Windows will soon be available to run on Macs – even for those that don’t have Boot Camp. Parallels, the universally acclaimed virtualization software, has introduced a new edition that will fully enable Windows 11 to run on M1 systems.
Parallels is capable of supporting Intel Macs as well as the newer M1 models , and the latest edition will allow the user to open up Microsoft’s new offering in a window on their Mac computer.
There is a catch, though.
People using ARM-based machines such as the M1 will only be able to run ARM-based operating systems. This means that because Microsoft has not yet released the Arm version of Windows 11 for sale, the only available option currently is to run the Windows 11 Insider Preview on an ARM-based operating system.
So far, Microsoft has kept quiet about this; they’ve not made any announcements to sell the ARM version of Windows 11 to Mac users, to be run through Parallels. Parallels has, however, made the Windows 11 Insider Preview super simple to install on M1-powered systems.
The developers over at Parallels have, however, promised that once Windows 11 has officially been released to the wider public, their program will be able to run it. In the meantime, Windows 10 is fully functional on Mac computers running Parallels 17.
The new version of Parallels boasts some intriguing improvements on previous releases when running on a Mac. Not only does Windows launch more rapidly within the new version, but users will experience superior graphics – owing to higher frame rates within both 2D and 3D gaming.
In addition, individual apps on guest systems launched in Parallels are able to run much more rapidly within the new version. Across all types of Macs, application running speed boasts an average increase of 38%. This sizable increase shows just how much Parallels has gone from strength to strength since its inception and initial release.
There is a particular uptick in quality when it comes to running video games within Parallels 17. Mac users will love the fact that they are now able to play Windows-only games on their computers, without having to compromise on running speed or frame rate. In fact, on compatible Macs, OpenGL graphics will be able to run up to 6 times faster.
Other notable improvements for Parallels 17 include the fact that it’s now a universal application, Windows resumes faster after idling, it’s been better optimized for macOS Monterey, and video playback has been made smoother. Not forgetting, Windows now recognizes macOS battery status, informing the user when the battery is running low.
As well as all of the above, the Drag-and-Drop feature has now been streamlined – users can efficiently drag and drop images and text between both Windows and Mac applications, as if they were on entirely the same system.
Parallels Desktop 17 has now totally moved over to a subscription-based pricing model. The standard edition is priced at $79.99 for a year’s subscription, and the Parallels Business and Pro edition subscriptions come in at $99.99. Those who are upgrading from the previous version can do so for $49.99, and there’s also a free trial available through Parallels’ website.
