Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 Release Candidate released; final launch of the product nearing soon

Parallels, a company known for building user-friendly, cost-effective virtualization solutions for Windows, Mac and Linux, has just announced the release of the Release Candidate (RC) version of Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0.

The RC version of Parallels Desktop for Mac 3.0 is a new version of the company’s award-winning software that enables Mac users to run Windows, Linux and any other operating system at the same time as Mac OS X.

Parallels Desktop 3.0 features SmartSelect, a new built-in integration tool that enables users to open any file from Windows or OS X with any program from either operating system.

Parallels Desktop 3.0 also includes over 50 additional powerful new features and enhancements, including hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, ‘snapshot’ backup and recovery of virtual machines.

What’s more; Parallels Desktop 3.0 also includes a new suite of security settings that help secure both Window VMs and OS X from cross-platform corruption and contamination.

The RC version of Parallels Desktop 3.0 is the final stage of Parallels Desktop 3.0’s private beta testing program that has been in operation over the last several months.
According to Benjamin Rudolph, Director of Corporate Communications, Parallels, “The release of Desktop for Mac 3.0 represents another opportunity to help computer users get the best of all operating systems on a single, seamless desktop. We look forward to feedback on the important new features like SmartSelect, 3D graphics, and Snapshots as we prepare for the full launch very soon.”

Here are the key features of Parallels Desktop 3.0:

Parallels Coherence – Launch and run Windows applications directly from your Mac desktop

Parallels Transporter - Migrate your entire real Windows PC to your new Mac, without reinstalling Windows or any applications

Wide OS support - Including full compatibility and support for Windows Vista

Shared Networking - Seamlessly connect your virtual machines to the internet without any manual network reconfiguration

USB 2.0 support - “Plug and play” popular USB 2.0 devices like printers, scanners, and external hard drives, and use them at full native speed

Installation Assistant built-in tool included - Now installing Windows on a Mac takes just 3 easy steps. It’s even easier than installing it on a PC

Drag and Drop - Drag and drop files and folders of any size between OS X and Windows
Graphic performance support – Start taking advantages of using Intel’s Virtualization Technology that drives rock solid stability and blazingly fast performance

Boot Camp Support – Use a Windows XP Boot Camp partition as a virtual hard disk in Parallels Desktop for Mac

Improved Shared Folders performance – Open folders and files faster, and transfer data across OSes with almost zero lag

Parallels is offering a special upgrade offer to its customers. The standard retail price of Parallels Desktop for 3.0 Mac for new users will be $79.99, but current users will be able to upgrade to the new product from any earlier version for just $49.99. But, as part of the new offer, from now through the launch of the final version, Parallels is offering the upgrade to its existing customers at an even more substantial discounted price of $39.99.

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