Parallels Tools
I have been running Parallels on my MacBookPro for about a while now (ever since it went 1.0). I really like being able to use it to test sites in IE7 and especially to connect to my PC at the office via Remote Desktop.
Up until recently, I was just running the default Parallels installation. Tonight, I installed Parallels Tools on the guest OS (XP) and wow…what a difference. The main feature is that I don’t have to use “ctrl + option” anymore to free the mouse from Parallels. When the mouse is on top of the Parallels window, Parallels owns it. When it is not over the window, OS X owns it. It transfers seemlessly.
There are other benefits as well, such as smoother mouse motions and better screen resolution. If you are running Parallels and XP and have yet to install Parallels Tools, do yourself a favor and install them now.
September 8th, 2006
Great tip! I actually had not run across it until I saw it here.
September 8th, 2006
The real benefit is a dual monitor setup. I have a dual monitor rig with my 17″ iMac, and when I make Parallels full screen, it takes over one window and leaves the other to OSX leaving you the ability to just hover over one and the other but not have it running in a window.
Parallels is, in a word, brilliant.
October 22nd, 2006
[...] I have written before about using Parallels on my MacBookPro to run Windows XP. Installing Parallels Tools made the experience even better, allowing movement between the two operating systems almost seemlessly. The one thing I have been missing is a way to run XP full screen and easily move back and forth between OS X and XP. [...]