It's about two weeks since the competition launched their new version, and of course we've started to see reviews of it. We all read them avidly - after all, we do have our own new version coming up and it's not for nothing we let them put theirs out first! Indeed I did just twirl my moustache in a cunning and rather cavalier manner.
Of the reviews we see, the ones that have interested me most so far are comparisons of their new product with Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0. Last week, Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal published just such a piece and I found it pretty fascinating.
You see, the competition has been heavily pushing the message that they have incorporated 100 new features into their new version. That sounds impressive, worrying for us even. Yet Walt found maybe 5 features that aren't in Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0. 5 out of 100 new features in a product that was launched two weeks ago compared to a product that was launched 15 months ago.
Maybe I missed something, but erm... does that not suggest that the other 95 features were all about playing catch up? I'm obviously biased here, but really the implication to me is that for 15 months (since version 1 of their product launched at much the same time as the last version of Parallels Desktop) our product has had a LOT more to offer.
Now given that as I've already mentioned, we're working on a new version of Parallels Desktop for Mac, I don't think I'm giving too much of the game away to say we're probably also going to introduce a whole bunch of new features fairly soon. As I say, I am biased, but it really seems clear to me that, as the saying goes, the best is yet to come...
PLEASE add better Linux support! That's the only reason I keep using VMware. I really hate their Unity - even the latest version is nowhere near as smooth & usable as Coherence.
Posted by: mike3k | October 06, 2008 at 12:14 PM
I'd really like to see some information on what the product roadmap is and the release schedule for Parallels Workstation for Windows. I am an owner of both products, Parallels Desktop for Mac and Parallels Workstation for Windows and right now it is fairly painful to work on Parallels Workstation, given the advances you have made on the Mac. It has felt like Parallels Workstation has been neglected in favor of Parallels Desktop lately.
Now I see you're about to release 4.0 of Parallels Desktop, when 3.0 of Workstation still hasn't even been released.
Posted by: Keith | October 07, 2008 at 03:12 AM
Hi,
I’m sorry you’re finding Parallels Workstation painful to work with. If there are any specific issues we can help with, you can email me at the address below and I will do what I can. In terms of development, we’re always working on innovating all our products further, and Parallels Workstation is a real area of focus for us at the moment. Please do continue to check the blog as we will provide more information on a new version of Parallels Workstation and the product roadmap in general as and when we can.
Many thanks,
Jen
jen@parallels.com
Posted by: Jen Ellis | October 09, 2008 at 06:14 PM
COOL, As long as 4.0 accepts MIDI info from the mac side I'll be happy!
That will finally allow me to bring my invention to life for the first time in two years I've been working on this part of my music lighting invention.
I can only hope.
Posted by: Brian D. Wright | October 15, 2008 at 04:43 PM
I'm just hoping one of the features will (finally) be DX9 support. That's been paining me greatly since I bought my first copy when it first came out, and the feature was 'on the roadmap'.
Posted by: paul | October 15, 2008 at 05:58 PM
How will 4.0 address blackberry connectivity problems, specifically 3.0 drops the USB connection. We need ALL blackberry devices to connect as a "composite device" not a "mass storage device"
Posted by: Shawn | October 15, 2008 at 08:28 PM
Please make it faster at all costs. I think the boot sequence is way too long (except I don't know how much of this is your responsibility, could be inherent to Windows XP). Just can't wait for 4.0. Been a user since day one. Watch out for Wine. That's also competition...
Posted by: François Reeves | October 16, 2008 at 08:14 AM
thanks for the update ... when you do roll out your new version, please don't forget us loyal customers by offer some sort of loyalty discount incentive to move to your next version!
Posted by: darrell | October 16, 2008 at 10:47 AM
I think Parallels 4 for Mac should be free to all 3.0 owners like me, who had to switch to Fusion to get decent -- and by that, I mean consistent USB functionality and reliable video. It gets old having to re-plugin devices everyday that are supposed to be captured on the Windows side... and why do I have to reboot to get my external monitor to reactivate after the machine wakes from sleep? I'm going to wait a long time and watch the feedback on 4.0 before I consider an upgrade. Fusion is working fine.
Posted by: Sean | November 11, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Amazing!
I just bought v4.0 and the speed increase jumps right out at you. Kudos to the development team. This is aces! I can't wait to try out the other features but right out of the box(?download?) this is a huge improvement.
Thank you.
Posted by: Mark D | November 26, 2008 at 05:18 AM