“Autodesk will now support use of AutoCAD software, AutoCAD LT software, Autodesk Inventor Professional software, Autodesk 3ds Max software, Autodesk 3ds Max Design software and the Autodesk Revit software platform for building information modeling (BIM) on Mac OS X via Parallels Desktop. Autodesk added official support for these products on the Mac via Boot Camp earlier this year.”

Parallels Desktop for Mac allows over 2 million users to run Windows-based applications seamlessly on their Macs.

Lots of AutoDesk Choices
Mac users have quite a few choices from AutoDesk.

“With the launch of the Autodesk Alias family of software for Mac OS X earlier this year, Autodesk now offers five native Mac OS X applications for the entertainment, multimedia and design industries, including Autodesk SketchBook Pro, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Mudbox and Autodesk Stitcher Unlimited software. For more information about Autodesk Mac support, visit Autodesk.com/mac.”

“Autodesk customers are increasingly working with both Mac and Windows, and have asked us to support Mac virtualization,” said Chris Bradshaw, Autodesk chief marketing officer. “Today we are pleased to welcome Parallels as a partner and Parallels Desktop as our preferred Mac virtualization software. ”

Parallels Optimizes Computing
Parallels works seamlessly with Macs (see my review at Parallels 4.0 Desktop for Macs). If you need access to Windows software, consider Parallels Desktop.

Now, Mac users can enjoy additional AutoDesk products with Parallels Desktop.

Contacts: AutoDesk.com; Parallels.com

Smooth Sailing for Macs

I am a Mac user, so I expect software to download easily and work seamlessly. Macs rarely stumble. Therefore, I expected Parallels 4.0 to work smoothly on my MacBook Pro. This utility software did not disappoint me.

I viewed Parallels tutorial video, which was very informative. In detail, it described many key components of Parallels.

Using Windows
First I downloaded, then installed Parallels on my MacBook Pro. No problems there. I dragged and dropped the Parallels icon into the application dock, and began. Parallels opened up with a clean Welcome screen, allowing users to choose between the Tutorial Video, Running Windows, Import Virtual Machines, or Start Using Parallels Desktop. After inserting the Windows Vista Ultimate (64 bit version) disk, I selected Import Virtual Machines to install Vista.

Gaming and More
I jumped right in playing NanoLegend, an interactive high school biology game. I’m not a gamer, so I had to use the keyboard and mouse. No hiccups there. Entourage chimed that I had an email message, so I paused NanoLegend, checked my email on the Mac screen, flicked back to the game on the Windows screen and continued playing. I also downloaded Nancy Drew’s Legend of the Crystal Skull Game, and tested this game out using Windows. Worked great.

All my Mac Desktop files showed up on the Windows screen. Could I pull up a Word document – absolutely. First a small window popped up asking whether Windows could find the program online, or on the computer hard drive. I selected on my computer, and in a few seconds, Word had opened. I can cut and paste material from one document in Windows into another document found on the Mac screen. While a PowerPoint presentation was opening on Parallels, I had Firefox open on the Mac screen typing in this blog. Parallels worked efficiently.

With Parallels, the next generation Coherence lets me run multiple windows side-by-side, or I could choose to operate Windows full screen. Parallels also states it can Linux and Mac OS X Server as Virtual Machines.

Just a Few New Features
Here are some of the new features listed:

• Free iPhone application to remotely start, stop and suspend virtual machines from your iPhone.
• Speech recognition using Select Voice Commands
• Virtualize Mac OS X Leopard server inside Parallels Desktop virtual machine
• Safeguard Internet security with Parallels Internet Security
• Enjoy speed and performance with FastLane Architecture, up to 8-way SMP, 8 GB RAM and 64-bit computing

Requires Hard Drive Space
If using Windows Vista, decide if you want the 32-bit, or 64-bit version. With all the Vista updates, the 64-bit version swallowed up 24 GB of hard drive space. And each Virtual Machine needs 15 GB of hard drive space. Also, Mac users, be patient with Windows Vista. It takes awhile to start up and shut down. Parallels is required to be installed on the Mac boot disc, but you can install Windows XP, Vista or any other Virtual Machine on a second internal or external hard drive.

Download a trial copy and try Parallels yourself. It worked well for me.

Made By: parallels.com
Price:  Upgrade @ $49.99; New Install @ $79.99. Check online for special offerings.
Pros: Lets you run powerful Windows applications on Macs
Cons:  Be patient with Windows