Now you can virtualize OS X!! (Sort of)

As some of you techie types may have already discovered, there’s a subtle yet significant change in the Leopard Server End User License Agreement (EULA). It reads:

2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.
A. Mac OS X Server Software.
This License allows you to install and use one copy of the Mac OS X Server software (the "Mac OS X Server Software") on a single Apple-labeled computer. You may also Install and use other copies of Mac OS X Server Software on the same Apple-labeled computer, provided that you acquire an individual and valid license from Apple for each of these other copies of Mac OS X Server Software.

This means that…drum roll please…YOU CAN RUN LEOPARD SERVER IN A VIRTUAL MACHINE!! But before you go jumping for joy, there are a few important restrictions:

1. This is only for Leopard SERVER. The ability to run OS X in a virtual machine DOES NOT apply to Leopard client (ie, the version you and I run on our everyday Macs.
2. Each virtual machine requires a separate license of Leopard Server, so no double-dipping with your original copy.
3. You can only run Leopard Server in a virtual machine on Apple labeled hardware, so all of you who just had a “Sweet! Now I can run OS X on my Dell/HP/Lenovo/other PC!” moment are still out of luck.

This change is a significant one from Apple’s usual virtualization policy and is a very positive step forward and indication of how we’re working with partners like Apple to make life easier for hundreds of thousands of users worldwide.

It is important to note that we’ve already begun the steps necessary to technically enable this new policy and Leopard Server is an important part of our Parallels Server roadmap. We know from many of you that the “holy grail” of XServes is to run multiple, isolated, near-native instances of OS X Server on the same box, at the same time. Couple that with the ability to run Windows and Linux next to those instances of OS X via Parallels Server, and you’ve just made XServes even more compelling for enterprises large and small, even non traditional Apple shops.

When will you see it? In the next several months. Enabling Leopard Server to run in a virtual machine may take some time, but we’re working hard on it with Apple and will make it public as quickly as possible.

Want to learn more about what the Apple community thinks about this development? Check out Adam Engst's article on TidBITS.


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"When are you upgrading to Leopard?" survey results

Thank you to all 387 Parallels users who responded to my humble survey!

The vast majority of the responses were via email (about 360 of them), along with anecdotes about how and why they're using the product. I love getting email like this since it helps put a face to the "650,000+ users" figure we throw out, so thanks again to everyone who took the time to write in.

Here's what you told me about your upgrade plans:

Out of 387 total respondents...

• 291 (75.2%) said you'd upgrade to Leopard within 1 week of launch
• 14 (3.6%) of you said you'd upgrade within 1 month
  
• NOTE: Most of these were qualified with "because I'm traveling/on vacation/waiting for my next paycheck to clear/etc. and can't upgrade sooner.
• 81 (21%) are waiting until Apple releases 10.5.1.
  
• Only 1 (.2%) of you is sticking with Tiger.
  

Interesting that so many of you (me included) are rabid enough Apple fans to upgrade so fast after launch. Good thing we just released the beta that makes Parallels work even better with Leopard, since clearly a lot of you will be using the two together in the next few days!

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Celebrate Leopard with a new Parallels Desktop Beta and a Special Offer

Remember that free update I promised you to take care of the little issues that popped up in Parallels Desktop due to Leopard? Well, its here!

Earlier today, we launched beta testing for an Update for Parallels Desktop 3.0 that not only makes working with Leopard even more seamless, but also substantially improves performance for both Windows XP and Windows Vista virtual machines. The beta - which is free for all users - also includes a number of new features, the most notable being:

• Use Transporter, our free migration utility, to cleanly migrate a Boot Camp partition to a Parallels virtual machine.
  
• Better video performance and better 3D performance. No, there's no DirectX 9 support (yet), but DX 8.1 and OpenGL performance is much better. Try it out and you'll see what I mean.
  
• Complete integration with Spaces, Leopard's new multi-desktop tool. Use Coherence across multiple spaces, or work with OSes in full-screen mode in an individual space.
  

Get your copy of the new Beta and learn more about what's inside here.

In conjunction with the Beta, we're also launching a very Apple-y promotion. Buy Parallels Desktop 3.0 now through November 6th, and get a $20 Apple Gift Card to use any way you'd like. Looking to upgrade from 2.5 to 3.0? Do it now and get a $10 card!

Hit the Parallels Desktop 3.0 page to take advantage of the offer.

(UPDATE - 10/29/07, 4:22PT - This offer is only valid for US customers right now, because the gift cards only work in the US! We're working with our EMEA team right now to find an alternative in Europe and elsewhere, so stay tuned for more info. We'll have a solution soon).

Also, I'm tallying the results from last week's survey...stay tuned for that today/tomorrow.
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Parallels Desktop 3.0 wins "Best in Show" at London's MacExpoLive

Hello (again) from London's National Hall!

Just got the word from Martin and Karen (the editor and deputy editor of MacWorld UK) that Parallels Desktop 3.0 has been named "Best in Show" for the London MacLiveExpo!

This is a big honor, considering the caliber of products on display from all over the world. You can read more about the Expo and the other Best in Show winners here.

The other highlight of my day was running a Parallels Desktop 3.0 clinic at the MacFormat Labs station. Everyone here was a rookie user so this was a true hands on, crash course in how to run Windows on a Mac.

Here are a few shots from the show floor, including some from the workshop:

The show floor in the National Hall in Olympia.

MacFormat Labs' schedule. In between press meetings, I sat in on a few of these. Really good stuff.

The workshop, packed with new users.

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Hey filmmakers! Why Choose?

Hello from London!

Wanted to give you all a heads up that today we’re launching a very cool contest, open to anyone who has access to a video camera (or webcam!).

The contest, called “Why Choose?”, gives aspiring filmmakers of any age the chance to show off their talents by sharing an experience where they got ahead by not having to choose between 2 great options (Like not having to choose Mac or PC with Parallels Desktop), rather than giving up one for the other.

What I love about this contest is that the videos can be about ANY situation…not just those involving Parallels. And, since this whole point is to get the best of both worlds, we’re giving the winner(s) 2 great prizes rather than making them choose 1 or the other! For example, our grand prize winner gets 7 day trip for 2 to MacWorld 2008 in San Francisco, including air-fare and hotel and 2 MacWorld full-conference badges and $500 in spending cash....AND their video will be highlighted at the Parallels booth in the exhibit hall to be viewed by over 45,000 attendees!

Details on how to enter, rules for submission, and a complete list of prizes are at the "Why Choose?" main page.

I should also note that we're really encouraging schools (elementary, secondary, university, art schools, film schools, etc.) to register and enter. If the winning video comes from a registered school, that school will win a $10,000 technology grant to use as they'd like!

To get the contest kicked off the right way, we did some videos of our own. They’re really funny (well, at least we think so). Naturally, there are two....I mean, why choose between two great videos, right?

"Why Choose?" Video #1


"Why Choose?" Video #2


This guy didn't have to choose...why should you? Dust off your video camera and show us what you've got!



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When will you upgrade to Leopard?

I'm just about to hop on a plane to London to hang out at the MacLiveExpo for a few days, so you may not hear from me until later in the week when I report from the floor. Should be an interesting show as it coincides nicely with the Leopard launch.

If you're attending the Expo, be sure to come by the MacFormat booth at 3:00pm on Thursday. Sarah Atter of Avanquest, our UK publishing partner, and I will be holding a demo/Q&A session about Parallels Desktop for Mac and our Server & Desktop roadmaps.

Speaking of Leopard, I'm taking an impromptu poll. When will you upgrade?

• Within a week of launch
  
• Within a month of launch
• When 10.5.1 comes out. Let someone else do beta testing for me!
• Never. I'm happy with Tiger.

Leave a comment or email me at askben@parallels.com and I'll publish results 1 week from today.


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Beyond Binary

Earlier this week, CNET reporter and Parallels (and personal) friend Ina Fried launched a brand new blog, "Beyond Binary", where she'll share her perspective on what's going on in technology (particularly that emanating from our friends in Redmond), as well as give the world a glimpse into her very interesting and unique personal life.

If you're into technology and virtualization and want to get the inside scoop, I highly recommend reading what Ina's writing on her blog and in her regular features at CNET.com

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Parallels Desktop & Leopard

As I noted in last Friday's post, we're only a few weeks (maybe days?) away from the launch of Mac OS X 10.5, code named "Leopard". Since many of you (and me) plan on upgrading to Leopard within minutes of its release, the question that naturally arises is "Does Parallels Desktop work with Leopard?"

The answer? Of course it does!

We've been working with Leopard since its earliest beta forms, and we're confident that Parallels Desktop is compatible with Leopard. Performance is great, and core functionality works smoothly. You'll be able to safely upgrade to Leopard when it goes live without worrying that Parallels will work.

That being said, its entirely possible that Apple will make some last minute changes in the final "gold master" build of Leopard that may cause some minor bugs to pop up in Parallels. If that happens, we'll release a free, automatic update to account for them very soon after Leopard's launch.

UPDATE: 10/19/07, 8:51am PT -- I have just been informed that the aforementioned update will be released for 3.0 and 2.5 customers! Hooray!

And if anyone has any information (or wildly speculative rumors) about when Apple's letting the Cat out of the bag, post it here!

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OUTER. SPACE. NEAT.

I have been meaning to blog about this for quite a while, but with my crazy travel schedule, its gone by the wayside.

For the last few months I've been reading neopoleon.com, a blog written by Rory Blyth, a former Microsofter and all-around color commentator on life. Rory has a gift for subtle, sarcastic humor and is the self proclaimed "Smartest Man in the World."

Given his taste in software, I just might agree with him. Here's what he wrote about his new MacBook Pro, which is running Parallels Desktop:

"It's one of the fifteen inch models. An assload of memory, big hard drive, blah blah blah.

And Parallels.

As nice as the thing is, I still couldn't have used it as a full replacement for everything else since there were still those few Windows apps left that I needed.

If you haven't seen Parallels, and you're a nerd, and if you're a nerd who wants to use a Mac but still needs a Windows machine, then I pity your ignorant soul.

When I first heard about Parallels, I thought it sounded like yet-another-virtual-machine-app. And it is, but it goes a few steps further than anything else I've used. To the point that it's one of the single most impressive pieces of software I've ever seen.

For the technically-challenged (who probably aren't even reading this), the simple explanation for what Parallels does is "It's this software thing that let's you run Windows as an application on your Mac."

Not exactly true, but in appearances, this definition should be good enough.

When I started it up, I expected sluggish, crappy performance. That's what VMs are for. My opinion might be tainted by having had to do a lot of the kind of work where you keep three VMs open at once, but there you go - tainted opinion.

What I got instead from Parallels wasn't only all the speed I'd want, but a mode that allows me to run Windows apps without seeing Windows. That is, as though they were Mac apps. Just as I can mouse over the dock and start a native OS X app, I can click on Windows Live Writer - in the dock - and it'll pop up as an app without the rest of Windows.

It's so outer-space neat. Fetch me my robot-suit, Jeeves. Entering hyperspace now, captain. Set your flazer to Incapacitate. Plot a course to Tarragon V, and somebody prep my shuttle.

OUTER.

SPACE.

NEAT.

You can also configure "default" applications. For example, if I'm running a Windows app and I click on a URL in a document, the default app is going to be IE, and this goes for Parallels, too. Under Parallels, though, I can configure it so that Safari (my preferred browser) opens the links - the links I'm clicking inside the Windows VM.

It's been a long time since I've wanted to rub an app in someone's face and say, "LOOK, YOU - LOOK - THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE, DAMN IT. YOU WILL RESPECT THIS SOFTWARE. YOU WILL BECOME YOURSELF PROSTRATE BEFORE IT. AND, NO, I DON'T MEAN 'PROSTATE' - I MEAN 'PROSTRATE.' IF YOU WANT TO BECOME PROSTATE BEFORE IT, THEN THAT'S YOUR OWN BUSINESS."

The full post is available here. And if you're bored or just need a good laugh, I recommend reading some of Rory's other posts. They're immensely entertaining.

Thanks for the great post, Rory. The entire Parallels team lies prostate at your feet.

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Correction on yesterday's post

Yesterday I wrote about how to use Parallels Desktop to ensure that you can still work with the information and applications on your Boot Camp partition, even when Boot Camp beta expires when Leopard launches. One of the options I suggested was a full migration from your Boot Camp partition to Parallels Desktop using Transporter, our free migration utility.

I woke up this morning to find a note from our engineering team saying that this isn't possible...yet. The team is working on it and I jumped the gun and said that it was ready before it actually was.

Sorry for the mistake. I wanted to make sure to correct myself ASAP before the flood of "hey, that didn't work!" emails come in. The good news is that you can still boot your Boot Camp partition (either XP or Vista) in Parallels Desktop and get the same results. You'll just need to keep the partition intact to use as your VM's hard drive.

Enjoy your weekends; I'll catch you all Monday.

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