Parallels Desktop 12
Run Windows apps direct from your Mac’s desktop
Parallels Desktop has been our go-to solution for running Windows apps on the Mac for some time now. Our favorite feature is Coherence Mode, which allows you to blend your Windows apps right into the Mac desktop itself, making them appear like native apps.
Parallels Desktop 12 attempts to continue its gradual evolution with a smattering of tweaks and improvements, but the absence of noteworthy new features makes it a hard sell for existing users.
The lack of standout features explains why the pre-launch hype has been around Parallels Toolbox, a collection of 20 mini-tools that aims to plug various gaps in OS X, with examples including a one-click “Do Not Sleep” button and a tool for downloading video. Useful, but not earth-shattering, and they do little to enhance Parallels Desktop itself.
As always, what changes Parallels does introduce are welcome, but they’re evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Take Coherence Mode, for example: version 12 adds a distraction-free presentation mode that disables notifications, hides desktop icons and forces your Mac to stay awake – plus you can now assign default behaviors to individual Windows apps, such as always opening them in fullscreen.
Edge and Internet Explorer passwords can be integrated into the Mac Keychain, and Office options appear in your Mac’s contextual menus too; all welcome changes, but minor.
Parallels 12 also comes with a year’s 500GB cloud backup with Acronis TrueImage, which is then integrated into Parallels to allow you to backup incremental changes to your virtual machines. Great, but going forward will you have to then pay, or switch to Parallel’s subscription-based Pro edition?
Every year we’re told Parallels gets faster and better. With version 12, it seems Parallels is forced to find niche areas to tweak:
Suspend times (up to 60 percent faster we’re told) and shared folder access (up to 25 percent), for example. It also makes much of added support for the Windows 10 Xbox app and popular game Overwatch, but DirectX 11 support is still missing, despite being “in development” as far back as Parallels 8.
The bottom line. Still a great way to get Windows apps on your Mac, but not an essential upgrade for existing users.