Hold onto your hats, folks, because Parallels is taking a baby step towards something we’ve been waiting for: x86 emulation on those shiny new Apple silicon Macs! Parallels version 20.2 has snuck in a very early, and I mean early, preview of x86 emulation. This is huge news, potentially. But before you get too excited and start dusting off your old Windows 7 install discs, there are some serious caveats.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Let’s be clear: this isn’t ready for prime time. Parallels themselves are calling it a “technical preview,” which is corporate-speak for “don’t expect miracles.” While the fact that x86 emulation is even showing up at all is exciting, it comes with a hefty baggage of limitations. Think of it as a tantalizing glimpse of the future, rather than a functional solution for today.
The biggest hurdle? Performance. Don’t expect to be running your demanding x86 Windows apps at full speed. This preview is focused on compatibility, not speed. So, while you might get that old game to boot up, it might feel like you’re playing it in slow motion. There are also reports of various compatibility issues with different applications. Your mileage may vary, as they say.
Why This Matters (Even Though It’s Early Days)
The transition to Apple silicon has been largely a success story, but the lack of straightforward x86 emulation has been a sticking point for some users. Many professionals and enthusiasts rely on specific Windows programs that simply don’t have native Apple silicon versions. Parallels adding even rudimentary x86 emulation opens the door, albeit just a crack, to running these legacy applications.
This also puts pressure on other virtualization software providers like VMware Fusion to step up their game. A little healthy competition is always good for consumers. Hopefully, this spurs further development and innovation in the Apple silicon virtualization space.
My Adventures in Early Adoption (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Crash)
Speaking of early adoption, I have a confession. I’m a sucker for anything labeled “beta” or “preview.” It’s like a siren song, calling me to the rocky shores of buggy software. So, naturally, I jumped at the chance to test this x86 emulation preview. My first thought? Brave, Parallels, brave. My second thought? Oh boy, this is rough.
I decided to try running an old copy of SimCity 2000, a game I have fond memories of (and that definitely doesn’t require a powerful machine). It actually launched! Victory! Or so I thought. After about five minutes of gloriously pixelated urban planning, the whole thing crashed harder than a lead balloon filled with concrete. Undeterred, I tried again. This time I made it a whole ten minutes before experiencing another catastrophic failure.
Lessons Learned (And a Few Chuckles)
This whole experience reminded me of another time I tried to be an early adopter. Back in the day, I pre-ordered a fancy new PDA (remember those?). It promised to revolutionize my life, replacing my bulky organizer and offering cutting-edge features. What I got was a buggy mess with a battery life shorter than my attention span. I ended up using it as a very expensive paperweight.
The moral of the story? Sometimes it pays to wait. While I applaud Parallels for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with Apple silicon virtualization, this x86 emulation preview is definitely not ready for the masses. It’s a promising start, though, and I’m eager to see what the future holds. In the meantime, I’ll stick to playing SimCity 2000 on my trusty old Windows machine (the one that doesn’t spontaneously combust every ten minutes).
