Parallels Toolbox is a series of more than 30 machine utilities that make operating and running your computer simpler than ever. If you’ve ever thought that Windows is lacking any functionality, such as the duplicate file locator or the screen recording app, Parallels Toolbox is here to help!
Other handy gadgets in the “toolbox” provide a photo resizer, a live webcam privacy protector, the sound downloader, video downloader (for podcasts), and a variety of other small applications that will help a standard PC add value. It’s also comforting to see that most of the tools are all from Parallels, a well-known tech company!
It’s worth remembering that all of the smaller resources in this series are probably available for free elsewhere, but the true benefit here, in my opinion, is getting everything packed along with some truly valuable media resources. As a result, since I don’t have time to review every 30+ resources separately, I’m going to concentrate on the media-related items in our review, which would be much harder to come by for free elsewhere.
So, let’s get Parallels Toolbox started!
Parallels Toolbox’s Highlights
- Software that is well-designed and simple to use.
- There are over 30 useful media and machine utilities for Windows.
- Screen capturing and snapshot applications that are easy to use
- Easy PC cleaning supplies are included.
- It’s compatible with both Mac OS and Windows.
- It’s ideal for people who aren’t sure how to use a computer.
- For more experienced PC users, it might be a little too easy.
- The cost is $19.99 a year.
Installation and registration were fast and didn’t entail a restart of the computer, which is already a win; upgrading certain programs can be a pain. The toolbox icon will appear in the taskbar just on the bottom right of your screen after it has been installed.
The toolbox shows on the right side of the screen after you click the button. You can choose where to store all of your files, videos, screenshots, & downloads.
So, let’s have a look at a few of them!
The first one is the Archiver, which would be a compression tool/zip that reduces the size of your files. It’s so simple to click and drag files and folders into the Archiver, then allow it to do its thing as you go about your business. It took 10 minutes to compress an 8GB disk, which isn’t bad. Unzipping operates in the same way; just drag and drop the compressed file into another box, and it will prepare your files. Parallels Toolbox already saves me time and space on my computer, and I like it!
Take command of your computer’s camera. Do you need to update your profile picture quickly? Send a video file, perhaps? The toolbox allows you to quickly control the camera on your screen. It also has another very helpful and, in my opinion, important feature: the ability to prevent your camera from being hacked. People can easily spy on you through your camera, so it’s a fantastic feature.
Now for the features that make Parallels Toolbox so valuable to me: the Record Screen & Screenshot features. These are significant time savers that allow us to complete my assignments quickly and effectively. Snagit, for example, charges $49 for such two functions alone, so Toolbox is a much better option.
First and foremost, there’s the screenshot feature. You can use it on a regular basis to capture and edit images that you want to either post to one of your websites or email to people to easily demonstrate what I’m talking about. You can screen capture using Toolbox.
1) A dedicated window, such as my browser, to grab a website
2) I can take a screenshot of a certain section of my computer, such as a picture or other text.
3) Finally, I can take a screenshot of my whole screen, with all of my tabs and other things.
The next feature in Toolbox is Record Screen, which is definitely my favorite. This has a lot of applications, but I use it almost every day now to easily explain the capabilities of a software application or to teach others how to better set up their software. I can quickly catch my screen to correctly describe what I’m so pumped about while I’m making a YouTube film. Also, instead of writing down all the instructions, if a family or friends is having trouble with anything on their computer, I can make a short video telling them how to fix it. It’s so much faster and time-saving. You can capture the whole screen, a part of it, or a single window, just as you can with screenshots. Depending on your needs, you can even add speech or switch off the microphone.
The launch is another time-saving app I’ve discovered. If you always work on the very same files on a daily basis, you can add them to Open so that you can access all of your files with a single click. So, for example, I usually begin my day by updating specific spreadsheets. I added those to the Launch so I don’t have to look for them anymore.
Now it’s time for some fun. I can stream videos through websites like YouTube and replay them later on my machine using Download Video. This is ideal for when you’re on the go, such as on a bus, or whether you simply need a video library for when you’re offline and would like to chill or catch up. It took about 8 minutes to download a video that lasted around an hour and a half and took up 415MB of storage space in MP4 format.
The Convert Video function is linked to this, and it allows you to convert video formats for viewing on your mobile or computer. For example, if you have an iPhone, you may attach it to the iTunes collection for offline viewing. It saves time and is extremely easy to use.
There are a few other resources that I think are useful to have in a package that is easy to reach such that everyone is in a single place. When I’m not at the computer, I frequently use Do Not Sleep and keep the computer running.
Mac Disk Cleanup can automatically erase non-essential files such as the Recycling Bin & Temporary Internet Files which take up space on your hard drive. Do Not Disturb disables software alerts such as email and Skype so you can concentrate on your work without getting distracted or seeing texts pop up while you’re in a meeting. This is a huge boost in productivity!
If you’re giving a demo, for example, Hide Desktop is fantastic because it hides all of your icons, leaving you with a clean screen. The Record Audio feature will record all that is said in meetings so you can listen back to it later. It’s also great for jotting down short notes once you have a thought!
BENEFITS
- In testing, the performance was fast.
- Integration of guest operating systems is tight.
- Installation is very easy.
- Tools for managing files and folders that are adaptable.
- There are a few options of accessing Mac folders in Windows programs.
- MacOS virtual machines can be installed directly first from the Mac iOS recovery partition.
DRAWBACKS
- Until you switch off any Mac-integration functions, they can be distracting or inconvenient.
- Since it just works on Macs, you won’t be able to swap guest computers with Windows and Linux customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Mac, and how does Parallels Toolbox work?
Parallels Toolbox is just a set of Mac utilities that can help you get stuff done quicker. Parallels Toolbox comes included with the Parallels toolbox for Mac as a bonus program. It’s also available as a stand-alone item.
Is similarities incompatible with your Mac?
Both yes and no. Parallels, as a virtual machine server, can deny all entry to your OSX, including keychain access, home folder access, and so on. Furthermore, any malware aimed at you would be on Windows & would not run natively on OSX, so you’re secure. You’re also vulnerable to threats when it comes to the VM itself.
How does Parallels Toolbox work and what is it?
For Windows Parallels Toolbox is a go-to tool for completing everyday activities at a fraction of the cost of a single competing utility. You can quickly import and convert YouTube images, take advanced screenshots, disable your computer’s built-in camera, and capture a video of your phone, among other features.
Is Comparisons for Mac a smart idea?
Parallels Toolbox is an ideal way for average users to run Windows applications on MacOS. It performs well in tests, has close connectivity between Macs & guest systems, which supports a variety of other operating systems. Editors at PCMag choose and rate products on their own.
Is it true that comparisons make a Mac run slower?
“Parallels would not hold you back unless the Mac has been under to bring multiple OSs at the very same time,” you can conclude based on the answers. When you use Parallels, you’re operating a full Network architecture inside of OS X.
Is it true that running Windows on a Mac slows it down?
No, downloading Apps on OS X via Bootcamp would not slow it down or introduce viruses, if you’re downloading third-party executable programs in OS X with both the assistance of other 3rd-party applications to run mti files. Since it is tested by Apple, Basic training is safer than most other virtual worlds.
Leave a Reply