Not every Chromebook is compatible with PDCE, though. PDCE also allows IT admins to manage both the Windows and Chrome OS features of a Chromebook, giving IT departments the control they need for deployment, security, and more. Parallels claims that the integration is seamless both Windows and Chrome OS apps will share the same clipboard, mouse cursor, network connections, and more. PDCE enables users to run both Chrome OS and Windows apps side by side on a Chromebook, even when the Chromebook is not connected to the Internet.Ĭoupled with many Chromebooks’ ability to run Android apps, PDCE makes compatible Chromebooks some of the most versatile business laptops on the market. The program allows Chrome OS to run Windows-only apps (e.g., Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, etc.). Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise (PDCE) is a new software tool from the company. That is changing thanks to new software from Parallels, one of the leaders in cross-compatibility tools. Chief among them is its incompatibility with Windows applications, especially those upon which many businesses around the world rely. News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details hereĬhromebooks offer a simple but powerful experience for most people, but Chrome OS has some glaring weaknesses.
Administrators just specify where user devices can download the Windows image and can set the disk space needed, as well as what apps end users are allowed to install.Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome!
Parallels integrates with the Google Admin Console. Another integration is the ability for Windows to access printers in Chrome OS, as well as network connections. docx - automatically open in Windows as the default behavior, while you have the same ability to set where web links launch. Desktop, Documents, Downloads, and other Windows user folders appear in the Chrome Files app. As such, there’s a shared clipboard where text or images copied in Chrome OS can be pasted into Windows, and vice versa. Google and Parallels worked closely to implement this solution. For example: “chart trendlines in Excel, captions and citations in Word, and custom fonts or headers and footers in PowerPoint.”
Meanwhile, other apps are more feature-rich on Windows. Some businesses still have custom, proprietary applications that are only available on Microsoft’s platform.
The Parallels Desktop pitch today is entirely for enterprise customers that use Chromebooks.
Otherwise, the Windows 10 experience on Chromebooks is accessed from the Parallels Desktop icon in the bottom shelf, with the same state preserved on open/close.
This is particularly useful with the Virtual Desks feature on Chromebooks where you can four-finger swipe between entirely different experiences. One nifty detail is how the cursor transforms depending on what OS you’re hovering over.Īlternatively, you can enter fullscreen mode to obscure the underlying operating system.
It can be resized, while full touch and keyboard input is supported. In the future, you might be able to just launch specific apps, but everything in this initial version happens in a literal window that has two rows of buttons with various controls. Google created a secure sandbox for Windows that can easily be wiped if needed.
This virtual machine sees a full version of Windows installed on your Chrome OS device that works offline. Parallels Desktop for Chromebook Enterprise is launching today to provide access to Windows apps that some businesses still need. Back in June, Google announced that Windows apps are coming to Chrome OS through a third-party partnership - instead of an in-house solution.