"When I realized that VMware didn’t support M1 well, I switched back to Parallels and never looked back. You were way ahead with development on M1 Macs."
IT Consultant
Dealing with multiple laptops or devices is an expensive hassle for a self-employed IT consultant who must maintain separate environments for each client.
Marco Schilder needed a flexible solution for medium—to enterprise-sized clients in the healthcare, insurance, and retail verticals.
He found an answer in Parallels Desktop, which allows him to use his preferred device — an M1 MacBook with 32GB of RAM — and still run individual instances of Windows in virtual machines for each client.
The ChallengeEliminate the need for multiple devices and streamline work processes
Marco used Parallels Desktop but switched to VMware when his former employer had a license agreement that allowed him to use the solution for free.
However, he reports that “VMware didn’t support M1 or Apple silicon well when the new Macs were introduced. That made me switch back to Parallels Desktop from VMware because the development on M1 Macs was much better. Now, with Parallels, I don’t need to carry multiple devices to handle different client needs, and switching between Windows environments on my Mac is easy."
It was his new (at the time) M1 MacBook that sparked Marco’s decision.
"The main factor was the M1 MacBook. VMware wasn’t even close to where Parallels was in terms of supporting M1, so when I got my M1 Mac, switching back to Parallels was a no-brainer.."
He goes on to share how the ability to run Windows seamlessly on his Mac was a major factor, especially for applications like Visio and several modules for PowerShell that aren’t available natively on macOS.
The SolutionParallels Desktop enables multiple Windows 11 VMs on an M1 Mac
Marco found that Parallels Desktop was the solution he needed.
"I use [Parallels Desktop] daily. I have five virtual machines running right now, and all of them are Windows because I have five contracts running at the moment. I switch between them depending on the client’s needs."
All that switching is hassle-free with Parallels Desktop.
“The time savings are huge, especially when creating new virtual machines,” says Marco. “It downloads and sets up everything quickly, and I can be up and running within minutes.”
Marco uses Coherence mode as well, which lets him run Windows apps directly on his Mac desktop, and he finds the ability to easily switch between applications like they were native to macOS to be a great efficiency booster.
In addition, Parallels Desktop enabled Marco to easily set up, test, and deploy new setups across platforms for his clients.
"I needed a solution that allowed me to create lab environments for testing products and implementing new infrastructure for clients,” he shared.
“Before Parallels, I had to switch between physical devices, which was cumbersome. Parallels allowed me to do all of this on one machine.
This solution is far more efficient and cost-effective than running virtual machines in the cloud, especially when working with multiple clients."
Marco does have to ensure that his customers understand the benefits of Parallels Desktop, particularly how it allows him to maintain separate, secure virtual environments.
That was an easy obstacle to surmount.
"I wasn’t skeptical, but some of my customers were. They were worried about security because I was using my private Mac to access their environments,” Marco shared.
He goes on to clarify that his customers didn’t fully understand virtualization or how virtual desktops work in terms of security at first.
But once he explained how the solution worked (and with some help from Parallels Desktop documentation), getting them on board was easier.
Finally, Marco uses Parallels Desktop to play some of his favorite PC games on his Mac, including Assassin’s Creed.
The ResultsA 25% efficiency increase due to smoother workflows and seamless, secure client collaboration
Marco reports that Parallels Desktop is one of his most commonly used tools; he uses it to run Windows 11 (the 24H2 version) on virtual machines.
He shared that "being able to switch between virtual machines and customer environments quickly has made collaborating with different clients much smoother. I’m able to work with different clients’ systems without needing to physically change machines, which saves time."
How he uses Parallels Desktop "depends on the customer, but I mostly use Microsoft Office products, PowerShell, SharePoint, Visio, and Teams. I also use specific applications that are only accessible by a compliant device for the customer."
It’s also a solution that he’ll readily recommend to others, due to its "ease of use" and the ability to quickly deploy virtual machines.
Switching between tasks is fast, and I’ve never had any major issues like blue screens. It just works.
Some of the benefits Marco experienced include:
- Effortless environment switching: Easy transitions between Windows, Linux, and macOS environments save time and improve efficiency by 20% to 25% weekly.
- Secure and compliant: Maintain multiple secure environments that adhere to compliance standards and regulations.
- Cost savings: There is no need for an additional $7500-$10,000 in hardware investments since Mac and Windows OSs and apps can coexist on the same MacBook and the yearly subscription model keeps everything up to date in a cost-effective manner.
- Sustainability: Using only one device (as opposed to five or six) is more environmentally friendly.
"[It’s the] ease of use and the ability to quickly deploy new virtual machines. I also love how fast it is to switch between tasks and bring a virtual machine out of hibernation. It’s very efficient."
IT consultant
