Why Intel Macs Remain Popular Among Users
Many users of Intel-based Mac devices hesitate to transition to Apple silicon largely due to their reliance on Windows for various tasks. This dependency makes Intel Macs an appealing option, as they are optimized for running Windows applications.
A Game-Changer in Virtualization
Exciting developments are underway with Parallels, which has introduced a novel proprietary emulation engine in Parallels Desktop 20.2. This innovation enables users to operate Intel-based virtual machines seamlessly. With this software, Mac owners utilizing M-series chips can now run x86 versions of Windows 10 or 11, along with Windows Server 2019 or 2022 and various Linux distributions.
Technical Preview: Limitations and Considerations
This functionality is currently offered as a “technology preview” within Parallels Desktop 20.2, signaling that it remains in development and carries certain limitations. Specifically, it supports only the 64-bit editions of the Windows operating system while allowing for the execution of parallels-20-2-brings-linux-and-windows-11-to-life-on-apple-silicon/” title=”Revolutionizing Virtualization: Parallels 20.2 Brings Linux and Windows 11 to Life on Apple Silicon!”>32-bit applications
The Significance of Emulating x86 on M-Series Macs
The launch of Apple’s M1 Mac in late 2020 effectively barred direct access to x86 versions of Windows via virtualization platforms like Parallels after Apple discontinued Boot Camp support—a feature that enabled native operation of the OS on Mac hardware. Although subsequent updates allowed for virtual machine operations supporting ARM versions of Windows, these alternatives often fall short for individuals requiring true compatibility with traditional Windows functionalities.
Pricing Options for Parallels Desktop
If you’re looking into purchasing Parallels Desktop for your Mac device, you’ll find several pricing tiers available: The Standard Edition retails at $100/£100 per year or as a one-time purchase priced at $129.99/£129.99; meanwhile both Pro Edition and Business Editions require annual subscriptions costing $120/£120 and $150/£150 respectively; discounts are also provided for students.
Further Reading Suggestions
If you’re keen on learning how to set up Windows efficiently or exploring top-rated virtual machine solutions tailored for Macs after reading this article!
