Now that Parallels Desktop supports Windows 10 Technical Preview, you can safely run Microsoft’s new OS on your Mac.
Apple’s Boot Camp software lets Macs runs Windows by restarting in Windows instead of OS X. Boot Camp, however, doesn’t officially support Windows 10 yet. In the interim, there are other ways to get Windows 10 to work on the Mac. One of the best ways is using Parallels Desktop 10. Here’s how!
Apple’s decision to switch Macs to Intel chips in 2006 had a transformative effect on the way software runs on the Mac. Among other things, the architectural similarity to Windows computers makes it possible for the Mac to run Windows software, which is why Apple offers Boot Camp — software that enables Macs to run Windows by restarting and actually operating as a Windows PC.
Boot Camp isn’t the only to do that, however. You can also run Windows inside a “virtual machine” host app like VMware Fusion or Parallels Desktop 10. These apps enable Windows to run at the same time as OS X. So if you’d prefer to use your Mac software to do some things, but you still rely on Windows, you can have both running at the same time.
Windows 10 won’t be out until later this year, but you can download a preview version of it right now from Microsoft’s web site. You simply need to create an account to register as a “Windows Insider” and download an ISO file, a virtual image of a software installer DVD-ROM.
Parallels recently announced an update to Desktop to version 10.1.4, a free update for registered Parallels Desktop 10 users which now supports Windows 10 Technical Preview. Parallels Desktop 10 costs $79.99, but nothing is stopping you from download a two-week trial version from the Parallels web site.
If you don’t want to deal with trial software or shell out the money for Parallels Desktop 10, there are free alternatives, like VirtualBox.
- How to install Windows 10 on your Mac without spending a dime
To run Windows 10 Technical Preview with Parallels Desktop
Have any trouble? Questions? Let me know.