Apple’s “one more thing” event on November 10, 2020, revealed the first Mac computers powered by the Apple M1 chip.   

Parallels is excited to see the performance, power efficiency, and virtualization features that are brought to the Mac with the Apple M1 chip. The transition to Mac with the M1 chip should be smooth for most Mac applications, thanks to Rosetta technology. Fortunately, Parallels^® Toolbox, and Parallels^® Client software worked smoothly as universal binaries even before Parallels rebuilt them. However, virtual machines are an exception and Parallels engineers proactively implemented native virtualization support for Mac computers with the M1 chip. This enables our users to enjoy the best Windows-on-Mac experience ever.

Learn more about the new version in this blog post.

When Apple Silicon Mac was first announced during the keynote at  WWDC on June 22, 2020, Apple  demoed a Parallels Desktop for Mac prototype running a Linux virtual machine flawlessly on Apple Silicon. Since WWDC, the new version of Parallels Desktop, which runs on Mac with the Apple M1 chip, has made tremendous progress. We switched Parallels Desktop to universal binary and optimized its virtualization code; Apple M1 Mac computers and macOS Big Sur became available, and Microsoft announced and then introduced support for x86_64 applications in Windows on ARM Insider Preview. 

As our customers know, Parallels cares deeply about the quality of our software products and the experience they provide. With macOS Big Sur and the new Mac with Apple M1 chip available, we continue to conduct more extensive evaluations, both in our lab and with your help via the Parallels Technical Preview Program. More than 100,000 M1 Mac users tested the Technical Preview of Parallels Desktop 16 for M1 Mac and ran Microsoft’s Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview, as well as tens of thousands of different Intel-based Windows applications—including Microsoft Office for Windows, Microsoft Visual Studio, SQL Server, Microsoft PowerBI, and MetaTrader.  

We received enthusiastic feedback about the remarkable performance of both the Technical Preview of Parallels Desktop 16 for M1 Mac and Windows 10 on ARM Insider Preview as well as x86 applications and the games inside it, including Rocket League, Among Us, Roblox, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Sam & Max Save the World, and many others. Testers loved Parallels Desktop’s easy to use features, and seamless integration of Windows and its applications with macOS Big Sur, which increased their productivity.  

On April 14^th 2021, the new update for Parallels Desktop 16 for Mac was released and now features support for both Mac computers with Intel processor as well as Mac computers with Apple M1 chip. 

The post Parallels Desktop for Mac with Apple M1 chip appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Chromebook Enterprise Enrollment is the process of enrolling your Chromebook as part of a particular organization. It benefits organizations by enabling administrators to manage Chrome device updates and policies, allow or deny website access, view and configure applications and extensions, and manage Chrome devices with Active Directory from a centralized location. 

What Is Enterprise Enrollment? 

Centralized management is a desirable feature for every administrator. Enterprise Enrollment on Chrome OS is one method for achieving centralization. Enterprise Enrollment marks devices and enrolls them as part of a particular organization, thus enabling better management. 

Enrollment requirements 

Requirements for enrolling a Chrome device are: 

• Only devices without an owner can be enrolled. 

• Only enterprise users can enroll the devices. 

Enrollment Scenarios 

There are four different types of enrollment scenarios. Choosing which one to use depends on what initiates the enrollment, if the user can avoid enrollment, and how authentication and authorization is to occur. The different types of enrollment scenarios are: 

• Manual enrollment 

As the name suggests, enrollment is done manually on the login screen via the Ctrl+Alt+E shortcut. Users must authenticate using a username and password or can cancel the enrollment attempt and return to the login screen. 

• Re-enrollment 

If a device is already enrolled, it needs to be enrolled again by navigating to Device Management > Chrome > Device Settings > Enrollment & Access from https://admin.google.com/. The authentication process is the same as in the manual enrollment case. 

• OEM-triggered enrollment 

OEM-triggered enrollment occurs based on the special OEM manifest that device manufacturers provide. It indicates if the device should be enrolled or if enrollment is forced. The authentication process is the same as in the manual enrollment case.  

• Offline demo-mode enrollment 

Intended for demo Chrome OS features, this enrollment does not require a network connection and enrolls devices to a fixed domain by using local resource policy. It is triggered during the initial setup using the Ctrl + Alt + D shortcut. This method does not require authentication. 

How do you Enterprise Enroll Your Chromebook? 

Enterprise Enrolling your Chromebook is a simple process. Chrome OS is a cloud-native operating system that simply requires an internet connection to an enterprise. To Enterprise Enroll it, follow these steps: 

1. Connect to an enterprise wireless network. Chrome OS checks and applies the latest security patches and operating system updates set by the enterprise administrator. 

2. Sign in to your Chromebook once the enterprise updates are completed. 

3. Navigate to the Enterprise Enrollment screen in one of the following ways: 

• Click More options on the sign-in screen, and select Enterprise Enrollment. 

or 

• Press Ctrl+ E to open the Enterprise Enrollment screen. 

4. Log in with your administrator account or a user account that has enrollment permissions. 

In a matter of seconds, your device is Enterprise Enrolled, unlocking Chrome enterprise policies and management capabilities. Now your Chromebook is a managed device, and the user is ready to sign in. To double-check if the Chrome device is Enterprise Enrolled, navigate to the Google Admin Console >> Devices >> Chrome devices tile and you should see your device count increase. 

What Are the Benefits of Chromebook Enterprise Enrollment? 

There are many benefits of Chromebook Enterprise Enrollment, but the ones that stand out are the ability to: 

• Manage Chrome device policies with ease. 

As a Chromebook Enterprise administrator, you can set device-level policies, user-level policies, and application and extension policies for Chromebooks and other devices that are enrolled in your organization. 

• View and configure applications and extensions. 

You can also view applications, add the desired applications, block applications and set policies for an application from the Google Admin console. Additionally, you can also install, block or set policies for extensions on enrolled devices with ease. 

• Update Chrome devices more easily. 

Once your enterprise enrolls your devices, you can update the operating system of the devices in your organization. Chrome releases full OS updates every 6 weeks, and minor updates occur every 2-3 weeks. You can automatically update all the enrolled devices with ease. 

• Manage Chrome devices with Active Directory. 

You can also integrate your enrolled Chromebooks with the Microsoft Active Directory server. You can use Windows Group Policy to manage integrated devices and push Active Directory policies to users and devices. 

• Restrict, allow or deny access to websites. 

With enterprise enrollment, you can also allow or deny access to websites with ease, thus restricting and allowing users’ internet access. This helps increase productivity and protects your organization from viruses and malicious content. 

Learn more about the partnership between Parallels® and Chrome Enterprise! 

References: 

1. Enterprise Enrollment on Chrome OS: https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src.git/+/master/docs/enterprise/enrollment.md

2. Manage Policies for Chrome Devices: https://support.google.com/chrome/a/topic/6274424?hl=en&ref_topic=4386913

3. Enroll Chromebooks on Enterprise Domain: https://cbookreviewguide.com/chromebook-blog/enroll-chromebooks-on-enterprise-domain/

The post Manage Your Chromebooks with Chromebook Enterprise Enrollment appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Chromebooks have become increasingly popular with remote-first companies because they are portable, low-priced and have a super-fast sandboxed OS. However, unlike the Windows OS, you cannot install third-party software or legacy applications—all the applications you use must come from the Google Play Store or Chrome Web Store. 

For some third-party applications, though, you can use online versions that are not as productive as their desktop counterparts. However, when it comes to the legacy line of Windows applications, you can’t use them—even with internet connectivity. For the first time, Parallels^® is enabling Windows 10 on Chrome, via its Parallels^® Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise. 

What Is Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise? 

Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise is yet another world’s first in desktop virtualization technology by Parallels, a global leader in cross-platform solutions. It allows a full version of Windows 10 to boot in a virtual machine (VM) on a Chromebook. Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise has been created in a collaboration between Google and Parallels. This partnership will help organizations run Windows 10 applications on new high-power Chromebooks coming to market. 

With Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise you can run any Windows 10 application—including legacy software—alongside Chrome OS and Android applications. You can launch any Microsoft Office suite application, for example, while browsing on your favorite Chrome browser. 

Likewise, you can drag and drop folders and files from Windows File Explorer to Chrome Local Explorer and vice versa. You can also swap between a Chrome OS and Windows 10 without rebooting your Chromebook and choose which applications you want to launch. Feature highlights for Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise include: 

• Seamless access to Windows users folders: Typically, Windows 10 user profiles and settings get stored in a local profile. Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise redirects your local profile to the Windows files section on the Chrome OS. By redirecting your local profile, Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise eliminates duplicate files within the Chromebook. It also allows you to access Windows 10 files even when the OS is offline. 
• Share any Chrome OS folder with Windows: You can select any folder (e.g. Downloads or Google Drive folder) in Chrome OS Files application and share it with Windows. Now you can open files in this folder with Windows application or save your Windows document in this folder.  
• Quick access to settings:  The device bar has a robust menu that you can use to perform many useful tasks without digging around for specific applications. For example, you can use the device bar to access printers, keyboard shortcuts, and shared folders, among other things. 
• Ability to suspend and resume Windows 10 in seconds: Suspending Windows 10 is, in many ways, similar to closing the laptop’s lid, which moves it to sleeping mode. You can use the suspend/resume feature in Parallels Desktop for Chrome Enterprise to quickly start and stop Windows 10 instead of the time-consuming Windows shut down and boot features. And all your opened apps and documents will be waiting for you, without using CPU or memory. 
• Seamless switch between Chrome OS and Windows via mouse movements: To capture and direct the input to a VM, Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise grabs the mouse and keyboard so that all the mouse moves and keystrokes get to the VM. The process of switching from the host to the guest OS is simple. Any time you slide the mouse in a Windows 10 application, it captures the input in that application so long as the mouse is moving over its window. When the pointer moves outside the window, it automatically releases the input to Chrome OS.  
• Share network settings between Chrome OS and Windows: By default, Windows 10 shares network settings with Chrome OS. As such, Windows 10 applications can access other machines on the local network and internet via the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your Chromebook with ease. Shared networking is advantageous because it supports host proxy configurations and Windows Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) that offer enhanced security. 
• Reuse VMs created in Parallels Desktop for Mac: Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise allows IT administrators to move Windows 10 VMs to new Chromebooks seamlessly. When you purchase a new Chromebook, you don’t have to install the VM if you had previously created it on a Mac with Parallels Desktop for Mac—simply transfer the existing Windows 10 VM to your new Chromebook and get up and running. 
• Simplified provisioning and administration of Windows applications and desktops: Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise provides centralized deployment and management capabilities as it is integrated into Google Admin console. This allows IT administrators to streamline the delivery of Windows applications and desktops on Chromebooks. When users launch Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise from the OS Launcher, their VMs specified by IT admins get downloaded automatically, and they are ready to go. 
• Ability to share the host’s printer with Windows: With Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise, you can print from Windows 10 to any printer available on the Chrome OS without installing the drivers on the VM. By default, Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise configures a virtual serial port to communicate with Chrome OS printers. 

What Are the Benefits of Using Windows 10 on Chromebook? 

A Chromebook is a solid enterprise computer. And as remote working and schooling become the new norm, its growth prospects are even higher. But the truth is that running Windows 10 on Chromebook is still a compelling argument for businesses due to the following reasons: 

Some applications don’t run in Chrome OS. 

Users need to have fully functional devices in a digital workspace. As such, you must equip your laptops with enough applications, including ones for productivity, video editing, video playback and photo editing. For Windows PCs, this is possible. However, for Chrome OS, it’s still a work in progress. 

Also, Chromebooks lack the wide range of enterprise-grade applications that you find in Windows. There are plenty of researchers, engineers and other specialists who find themselves locked to Windows because of certain industry-standard applications that you can’t get with Chrome applications.  

It gives the ability to work offline. 

Chrome OS and its applications rely heavily on a solid internet connection. While some applications do have offline capabilities, your Chromebook must be sanctioned by Google to work with Android applications. Also, offline applications often miss certain features, potentially leading to poor user experience. With Windows, you can do more, even while in offline mode. Running Windows 10 on Chromebooks would be a better alternative for employees with intermittent internet connectivity.  

It enhances productivity. 

For most businesses, Windows 10 is still the go-to OS when it comes to getting work done. Chromebooks, on the other hand, are portable, low-cost, and secure. When you integrate Windows 10 with Chrome OS, you get the best of both worlds, in terms of:   

• Time savings while transferring files. With a shared clipboard, you can directly copy and paste files from Chrome OS to Windows 10 and vice versa without performing any configurations.  
• Storage space savings. Chrome OS apps can directly access Windows user folders via a shared user profile redirected to the Chrome OS’s Windows file section. This doesn’t generate any duplicates. You can also access these files even when Windows is offline.   
• Flexibility when accessing Chrome OS folders from Windows. While in Windows, you can easily access the shared Chrome OS folders, including One Drive and Google Drive, and save Windows files in them.  
• Dynamic screen resolution. While in Windows, altering screen resolution is simple: just click and drag the window’s edge on Windows 10, and you’re set.   
• Ability to utilize full screen in Windows 10. Using an entire screen in Windows 10 is straightforward: you simply click on the maximize button in the window’s top-right corner. You can place the Windows 10 on a separate workspace and resume operations in Chrome OS via a single swipe. 
• Ability to open windows web links from any location. Deciding where you want Windows web links opened is up to you. You can open them in Chrome OS or use your favorite browser, such as Edge or Mozilla Firefox, to launch them. 
• Associating Windows apps to open on Chrome OS. Via Chrome OS’s “Open With” context menu, you can easily assign certain Windows apps to be the default programs for launching some file types.  
• Hassle-free printing. By sharing Chrome OS’s printers with Windows 10 and vice versa, you can flexibly use them without installing appropriate printer drivers. 

Read more about the partnership between Parallels and Chrome Enterprise! 

References 

The Verge|https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/31/21348963/google-chrome-os-windows-apps-chromebooks-features-interview 

Parallels| https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/chrome/ 

The post Windows 10 On Chromebook With Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Since the advent of macOS Catalina, Apple users can use their iPad as a second computer screen for their Mac with the feature sidecar. This opens up completely new application areas and makes mobile computing flexible like never before. Anyone on the road with a MacBook and an iPad can use two screens to work productively. 

Combined with Parallels Desktop 15, an iPad becomes a second screen not only for a Mac itself but for all Windows programs running on it. What users need to have to make this happen is a fairly recent Mac along with an equally recent iPad running iOS 13.

An iPad acting as a second screen

With the new feature included in macOS Catalina “Sidecar”, the iPad display can either mirror or extend the Mac desktop. Mirroring helps when a user wants to demonstrate or present something. In all other cases, extending the display is the more suitable option. 

Another benefit of Sidecar is that it allows the MacBook Pro Touch Bar to be displayed on the iPad. This helps when operating the MacBook while it is closed (using its mouse and keyboard) if you still want to access the Touch Bar. 

An iPad is quite a small display screen, of course, even when compared to a MacBook’s own display. Sidecar may be best suited to display a single application’s program window in full-screen mode on the iPad. You can simply move your Windows virtual machine (VM) to the iPad and continue to work with your Mac as usual. To do this, hover over the green dot in the screen’s upper-left corner and select “Move to iPad.” 

Sidecar offers a further advantage of enabling Apple Pencil to act as a data entry device for Mac devices. And that’s not all—thanks to Parallels Desktop, Windows programs can also make use of the Apple Pencil for accurate line-drawing and handwritten annotation. This allows an iPad to be used not only as a display but also as a drawing tablet for Windows programs such as CorelDRAW or Microsoft Sketchpad. Notes can be added directly to screenshots, making commenting more direct than ever.  

Learn more about all the features in Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition and test them for 14 days for free!

The next issue of this series about using macOS Catalina in a corporate environment will focus on enhanced graphics performance for macOS and Windows.

Learn more:

• Apple Support | Using iPad with Sidecar
• Apple Support | Sidecar system requirements
• Parallels and Sidecar | Parallels Desktop 15 for macOS Catalina
• Parallels Desktop Business Edition | Free Trial

The post How to Use Parallels Desktop with Sidecar: Windows on iPad appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Virtualization plays a major role in computing in general and is gaining relevance in desktop computing. When in use as test environments or virtualized desktop systems, virtual machines (VMs) may seem to have quite low security requirements at first sight. Acting as so-called sandboxes, VMs are easy to set up and delete again and only present a limited hazard for their host systems.  

But although an infected virtual machine can be replaced relatively quickly, it’s still worthwhile to take suitable action to protect it against attacks. Even a wholly safeguarded host system will not extend its protection to a virtualized guest system—and an infected virtual guest system with access to the computer’s functions and files can do real damage. When users work with two systems in parallel on one device, IT departments are well-advised to safeguard both of them with the help of suitable software. 

Isolate virtual machines from their host systems for enhanced safety 

If VMs are to be used productively in a business environment—for example, for the purpose of using Windows software on corporate Mac devices—then those VMs should be secured in the same way as native systems. Even if a VM can easily be restarted after an infection, there can still be negative effects. Suitable safety measures include malware protection on the virtual guest system and isolating it from its host system as needed.  

Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition offers the option to turn off part of its convenience functionality, resulting in enhanced sandbox safety. The “Isolate Windows from Mac” option, found under the “Safety” options, makes it so the guest system will not have direct access to any of the device’s hardware features. File synchronization is also deactivated. This prevents malware from “crossing over” to the host system and doing damage beyond the boundaries of the virtual machine. This can be the best way to go for VMs used for development and testing.  

If the VM is used for day-to-day operations, including access to the company’s vital systems, then isolating it will not be sufficient as the only safety measure. Furthermore, it will impact daily operations, as isolating systems from each other affects the user experience and lowers convenience. 

Learn more about all the features in Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition and test them for 14 days for free!

Learn more:  

Mailfence | Virtual machine: why use it? 

Ask Leo |Difference between Sandbox / VM 

Parallels Desktop for Mac | Business Edition  

The post Isolation Helps Secure Virtual Machines appeared first on Parallels Blog.

It’s always nice to have a breath of fresh air from time to time. Fortunately, we’ll be getting a lot of it, literally, real soon. Come September 26, we will be attending the ALSO Expo at Tampere, Finland, home to some of the purest air (and water) in the world.

The ALSO Expo is the largest event for IT and consumer electronics in Finland and it’s going to be held once again in Tampere Hall, the biggest culture and congress centre in the Nordic countries. Tampere Hall hosts no less than 900 events and 480,000 visitors annually.

Nestled between two pristine lakes and widely recognized as a vibrant economic and cultural hub, Tampere (especially during summertime) provides the perfect backdrop for any major tech gathering. The ALSO Expo never fails to attract a wonderful mix of tech vendors, manufacturers, service providers, and professionals. So, you can imagine why our team just can’t wait to be there.

The Corel team will be exhibiting products and offerings from CorelDRAW, Parallels, Pinnacle, and WinZip. Here’s an overview of what we’re going to showcase in our booth.

CorelDRAW

Look out for CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2019, the latest iteration of our popular software suite for professional vector illustration, layout, photo editing, and design. 2019 now comes with a brand new Mac version that’s been completely redesigned from the ground up, a web app, a pixel tool that helps produce sharper graphics, and a bunch of other really cool new features.

The CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is made up of:

• CorelDRAW – a powerful selection of tools for vector illustration and page layout projects
• PHOTO-PAINT – an advanced photo editor with extensive RAW file support for 300 types of cameras
• CorelDRAW.app – the new web-based application that allows you to work on your designs anywhere and on any device
• Font Manager – a nifty tool that radically simplifies the effort of managing thousands of fonts
• CAPTURE – a versatile application that captures entire screens, individual windows, menu lists, and more
• AfterShot 3 HDR – another handy tool for enhancing RAW and JPEG photos as well as creating dynamic range images

Parallels

For our Parallels presentations, we’ll be featuring a set of solutions that make it super easy to use or manage Windows and Mac environments simultaneously on a single device or management console. Individuals and organizations who use both Windows and Macs on a daily basis will find this part of our exhibit particularly interesting.

The Parallels products we’ll be showcasing at ALSO Expo include:

• Parallels Desktop for Mac / Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition – This is the number one solution for running Windows and Mac environments on a single Mac computer
• Parallels Mac Management for SCCM – Designed for IT managers, this solution is the easiest way to manage both Mac and Windows devices on Microsoft SCCM.

Pinnacle

If you’re into video editing, then you will definitely want to check out our Pinnacle family of products. We’ve got video editing solutions for every skill level and use case. Whether you’re an enthusiast, a professional or a creative agency, there’s a Pinnacle Studio that’s right for you.

Look for these Pinnacle Studio software when you visit our booth:

• Pinnacle Studio 23 – This is for those who are new to video editing but want a tool with lots of power, precision and creative control
• Pinnacle Studio 23 Plus – Perfect for professional video editors who want to explore more creative possibilities
• Pinnacle Studio 23 Ultimate – Really the ultimate tool for highly experienced producers who want to unleash the full potential of their creativity
• Pinnacle Studio for iPad and iPhone – For always-on-the-go creatives who need quick access to a video editor any time creative juices start to flow

WinZip

Not many people haven’t heard or used WinZip. But did you know this ubiquitous compression tool has even more editions that cater to specific use cases? If you didn’t, you should visit our booth. We’ll introduce you to:

• WinZip 23 – the latest edition of our extremely popular compression and encryption tool that supports all major compression formats
• WinZip 7 for Mac – We also have a new version of WinZip for Mac. It now supports one-click unzips, image file type conversions, zip filters, and many more
• WinZip Courier – the leading solution for sending large files through email using zip/unzip technology
• WinZip 23 Enterprise – for businesses and government agencies, who need a highly secure solution for zipping and sharing files that contain very sensitive information

This year’s ALSO Expo comes at the tail end of the Finnish summer. There couldn’t be a better time to meet like-minded tech folks, see the latest innovations, breath fresh air, and sample that black sausage we’ve been hearing so much about. Looking forward to seeing you there!

The post Meet our Team at ALSO Expo 2019 appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Large halls, complex processes, and complicated event equipment aren’t Harry’s greatest challenge. Rather, it’s the efficiency and reliability of Mac clients, which POOLgroup uses exclusively for its administration. The company’s inconsistent software is one of the greatest issues. For example, POOLgroup’s ERP application and some Excel tools will not run natively on Mac. This meant that Harry and his coworkers had to find a way to integrate Windows software seamlessly into the macOS® environment—without losing efficiency and causing friction.

The solution Harry found was Parallels Desktop® for Mac Business Edition. Parallels Desktop Business Edition enables every Mac in the company to run Windows software in the macOS environment. Thanks to “Coherence Mode,” employees can run the applications they need in a way that hides the underlying Windows virtualization—it looks and feels like you’re still in macOS.

Parallels Desktop Business Edition allows POOLgroup to avoid purchasing additional Windows systems, and the IT team saves training costs for a second operating system in the organization. Moreover, employees can work with their familiar user interface and do not need to switch computers or reboot their Mac (like they would have to do in Apple Boot Camp®). It‘s a win-win situation for all: IT has a simple and effective solution, employees save time and do not need to get used to Windows, and the company has no additional hardware costs to bear.

Learn more

POOLgroup case study | POOLgroup makes the most of Windows Programs without using Windows PCs

Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition | The easiest and safest solution for making Windows programs available to Mac users

Parallels Knowledge Base | The difference between Parallels Desktop for Mac / Mac Pro Edition

The post Parallels Desktop Helps Boost Employee Efficiency appeared first on Parallels Blog.

The corporate IT team is responsible for 200 Apple client devices. 60 of those form a rent-out pool for customers and their events. The remaining 140 or so Mac devices are used for office work, planning, and organizing. In this exacting environment, software presents a challenge. Apart from Adobe Creative Suite and Apple applications such as iWork and Final Cut Pro, POOLgroup also uses software made for Windows. The company’s CRM system is a Windows-only application and so are various Excel solutions. For organizations equipped exclusively with Apple hardware, this is a typical challenge. In such cases, adding Windows systems for administrative purposes usually isn’t a satisfactory solution. Employees are used to Apple devices and are usually less than happy to work with both systems in tandem. There’s also the additional purchase and support costs.

The Apple solution for this, Boot Camp®, allows users to install Windows as a secondary system next to macOS®. However, this wasn’t an option for POOLgroup’s IT team. Boot Camp requires staff members to reboot their computers frequently, which takes time and is not a convenient way of working.

The solution that the event company went for was Parallels Desktop® for Mac Business Edition. Parallels Desktop Business Edition allows the office workers to continue to only use their familiar Mac devices (along with the cherished macOS operating system) and simply run Windows applications with the help of Parallels Desktop.

Learn more

Event production case study | POOLgroup makes the most of Windows Programs without using Windows PCs

POOLgroup | Das ganze Spektrum im Eventgeschäft

The post Tackling Event Production with Windows Software on Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Guest Post by Ian Appleby, Northern Europe Territory Manager, Cross Platform Solutions at Parallels

Parallels is delighted to be showing our products and talking to customers at the Insight Technology Conference at Old Billingsgate, London, on Friday, March 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It’s a pleasure to be in central London, at a historic venue, with great views of Tower Bridge and the Shard.

It’s great to partner with Insight, a leader in providing smart, cutting-edge technology solutions—and even greater to be working for a company like Parallels, developing such cutting-edge solutions.

We look forward to some excellent conversations with senior IT leads from business, government, and education establishments. If you’re in town on March 8th, be sure to come by and ask us about our solutions for Mac® in a Windows-dominated world. I hear the catering is pretty good, too!

If you cannot make it, feel free to sign up for our weekly Webinars about how to manage Mac devices like PCs.

The post Meet the Parallels Team at Insight Technology Conference 2019 appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Guest blog post by user Andrew Derse

Virtualization offers unparalleled cost reduction, productivity, and time savings for IT managers and system admins. With the capability to run Windows and Linux seamlessly on Mac, Parallels Desktop for Mac Business Edition can expedite usability and lessen headaches when managing a company’s environment.

Since 1998, industry professionals have put Sound Devices audio products to the test. The Wyoming-based professional audio production company is a recognized and respected firm for innovative technology and quality in portable audio products. Internal management of Sound Devices’ IT department is handled by Andrew Derse, who shifted career paths from web development to IT management.

Here’s Andrew’s story in his own words on how Parallels Desktop Business Edition provided him with a productivity-boosting solution to cut down time and hardware costs:

“I’ve been a web developer for the past five years and recently moved into an IT manager role. Naturally, I gravitate toward Apple products for their stability and durability. I’ve been using Mac devices for the past five years and haven’t had a single issue with them. Enter my new role: now I need to start supporting Windows and Linux OS environments. 

When I started my new position, I had three separate machines to run three separate environments: Mac, Windows, and Linux. I absolutely did not want to carry two extra laptops around, and the thought of using Microsoft Remote Desktop just to accomplish remote access into a workstation sitting in my office sounded incredibly pointless. Why waste hardware when you have a perfectly capable laptop that can run all environments on it using Parallels Desktop for Mac?

About two to three weeks into my new job, I was getting called after-hours to troubleshoot projects within the Windows and Linux environment. I was stuck having to remote into my Windows machine and then fire up a virtual instance of Ubuntu in order to troubleshoot. Not a very responsive approach to (quickly) helping people while remote from the office.

In the office, I was working between two different machines, as my predecessor had been running some legacy programs that only worked in Windows, such as the Mitel System Administration and Diagnostic Center, as well as our Cisco ASDM-IDM Launcher. Moving between two different machines became tiresome and just wore me out.

I decided to pull the trigger and get Parallels Desktop Business Edition and create virtual machines of both Windows 7 and Linux Ubuntu. I was so glad to have done so. 

Now, I literally run everything off of my Mac using macOS Sierra, or through Parallels running Windows or Linux. I get the best of both worlds at my fingertips without having to switch between multiple machines. This is a HUGE cost savings, not only in time but in resources like workstations and software licensing.

I can also speed up my remote support responses; Parallels is lightning fast and very responsive. It takes no time to fire up my Windows or Linux virtual machines and dive right into the issues at hand. Additionally, I can troubleshoot VPN or phone issues right from my laptop without having to remote into a completely different physical machine sitting in the office.”

Sound Devices values Mac, Linux, and Windows operating systems because they provide distinct business advantages for all employees. Maximizing the flexibility of remote employee support from the IT director is imperative. “Remote now means being completely remote, thanks to Parallels Desktop Business Edition,” concluded Derse.

Parallels Desktop for Business also simplifies mass deployment and administration, with 24/7 access to premier support, a vital license management portal, and advanced security controls. Try it today, or buy it now if you’re ready! Have questions? Contact us at usentsales@parallels.com or call (425) 282-6448.

Try Parallels Desktop for free for 14 days!

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