My number one request for improvement

[ebernet]

Performance please. CPU utilization when idle, CPU utilization when running. Parallels makes my Mac sluggish, no matter what I do. Parallels consumes 15% of my CPU, even when doing nothing. PLEASE focus on this. This is the biggest improvement that I see in Fusion. Please try and address this issue.
Eytan

 

[brkirch]

It appears that there has already been some discussion about this. I just came this thread, which has these details:

...
You can significantly reduce CPU usage by 3 things:

1. Disconnect all USB devices from virtual machine (menu Devices->USB).
2. Mute Sound (menu Devices->Sound).
3. Close Parallels Tools Center in guest Windows (right click on icon in tray and menu Exit).

We are investigating all these CPU usage related issues and will come with fixes soon.

If you would like to know when exactly these fixes might show up, here are more details from the same thread:

...
CPU usage is in developers focus and I am sure it will be improved until RC/GA.

So there could be significant improvement on this by the time the next update is out.