About Parallels Desktop for Mac with Apple M Series Chip

When it comes to running Windows on a Mac, Parallels Desktop is one of the most popular and user-friendly options. But with the introduction of Apple's M Series chip, some users may be wondering how this new technology affects their ability to run virtual machines.

Rosetta Can Translate, but Not Virtual Machines

One key thing to know is that Rosetta, a translation process used by Parallels Desktop, can translate the user interface and web services, but not virtual machines. This means that while it can translate many Intel-based applications, there are some limitations to what can be run on Mac computers with Apple M Series chip.

Virtual Machines and CPU Architecture

Software applications are heavily dependent on a computer's CPU architecture, which is why virtual machines created on Intel-based Mac computers cannot be easily run on a Mac with M Series Chip. This is because the two architectures - x86_64 and Arm - are fundamentally different.

Apple M Series Chip: A New Era in Computing

The Apple M Series chip is a successor to the iPad's A14Z chip, and it's the first designed specifically for the Mac. It features a unified memory architecture that enables dramatically improved performance and efficiency. This new chip is built on Arm architecture, which includes a system on a chip (SoC) that combines numerous powerful technologies into a single silicon.

In summary, while Parallels Desktop can translate many Intel-based applications using Rosetta, there are some limitations to what can be run on Mac computers with Apple M Series chip. Virtual machines created on Intel-based Mac computers cannot be used on a Mac with M Series Chip, and vice versa. If you're switching from an Intel processor to an Apple M Series Chip or the other way around, it's recommended to refer to Parallels' knowledge base for more details.

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