Mac with Parallels

[Michigander]

Hi there

I am about to replace a recent purchase of an ASUS with Ryzen processor and 1TB memory. It simply isn't working. Slow as molasses. I have had two Dell Precision workstations in the last 12 years, and they have been good, but the last one only got about 3-years before it totally bogged down, and now can't update due to not enough space (have tried to get rid of files into a harddrive, but it is still jammed up). It is about 4-years old now and I am using it again because the ASUS is impossible to work on.

Someone suggested a MacBook Pro, but I am a heavy Excel and Word user, and of course need my appraisal software. Before I drop a boat load of money on another Precision, I would like to hear from daily users of a Mac about using it with Parallels and if there are issues at all with the Microsoft products that are sold to Mac users (like reduced functionality).

Please weigh in if you have had experience with these. Last Mac I had was about 18 years ago...

 

[JAW]

Hi there

I am about to replace a recent purchase of an ASUS with Ryzen processor and 1TB memory. It simply isn't working. Slow as molasses. I have had two Dell Precision workstations in the last 12 years, and they have been good, but the last one only got about 3-years before it totally bogged down, and now can't update due to not enough space (have tried to get rid of files into a harddrive, but it is still jammed up). It is about 4-years old now and I am using it again because the ASUS is impossible to work on.

Someone suggested a MacBook Pro, but I am a heavy Excel and Word user, and of course need my appraisal software. Before I drop a boat load of money on another Precision, I would like to hear from daily users of a Mac about using it with Parallels and if there are issues at all with the Microsoft products that are sold to Mac users (like reduced functionality).

Please weigh in if you have had experience with these. Last Mac I had was about 18 years ago...

Hi Michigander,
Based on all that, are you launching a SpaceX rocket from your desk? Unless you are doing heavy engineering, CAD or photo processing, a mid-range Windows desktop or laptop with 2 monitors will serve you very well. As for Mac, I've been using one the last 8 years or so. (NOTE: I am neither a Mac Fan-Boy nor a Mac-hater). They are great. But, why Parallels? Do you need a Windows OS to run some specific software? If not, don't bother with it. Microsoft Office is fully functional on a Mac. Web-based software works great on a Mac. If you need a Windows OS for some specific reason, it's probably not worth it to get a Mac. Just buy a new PC.

 

[Randolph Kinney]

Hello, I am a retired appraiser now but I have been running iMac with Parallels since 2012 and Windows XP, Windows 7 and now Windows 10. I ran Excel all the time along with Total.

Today, I have iMac Pro that I bought in 2018 with 2TB SSD internal drive, 32GB memory. I am running macos Mojave with no problems with Parallels and Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux. The latest macos is Big Sur but it is buggy. I also have iMac 2014 still running also with Parallels and macos Mojave.

I used an iPad out in the field when I was appraising and transferred the sketch and notes to Total on the iMac.

There is Macbook Pro 13" and Macbook Pro 16".

Apple has come out with its own multicore processor, the M1, for the Macbook Pro 13".

Apple M1 chip

• 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
• 8-core GPU
• 16-core Neural Engine

MacBook Pro - Tech Specs

See all the technical specifications for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips.

www.apple.com

Macbook Pro 16" comes with Intel multicore CPU, more memory and large SSD drive.

MacBook Pro - Tech Specs

See all the technical specifications for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips.

www.apple.com

When running Parallels, more processor cores and more memory makes for faster execution and performance.

Parallels: Run Windows on Mac, Virtualization & VDI Solutions

Run Windows apps on your Mac with Parallels Desktop, or deliver remote apps and virtual desktops to any device with Parallels RAS. Free trial available.

www.parallels.com

Hope all this helps.

 

[Michigander]

Hi Michigander,
Based on all that, are you launching a SpaceX rocket from your desk? Unless you are doing heavy engineering, CAD or photo processing, a mid-range Windows desktop or laptop with 2 monitors will serve you very well. As for Mac, I've been using one the last 8 years or so. (NOTE: I am neither a Mac Fan-Boy nor a Mac-hater). They are great. But, why Parallels? Do you need a Windows OS to run some specific software? If not, don't bother with it. Microsoft Office is fully functional on a Mac. Web-based software works great on a Mac. If you need a Windows OS for some specific reason, it's probably not worth it to get a Mac. Just buy a new PC.

Honestly it is likely all my photos. Way too many, and I have unloaded many to an external, but still...

I need a Windows OS for Total. Other than that, I am a flexitarian.

 

[Michigander]

Hello, I am a retired appraiser now but I have been running iMac with Parallels since 2012 and Windows XP, Windows 7 and now Windows 10. I ran Excel all the time along with Total.

Today, I have iMac Pro that I bought in 2018 with 2TB SSD internal drive, 32GB memory. I am running macos Mojave with no problems with Parallels and Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux. The latest macos is Big Sur but it is buggy. I also have iMac 2014 still running also with Parallels and macos Mojave.

I used an iPad out in the field when I was appraising and transferred the sketch and notes to Total on the iMac.

There is Macbook Pro 13" and Macbook Pro 16".

Apple has come out with its own multicore processor, the M1, for the Macbook Pro 13".

Apple M1 chip

• 8-core CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores
• 8-core GPU
• 16-core Neural Engine

MacBook Pro - Tech Specs

See all the technical specifications for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips.

www.apple.com

Macbook Pro 16" comes with Intel multicore CPU, more memory and large SSD drive.

MacBook Pro - Tech Specs

See all the technical specifications for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips.

www.apple.com

When running Parallels, more processor cores and more memory makes for faster execution and performance.

Parallels: Run Windows on Mac, Virtualization & VDI Solutions

Run Windows apps on your Mac with Parallels Desktop, or deliver remote apps and virtual desktops to any device with Parallels RAS. Free trial available.

www.parallels.com

Hope all this helps.

It does, and thank you

 

[Randolph Kinney]

Thought you might be interested in this news item on Big Sur and Macbook Pro 13" with M1 CPU:

Apple this week continued a PR blitz touting its new M1 Mac models, offering details into the project that ultimately birthed the company's first made-for-Mac silicon.

Customers are testing the limits of the new machines, as well as the recently released macOS Big Sur. On the latter, some users have run into issues -- ranging from minor problems to bricking of certain MacBook Pro models.

Early macOS Big Sur adopters running into teething issues | AppleInsider

The release of macOS Big Sur has been problematic for Mac users in a number of ways, launch issues that Apple is probably already working to fix in upcoming operating system updates.

appleinsider.com

 

[Randolph Kinney]

Note that currently available versions of Parallels Desktop cannot run virtual machines on Macs with the Apple M1 chip. But the company has gone further and confirmed that an M1 version is on the way.