MACBOOK Air and Parallels.

G

geordisjd

Member
Does anybody have any experience with using Parallels on a MBA? While I was successful in migrating my Windows XP machine from another Mac (activation headache!!!), everything seems incredibly slow. I'm not sure if it's a result of the migration (it wouldn't install from the Windows XP CD) or if it's just the way it's going to be on this laptop.
 
I've had great success with Parallels on a lot of different Macs, but it definitely has issues with my Air. Performance is poor (worse than an original Mac Mini) and if left running for any length of time the Parallels kext causes the dreaded black screen of death forcing me to reboot the Mac.
 
same problem

I'm having the same issue, its going terribly slow in comparison to what it would normally be doing on a similar system but NOT MBA
 
Sorry to hear that, but glad it's not just me. I truly think it is something unique to the Air, because Parallels has been rock solid for me on all of my many other Macs.
 
I'm also having issues with Parallels (5184) on my MBA.. Hope they fix it soon.. Once every 10mins my MBA goes to the panic screen and I need to keep the button down to reboot.
Its unusable for me in the current state. I have tried to disable the VT optimization and only running full screen, but nothing helps..

/HEnrik
 
My Apple USB Ethernet Adapter doesn't work. Haven't tried the SuperDrive yet. Other than that, it has worked "ok" for me.

EDIT: Just tried the SuperDrive. It works fine.
 
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The second I start Parallels up the fan on my mBA runs at full pelt and the MBA immediate gets warm. That is within about 3 seconds of starting Parallels!!!
 
Can you tell me what is now in the build - It would not appear to be detailed anywhere.

I have installed the new build and have noted the following:

1) The animation into full screen does not work on the Air (it didn't in the last build either). The screen just jumps to full screen. However the animation out of full screen works.

2) In the old build my fans would be running at 6900rpm within a few seconds of running Parallels. I have been running build 5592 for 15 mins and my fans are at 2700rpm. (usually 2500rpm). CPU load is 88% idle and CPU temp is 54 degrees. The Air's casing does feel warmer than it did prior to running Parallels but at least the fans seem controlled now.

Then I used IE within Windows and after 5 mins on general full screen browsing the fans were at 3700rpm and CPU temp at 58 degrees. As I write this the fans are at 4300rpm and the CPU now at 60 degrees. It would appear that full screen browsing makes the fans work harder than browsing in a window. Now I am back in window mode and the fans speed and temp is one again dropping.

This build is certainly better than before, but I am still a little concerned that even at very low Windows usage, the fans are still creeping up and the Air goes from cold to warm in minutes. What causes that?
 
Pagemakers, thank you for the feedback.

The build 5592 includes the hotfix for MacBook Air crashes. The information on other possible issues on this improved build with MacBook Air is very important for developers.
I have delivered the data provided by you to our QA team.

Best regards,
Xenos
 
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