Boot Camp does not have with iSight under Vista (but Boot Camp is not supposed to run Vista officially yet...)
Anyway, why would one want to run Vista is beyond me in any case...
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 9:08 am on Mar. 19, 2007
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Loung Steeb
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..you guys got the gift of gab.....how can these Thai girls not lub you??....
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 1:59 pm on Mar. 19, 2007
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Sarge
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A quick take on Windows Vista, a synopsis on basic usage of the new MS OS. The first most noticeable thing about Vista is how similar it looks to Windows XP. But after a short while, it soon becomes clear that Vista works in a slight different way. The redesigned Start button (in most parts) eliminates traditional pop out menus; click on the all programs group and the contents expand in much the same way as a folder in Windows Explorer. A reasonable graphics card is needed for the new aero feature to function correctly, but I haven’t been able to make it work under VM environment, perhaps when Parallels will offer 3D graphic acceleration support by the end of this year.
Contrary to popular belief, I didn’t have any real problems with drivers (apart from iSight built in cam, but that is a proprietary Apple hardware) ; during the installation, Vista will load the drivers included within the installation image, but it will also download additional drivers from a much larger database at Microsoft. So far so good. A new addition to Vista, there is a shaded sidebar populated with three example gadgets, widgets to everyone else, but one can customize them or download more online, hardly anything exciting but new nevertheless to Windows OS.
In Vista, files become unchained from the traditional directory tree structure. The OS relies on metatags, which are keywords linked to files to make them searchable. With metatags, you can create virtual file folders based on a variety of search terms. Say you're doing a report on mountains; any file that is keyword enabled to include "mountains" will be grouped into a virtual folder without physically dragging that file to a new location. The downside is that older files (say you upgraded your system from Windows XP) will have to be retroactively metataged in order to be searched. Also different is the file path displayed within Windows Explorer. Gone are the backslashes, replaced with arrows that offer drop-down menus of alternative folders.
Under Business edition you have to purchase a separate, third party, software for burning DVD. It doesn’t bother me as I use the superb facilities on my Mac, which is vastly superior anything on offer for PCs. I recommend performing a clean installation. With a clean installation, one keeps all the current on Windows XP drive and install only the data and applications one wants to run on Windows Vista. The DVD disc includes a Windows Imaging (WIM) format of the code, so if one buys the basic edition or the Ultimate edition, the code remains the same; only the product key unlocks your specific set of features. This means users who opt for the lesser editions can always upgrade (assuming they have the proper hardware) by downloading some additional code at a charge, and securing a new product key online.
To sum up things, Vista in comparison to Mac OS X feels clunky and not very intuitive, almost as though it's still based on DOS, and if you can remember what it was like to operate computers under MS-DOS, you know what I mean. Also things are shamelessly skewed in favour of all MS products, one is asked to visit MS corporate site for downloads and adds-on only to be told that you can do that via IE browser (my trusted Firefox gets shunned). In essence Vista is a warmed up version of XP, a stop gap between XP and a truly innovative (for MS that is) forthcoming (again relatively speaking) Vienna codenamed OS. Vista is what Windows XP SP3 should have been, but the greed of Bill & Steve panto show had the better of them and they force fed this half baked OS on hapless consumers, pushing them to expensive upgrades. Yes it’s better and more stable OS than its predecessor but that is not necessarily a compliment as XP had more holes than a Gruyere cheese. If you only ever used PC (as I did until recently), and your current system is rough around the edges, getting old and tired, have a look at what Apple is offering. You will be pleasantly surprised and able to get on with your tasks without having to worry or deal with Windows OS idiosyncrasies, plus if you have to run business critical apps, one can always install a VM software (Parallels) an get work done in that environment and at a deft click of a mouse switch back to OSX for everything else. I know, I’ve done it, so can you.
Sarge
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 4:36 pm on Mar. 23, 2007
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Sarge
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It has been announced that Bill G. is going to receive an honorary degree at Harvard university, which he dropped out in the 70s to form Microsoft. Whilst at the institution he met his current infamous "partner in crime", Stevie the wide boy. Surely the 7th June ceremony will be the high point of American academy year, and threatens to overshadow WWDC07 planned a few days later.
Any of you guys planning to attend the glorious event? surely you won't want to miss this one out..... 
Sarge
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 5:48 pm on Mar. 23, 2007
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