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Parallels Desktop 10 updated with support for Windows 10 and Microsoft Office previews

Parallels announced this evening that its virtual machine software Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac has been updated with “experimental” support for the technical preview of Windows 10 from Microsoft. Users who want to take the latest version of Windows for a test run without overwriting their existing Boot Camp installation or creating a new partition can now do so safely and free within the confines of a VM.

The update also adds the ability to run the new preview version of Office for Windows 10, which includes updated versions of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Microsoft announced earlier this year that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade for one year for any users running Windows 7 or later.

Parallels Desktop 10 is available from the Parallels website for $79.99. Special pricing is available for students and users running previous versions of Parallels and a free trial is available here. Press release follows:

Parallels® Announces That Parallels Desktop® 10 for Mac Now Provides Experimental Support for Windows 10 Technical Preview and Office Preview for Windows 10

New update to industry-leading software for running Windows on Mac gives developers and power users the ability to try out the latest Windows operating system quickly and safely

Renton, WA, USA – February 11, 2015 – Parallels announced today that Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac (parallels.com/desktop) provides experimental support for Windows® 10 Technical Preview and Office Preview for Windows 10 which includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Now users who wish to try the newest OS from Microsoft® safely and easily can do so without the inconvenience of deleting an existing OS or the uncertainty of installing a new and nonfinal version of Windows 10 directly on their machines. The Parallels Wizard makes it simple to download the Windows 10 Technical Preview directly from within Parallels Desktop, creating a virtual machine to try out everything Windows 10 has to offer, including such features as the new Start menu, Photos, Maps app, Cortana and Windows Store beta which offers Office Preview for Windows 10.

“Parallels Desktop enjoys very strong support among software developers and IT pros. We are happy to deliver all the tools they need to quickly and safely test or run the latest OS and applications, now including the Windows 10 Technical Preview,” said Parallels president Jack Zubarev.

Early adopters who want to try out Microsoft’s latest OS and offer feedback have the option to do so in Parallels Desktop without having to erase their existing OS. Mac® users can download a free two-week trial of Parallels Desktop and use the Parallels Wizard to install and try the free Windows 10 Technical Preview today.

Parallels focuses on giving its customers choice. With Parallels Desktop, users have the freedom to choose whichever operating systems best fit their needs—including OS X®

Yosemite, OS X Mavericks, OS X Mountain Lion, Windows 8, Windows 7, ChromeTM OS, Android and a number of Linux operating systems—all on one computer.

The latest release of Parallels Desktop for Mac (10.1.4, build 28883) is required for this experience with the Windows 10 Technical Preview (build 9926).

Availability and Pricing

Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac is available at parallels.com/desktop. The standard retail price (SRP) of Parallels Desktop 10 is $79.99, and the Student Edition is available for $39.99. Upgrades for existing Parallels Desktop 8 or 9 customers are $49.99. Parallels Desktop 10 customers receive a complimentary three-month subscription to the Parallels AccessTM app (parallels.com/access) for up to five Macs and PCs and an unlimited number of iOS and Android mobile devices.

Parallels Desktop for Mac Enterprise Edition is available via parallels.com/business.

About Parallels

Parallels is a global leader in hosting and cloud services enablement and cross-platform solutions. Parallels began operations in 2000 and is a fast-growing company with more than 900 employees in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Visit parallels.com for more information.

Stay connected with Parallels and our online communities: Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/parallelsdesktop, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/parallelsmac, and visit our blog at blogs.parallels.com/consumertech.

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Comments

  1. Parallel$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  2. pauliusval99 - 9 years ago

    for fuck sake, just use virtualbox… it supports every OS that exists on Earth and runs on a x86 processor.

    • tuneslover - 9 years ago

      No it’s not. Even Vmware Fusion is lower than Parallel Desktop. And VirtualBox is out of the question if you work with CAD software.

  3. puri517 - 9 years ago

    I hate Parallels! Because they mission is bring all Microsoft cheap software to the great Apple platforms.
    This is prevent many developers to make native OS X apps, because they said: u just can install it by Parallels.

    If you already have amazing Apple computers try to think on a new way — try to install truly great Mac apps and find alternatives to your *windows habits*.
    Parallels must die.

    • Gregory Wright - 9 years ago

      Users have a use for Windows apps for a variety of reasons. Parallels enable them to keep using their apps on a Mac. Otherwise, they might no use a Mac at all.

    • Smigit - 9 years ago

      How is it any different to Apple shipping Bootcamp? There’s many people that don’t have a say whether they use Windows software or not. At least a tool like this allows those users to buy a Mac instead of possibly buying a system from another vendor and only booting into Windows.

    • I don’t use Parallels (I use Bootcamp on my iMac), but whether you like it or not, there is so much more software choice – some good, some bad – available for Windows as opposed to OS X. It’s all fine and dandy saying try to find alternatives to your Windows habits but that is easier said than done.

    • Cynthia Fridsma - 9 years ago

      Um . . . is there something good about Apple? You know the story of Adam and Eve, don’t ya? LOL.

  4. I’m surprised that it is not version 11 and includes the steep upgrade price. I bought version 7 and was left without upgrade path within 1.5 year. Indeed Parallel$$$$$$$$$$$$$

    • Catherine Rot - 9 years ago

      I second this. I too have bought version 7 in 2012 and am left in the cold now. In the end, I decided to go with a used Mac Mini with dual boot on Windows. It costs a little bit more than Parallels and its free of their crappy upgrade policy.

      Its funny though, how the tone of their pre-recorded answering machine on Support sounds like something KFC or McDonalds could use.

  5. برمجة مواقع - 9 years ago

    thanks for post

  6. patthecarnut - 9 years ago

    I pity the individual who has to subject themselves to this software and to run Winblows.

    • rvinny - 9 years ago

      I hate being saddled with Parallels but I need Visio, MapInfo and MS Project daily. None of these have good alternatives on OS X.

  7. nsxrebel - 9 years ago

    Been using Windows 10 with Parallels for months already for whenever I needed to do a jailbreak using TaiG, so I don’t see what the big hoopla is all about.

  8. Finally there is a good news for the keen users of the windows operating system. Microsoft has now started providing free updations to windows 7 or 8 or 8.1 to users to windows 10 but this update is free only for one year. Eventually after that you will have to pay for it. Indeed this is a good trick of Microsoft to make money and let more and more users and organisations to use latest versions and facility provided by the hard working software geeks. On one hand some interesting features like new web browser “Spartan” has been introduced whereas on the other hand many new updates to apps has been released free of cost. So windows users might be very happy. Let’s see what else Microsoft brings for us in future.

    Source :

    http://thelatestupdates.com/windows-10-free-update-but-only-for-a-year/

    • It is very crafty isn’t it. And no different to Apple getting rid of their OS X upgrade charges so that moer and more people use the most recent versions.