I'm running Windows XP under Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac, build 4560, on a Macbook. For the most part it runs well, though it sure kicks the CPU into high gear from time to time. When the system's idle, though, the CPU drops to near zero, so at least it's actually doing something. The only time I have real trouble is when I try to do a LiveUpdate of Symantec Internet Security. Even that runs OK, except for the one update called the "Symantec Trusted Application List." While this is being updated, CPU goes to 150-200% (dual core). The update eventually completes, unless something else goes wrong, like the Airport being knocked off the air, but an update that on a "real" Windows XP system would take 30-45 seconds takes between half an hour and three hours of real time! Does anyone have a clue what is going on here? If the VM is fielding a continuous stream of "atomic" operations, it needs to do batching or something.
