Parallels Experimentally Supports Windows 7

For VARs looking to mix and match Windows 7 and Mac OS X on customer systems, Parallels may have the answer. The company, which created Parallels Desktop for the Mac, has announced experimental support for Windows 7 in version 4.0 of their software. Here are some early impressions.

Parallels’ focus on Windows 7 is welcome news, especially since official Apple support for Windows 7 is still pending. I ran the Windows 7 RC on Parallels at the beginning of this year and found it to be very usable for all the basics, so even though support is only ‘experimental’ at this point,  it’s likely much better than what it was 8 months ago.

But an interesting blurb on ITProPortal.com says that there’s still no 3D support for Windows 7. 3D Support is important for all the glossy and fancy transparency features people like with the Windows 7 experience. That was something that was missing when I ran the Windows 7 RC, too. Parallel’s own site say that it supports up to 256MB of 3D graphics processing in version 4.0, but doesn’t specify whether this is supported ‘experimentally’ in Windows 7.

We’ll be in touch with Parallels in the days ahead on a number of items, and we’ll be sure to get an update on the longer-term Parallels-Windows 7 strategy.

Follow The VAR Guy via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter; and via his Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center. Plus, check out more channel voices at www.vartweet.com.