Unlike VMware Fusion 6, Parallels 9 lets you download and install Windows 8.1 Preview right from its own wizard.Ĭustomers who prefer a classic experience can “set Windows 8 to boot directly to the desktop, set Windows 8 apps to run in resizable windows, and bring back the fully functional Start menu,” according to the company.įull-screen Windows 8 modern UI apps are compatible, and the new version also runs Windows 8 in Coherence much smoother. Today is the latter’s turn to release Parallels Desktop 9 for Mac, the latest version of its powerful virtualization app which now supports Windows 8. Powerful and feature-packed solutions both, VMWare Fusion and Parallels Desktop are constantly trying to steal market share from one another. As every year goes, Parallels and VMware duke it out to deliver support for the latest OS X and Windows releases, and this time around things aren’t any different.Īfter VMware updated its Fusion virtualization software with support for OS X Mavericks and Windows 8.1, it was now Parallels’ turn to roll out an updated version of its own program that creates virtual machines for “guest” operating systems.
