The hits keep coming: Parallels.com
It’s here! Parallels is proud to launch the Beta program the first virtualization solution specifically designed to work with Intel-powered Apple computers! Parallels Workstation 2.1 Beta for Mac OS X is NOT simply a “dual-boot” solution; rather, it empowers users the ability to use Windows, Linux and any other operating system at the same time as Mac OS X, enabling users to enjoy the comfort of their Mac OS X desktop while still being able to use critical applications from other OSes.
Driven by full support for dual-core processors and Intel Virtualization Technology (included in almost every new Intel-powered Mac), virtual machines created using Parallels Workstation 2.1 Beta offer near-native performance and rock-solid stability.
Their versions for Linux and Windows cost $50.
Keep in mind this allows you to run Windows inside of Mac OS X – it’s not a “dual-boot” solution like Apple’s ‘Boot Camp’ that came out yesterday, and it’s not limited to Windows XP, but everything from MSDOS/Windows 3.1 all the way up through Windows 98 and XP. It won’t be as fast as the dual-boot option, but for most of your applications, you won’t care.
This makes it extremly easy to get people to switch to Mac OS X – if they just have a few applications they can’t let go of, they can just pop open a window running Windows, access the application, and then exit out, without having to reboot.