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Pimp my Parallels


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Ok, so you know how you've always wished that you could switch between OS X and XP with that cool little cube effect in OS X? Well, ok, maybe that's not at the top of your priority list... but if it is you're in luck.

 

A developer has created a sweet little add-on to the Parallels virtualization software to allow users to change operating systems without sacrificing the eye candy. Best of all, it's open source.

 

The developer has apparently offered to give Parallels the code - GPL free - to incorporate into the final release of Parallels. As per this thread in their forum, the Parallels developers have something like this in the works for "the next public version."

 

Just another one of those great OS X tricks you can use to wow your PC friends...

 

parallels.png

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Wow. But this also means that both OSs would always eat the computers RAM, right? So, the question is how practical all of this stuff would actually be. If you're just using your OSs for surfing the web, eMails, etc., it may be okay, but other than that, this would probably just eat too much ressources.

 

It'd be cool if Apple themselves would build something like that directly into OSX 10.5. Like, you'd have the cube effect, afterwards the OS would free the RAM and make all of it available to the OS you're currently working in.

 

If this stuff wouldn't drain the system performance, it'd be heaven.

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wait a minute, this means that xp is running as VM/virtual in osx right? not neccessarily native ?

 

would this also work on homebrew-macintels or is it limited to the original intel macs?

 

the cube thinggy is always nice, but what are the cons?

 

i didn't find the website too forward.... (and i am a bit slow today)

 

:P

osxG

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wait a minute, this means that xp is running as VM/virtual in osx right? not neccessarily native ?

 

It's fast, but yes... not native. Gamers will still want to reboot.

 

would this also work on homebrew-macintels or is it limited to the original intel macs?

 

Everything is for the Intel Macs since that is the only legal implementation of Mac OS X. You'll have to test it to see if it works on a hackintosh. No one will ever "officially" support a hacked version of OS X.

 

the cube thinggy is always nice, but what are the cons?

 

For a moment the system would eat resources... then it would clear up.

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Guest goodtime
You can run Virtue on iHacks, but the graphical effects don't show up. Or at least they don't on my ATI radeon x800, which has opengl.. :/

 

 

I believe that you need Quartz Extreme to see the Cube effect.

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Great! I advice you folks buying the app to get the extended download plan once it's released :P Then again, you can always wait for Apple to integrate it to OS X in future versions. Cubes should not eat up more than 10% while it's spinning. If you used movie desktops or opengl desktop effects, thats it eat up more. I've listed far too many cons than pros on the other threads, so it wil stay on my wish list atm. But the development is doing great.

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Its just a shame it cant boot a native XP install - that would be great! Use OSX/XP when you need to without rebooting and if you need to reboot for games then do so.

 

oh and I realise the issue with xp drivers/hardware profiles but that would make things fantastic.

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Wow. But this also means that both OSs would always eat the computers RAM, right? So, the question is how practical all of this stuff would actually be. If you're just using your OSs for surfing the web, eMails, etc., it may be okay, but other than that, this would probably just eat too much ressources.

 

It'd be cool if Apple themselves would build something like that directly into OSX 10.5. Like, you'd have the cube effect, afterwards the OS would free the RAM and make all of it available to the OS you're currently working in.

 

If this stuff wouldn't drain the system performance, it'd be heaven.

 

With 2GB and a Core Duo, I haven't taken a noticeable performance hit. Machine is doing very nicely.

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I believe that you need Quartz Extreme to see the Cube effect.

 

I have QE and QE2D enabled, so i think it might have something to do with screen resolutions or something, which ATI can't do yet.

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Guest goodtime
I have QE and QE2D enabled, so i think it might have something to do with screen resolutions or something, which ATI can't do yet.

 

Interesting. Do you have Core Image enabled too?

 

Goodtime

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yes sir. :poster_oops:

 

Display:

 

Type: VGA-Compatible Controller

Bus: PCI

Slot: PCI

VRAM (Total): 256 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x554d

Revision ID: 0x0000

Displays:

Display:

Resolution: 1024 x 768

Depth: 32-bit Color

Core Image: Supported

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Quartz 2D Extreme: Supported

Quartz Extreme: Supported

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Guest goodtime
With 2GB and a Core Duo, I haven't taken a noticeable performance hit. Machine is doing very nicely.

 

 

Parallels Beta 3 and 4, do very well and takes up much less overhead than previous version. To me it feels native.

 

Parallels Workstation on my Hackintosh runs awesome on a 3.06 Multi-Threaded P4 processor with only 1 Gig of RAM. (478 GB dedicated to Parallels Workstation.)

 

Goodtime

 

 

 

yes sir. :poster_oops:

 

Display:

 

Type: VGA-Compatible Controller

Bus: PCI

Slot: PCI

VRAM (Total): 256 MB

Vendor: ATI (0x1002)

Device ID: 0x554d

Revision ID: 0x0000

Displays:

Display:

Resolution: 1024 x 768

Depth: 32-bit Color

Core Image: Supported

Main Display: Yes

Mirror: Off

Online: Yes

Quartz 2D Extreme: Supported

Quartz Extreme: Supported

 

I'll have to try it on my GMA 900.

 

Is it any different with Quartz 2D turned off?

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all these things are great I mean the possibility to run multiple OSs, the word reboot gaining importance again... Is this getting a little out of our hands...? Shouldn´t we be worrying about getting things done? don´t want to sound fatalistic. I´m typing words not in my native language... this has gone off the thread as you say.

 

(the watch this cube os swapping effect is xtracool anyway)

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Guest goodtime

I think having the ability to quickly switch between OS'es will eventually lead to getting more things done by being more productive.

 

Still after hacking on my Home Brew computer for about 2-3 months now. It's nice to for a moment sit back, relax, and enjoy the eye candy and sense of accomplishment.

 

Darth Vader, Home Brew Deskop:

GMA 900

OSx86 10.4.6, Windows 2003, SUSE Linux

QE, CI, OpenGL, Cube Effect too!

Intel i915GUX MOBO

1 GB RAM

Firewire, USB 2.0, USB 1.1

3 SATA HDs (2 250 GB, 1 80 GB)

1 GB RAM

Yukon 1000 Base-T Ethernet (LAN)

NetGear 100 Base-T Ethernet (WAN)

3.06 Ghz MT P4

SSE3

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well folks, the new version of Parallels is out, and we've got better sound support, cube transition effects, and full screen resolutions to name just a few on the list.

 

Who thinks they can stop me from pre-ordering now. =P

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*Raises hand!* Just kidding. It sounds like this thing is the future, seriously. *thumbs up*

 

EDIT: WOW! I can't even get to parallels.com! It must be bombarded with traffic!

 

EDIT2: I finally got in. Here's the forum topic about it:

 

http://forum.parallels.com/thread1054.html

Today's a big day! Parallels Workstation for Mac OS X Beta5 is here...and it includes USB support and a Shared Folder function that makes sharing documents between Windows and Mac OS X a snap.

 

Get your free copy of Beta5 at the Parallels Download Center. Remember, if you're already a beta tester, you can just install Beta5 on top of your current version. You will NOT have to rebuild your virtual machines.

 

Remember that you can also pre-order your copy of Parallels Workstation now and save $10 off the $49.99 retail price! Pre-order your copy now!

 

Improvements and Fixes in Beta5:

 

* Introduced USB support. Connect your favorite USB devices directly to a virtual machine! See the thread about the current status of USB support.

* Introduced shared folders. Share files between Mac OS X and any Windows XP or Windows 2003 guest virtual machine! Learn more about the Shared Folder function.

* Support for dynamic screen resolutions. When a guest OS is selected, a list of available screen resolutions is dynamically populated with primary OS resolutions.

* Fixed keyboard mapping problems

* Fixed mouse pointer lag problem

* Better sound support

* Fixed problems with sleeping/waking up the primary OS when a VM is running

* Introduced the ability to resize a guest when switching to fullscreen mode

* Added optional "transition cube" animation for transitioning to and from fullscreen mode

* Fixed several kernel panics

* Added default network adapter for bridged mode

* Sound lag fixed

 

NOTE TO CURRENT BETA TESTERS: There's a new and improved Parallels Tools package in Beta5 too. To update, open your VM, log in, click the "VM" menu, and click "Install Parallels Tools"

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