[X4U] Parallels vs. Boot Camp

[Jim Robertson]

I've downloaded the .pdfs that describe "Parallels", and I think some (?
Kunga) may be dismissing Apple's work too quickly. From the "Parallels"
quickstart guide, I read the following (note the processor and USB
emulation):

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Although Parallels Workstation uses your computer's video, network cards and
other hardware, for the guest operating system Parallels Workstation
virtualizes it's own set of PC's hardware. This hardware is:
�� CPU Intel Pentium II or AMD Duron;
�� Generic motherboard compatible with Intel i815 chipset;
�� RAM up to 1500 MB;
�� VGA and SVGA with VESA 3.0 support;
�� 1.44 MB floppy drive (mapped to a physical drive or to an image file);
�� Up to four IDE devices, that may be either virtual hard drives (from 20
MB up to 128 GB each, mapped to image file), or CD/DVD-ROM drives (mapped to
physical drive or to image file), or both hard drives and CD/DVD-ROM drives;
�� Ethernet virtual network card compatible with RTL8029. Parallels
Workstation for Windows supports bridging to wireless network adapters;
�� Up to four serial (COM) ports (mapped to real port, to pipe or to
output file);
�� Up to three bi-directional parallel (LPT) ports (mapped to real port,
to printer or to output file);
�� 2-port USB 1.1 controller;
�� AC'97-compatible sound card. Sound recording is supported;
�� 104-key Windows enhanced keyboard;
�� PS/2 wheel mouse.
For the Windows 95/98/NT/ME/2000/XP/2003, Solaris, OS/2, and eComStation
guest OSes Parallels provides special drivers called Parallels Tools that
improve some hardware components and add extra features that help create a
more comfortable work environment. Parallels Tools allow users to:
�� use higher resolution and color depth for the guest OS display,
�� capture the mouse and the clipboard in the guest OS without pressing
special key combination,
�� share the same clipboard between a guest OS and the primary OS,
�� enable a better network connection and sound quality. In Solaris guest
OSes network driver is required to support networking in a Virtual Machine.

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Hard to believe that a PII processor and USB 1.1 will keep lots of folks
happy. All this has burst on the scene in just the space of two days, and I
suspect that the "proof of concept" is what's really important for the
future, but for those who want to do real work now, my guess is that Boot
Camp will be the choice.

Anyone care to comment?

Jim Robertson
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