Intel Launches Quad Core for the Desktop

Computer Business Review mentions that Intel is officially launching the quad-core Core 2s:

Intel Corp has officially launched its first desktop quad-core processor, codenamed Kentsfield, with new systems boasting the CPU set to be announced today. But for the average enterprise user, two plus two will not add up to four.

In launching Kentsfield, Intel beats rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc to the quad-core punch. But AMD’s forthcoming quad-core CPU, due mid-2007 or so, may end packing more performance.
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Intel’s Kentsfield, called Core 2 Extreme quad-core QX6700, is up to 80% faster than its Core 2 Extreme X6800, or Conroe, counterpart, claimed Intel. The latter is, of course, the chipmaker’s high-end dual-core desktop offering that launched in July.

They mention that they will probably carry a pricetag of around $1000, with a cheaper, more mainstream/consumer-oriented version coming out early next year.

New EFI Firmware May Fix Parallels/VTI-x Issues (Nov 13, 2006)

Some are reporting on the Parallels forums and elsewhere, that they are no longer having to do the “sleep trick” to get the Intel virtualization technology (VTI-x) to kick in for Parallels. You have to install the update and then power the machine all the way off – rebooting wont’ necessarily make it work properly.

Updated Firmware:
- Mac Pro Update
- iMac Update
- MacBook Pro Update
- Mac mini Update
- MacBook Update

All of these updates do the following:

Fixes several Boot Camp, start up, and wake-from-sleep issues (except for the Mac Pros).

Also: Firmware Restoration CD v1.2

CrossOver Mac 6.0 – Limted Beta Version 3

From the CrossOver Mac 6.0 team:

From Jeremy White’s posting in the CrossOver Mac forums:

I’m happy to say that we’ve now made a public prerelease version of CrossOver Mac 6.0 available for your testing pleasure. A summary list of changes is available below.

At this point, we feel we’re finally beginning to converge on a final 6.0. We still have some major issues we hope to solve, mostly with programs like Quicken 2007.

However, we hope this build brings a lot of joy, particularly in fixes for service packs, Outlook 2003, Quicken versions prior to 2007, and with some Half Life 2 fixes.

We’re also hoping to confirm that we’ve made progress on non US locales, particularly European and Japanese environments, which should now be working reasonably well.

Major issues we will continue to work on are around Quicken 2007, and just general polish and clean up of a variety of applications (e.g. End Note and others).

I’m particularly interested in Outlook 2003 use in Exchange environments. In all of our testing, this seems to be working pretty well. I’d really appreciate test reports on your experiences with it.

At any rate, thanks for your interest and help. We’ll be watching the beta reports and forums more closely, please direct your feedback there.

Cheers,
Jeremy
—–

* CrossOver Mac 6.0.0beta3 Fixes
- Improved CD-handling: Now CrossOver should be able to detect and interact with all removable volumes and dynamically assign
drive letters to then. The ‘eject’ button should work better as well. All in all, multi-CD installs should work much better.
- Rearranged the panels in the Bottle Manager; added a bottle description field.
- Changed the GUI feedback during the deletion of a bottle.
- Fixed icons in the control-panel.
- Improved locale support — now the Windows locale should match the OS X locale.
- Fixed a few keymapping problems. Shift-arrow selection should now work properly, and non-US keyboards may work better.
- Added default association handling so that .pdfs and such arepassed to the system for opening.
- Fixed an occasional crash in Half-Life.
- Redesign of menu and Applications/CrossOver handling.
- Menus should now vanish when applications are removed.
- Added the first part of a User Guide.
- Partial redesign of the Bottle Manager dialog

General CrossOver fixes and improvements:
- Fixed network play in Half-Life 1.
- Fixed a bug with window sizing in Quicken
- Fixed problems with some Quicken versions that cause windows to become non-responsive.
- Fixed several issues with the connection between Outlook and Exchange.
- Office 2003 service packs can now be installed.
- Slipstream editions of Office 2003 can now be installed.
- Fixed popup menus in Photoshop

Mac Pro/Core 2 Duo Users and Boxed/Retail Parallels Desktop

If you bought the retail copy of Parallels Desktop, and have a Mac Pro or a Core 2 Duo-based Mac (iMac, new MacBook Pros), it is highly recommended that you upgrade to Build #1970 of Parallels Desktop. This thread by Andrew at the Parallels support forum explains why:

There are a lot of complains from Mac Pro and newest Core 2 Duo Mac users about kernel panics or “grayed screen with different languages” on virtual machine startup.

The problem in using old Parallels Desktop Build 1848 (or 1848.2) which was released prior to Apple announce of Mac Pro and Core 2 Duo Macs and it is not compatible with these Macs.

Unfortunately this build is still available in retail stores (even in Apple stores) and staff is not aware of this problem.

If you have any problems with old retail version of Parallels Desktop – please upgrade it on build 1970! It can be freely download from our web site – http://www.parallels.com/en/download/desktop/ . Your permanent registration key will work with this version.

Parallels Desktop – Installation Assistant and Shared Networking

A new build of Parallels Desktop available, Build #1970, is available with the new features that came about in Build 1966 are now apart of the official Parallels Desktop release.

It can be downloaded here

Forum Posting:

Today we’re releasing a new build of Desktop for Mac that has two great new features – the Installation Assistant, and Shared Networking. More information on both features is below:

THE PARALLELS INSTALLATION ASSISTANT
The Installation Assistant makes it easier to install Windows on a Mac than on a PC!

Here’s how it works:

1. Click the “Install OS” button on the main configuration screen and select “Express Windows Installation”.
2. Select which version of Windows – XP or Vista – you’d like to install.
3. Enter your personal information and Windows Product Key and click “Finish”.

That’s it! The Installation Assistant will complete the entire installation process for you – you won’t have to select any configurations, answer and questions, or make decisions about partitions or options. Just sit back, relax, and wait for the Assistant to finish.

The Installation Assistant also automatically installs Parallels Tools, a useful set of add-ons that enable file sharing, cutting/pasting/copyings between OSes, syncs your mouse and system clock, and improves networking, video and sound performance.

SHARED NETWORKING
The new “Shared Networking” mode helps you get your virtual machine online, regardless of what type of internet connection you’re using. It works by hiding your virtual machine IP addresses behind your Mac’s IP, meaning that even connections like DSL or Cable modems that only allow 1 IP to register will work with virtual machines.

In short, it means that if your Mac is connected to the internet, so is your virtual machine. No manual configuration required.

HOW TO GET THE NEW BUILD
If you’re a customer, your copy of Parallels Desktop for Mac will auto-update. If you have auto-update disabled, or if you’re new to Parallels and want to try our free 15-day trial, you can download it here.

NOTES
If you’re already a user, remember to manually change your networking option to Shared Networking, and be sure to reinstall Parallels Tools!

Full Press Release
Parallels Blog

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