Parallels announced that it is bringing virtualization to Windows Vista via a free update for its Parallels Workstation 2.2 for Windows and Linux product.

In addition to offering full support for PCs running Vista as a primary operating system, the company claims that the update will also improve the performance of Windows Vista virtual machines by as much as 200 percent. The update also offers a complete Parallels Tools package for Windows Vista virtual machines. Parallels Tools is a free set of helpful add-ons included with each copy of Parallels Workstation 2.2 that improves the usability of virtual machines by enhancing video, sound and networking support, as well as enabling file sharing and the cutting, copying and pasting of data between operating systems.

"The world runs on Windows, and so it was critical for us to offer fast, stable primary and guest OS support for Vista, the next generation of this important operating system," said Benjamin Rudolph, Marketing Manager, Parallels. "Now, users can not only test Vista in a safe, secure virtual machine, but can also run any other OS in a virtual machine on any PC with Vista as its primary operating system. With this new capability, Workstation really offers users the best of all worlds."

Registered Parallels Workstation customers will receive the Workstation 2.2 update automatically if the auto-update feature of Parallels Workstation is enabled. Alternatively, users can manually download and install the update by going here. There is no cost for this update. You should be aware, however, that upgrading Workstation 2.2 will not require re-installing any guest OSes or applications, but the Parallels Tools should be reinstalled.

New users can download and evaluate Workstation 2.2 free for 15 days.

Posted by David Marshall on November 26, 2006 04:34 PM