Want OS X or Windows 8 On Your iPad? Check Out Parallels Access

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I just got a subscription to Parallels Access, and although I will be doing a full review I had to share a quick post because… “It is all kinds of awesome!” Minutes after creating an account, I had full access to my Mac from my iPad. The gestures are amazing. There’s no lag time. It just works. Check it out.

I’ve used LogMeIn Ignition for some time. I like it a good deal and didn’t think I needed or even wanted Parallels Access. But after trying out my reviewer’s access to the service, I’m blown away. The biggest difference? In my initial use of Parallels Access it doesn’t actually FEEL like I’m remotely logged in. Now I’ll have to see how that works when I am out and about, but if it stays as snappy and as easy to use as I have just experienced, then this is a winner!

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With Parallel Access you can change windows, launch every application on you Mac, adjust settings, and much more. The key is the amazingly powerful array of gestures built into it. We’ll have a close look at those in the full review. In the meantime I’ll close with this: There have been some soft rumors of a 13″ iPad at some point. I’ve never seen the need. But with Parallel’s Access I can already say I would be in line for it, since it would make carrying an 11″ or a 13″ MacBook air completely redundant. Yeah, it is that cool. You might even say… game changer.

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About the Author

Dan Cohen
Having a father who was heavily involved in early laser and fiber-optical research, Dan grew up surrounded by technology and gadgets. Dan’s father brought home one of the very first video games when he was young and Dan remembers seeing a “pre-release” touchtone phone. (When he asked his father what the “#” and “*” buttons were his dad said, “Some day, far in the future, we’ll have some use for them.”) Technology seemed to be in Dan’s blood but at some point he took a different path and ended up in the clergy. His passion for technology and gadgets never left him. Dan is married to Raina Goldberg who is also an avid user of Apple products. They live in New Jersey with their golden doodle Nava.

1 Comment on "Want OS X or Windows 8 On Your iPad? Check Out Parallels Access"

  1. While I appreciate all the effort Parallels went to iOS-ify remote access, jabbing at desktop-designed controls with a finger just can’t compare to a jailbroken iPad with a Bluetooth mouse. And I’m not so sure gestures is worth $80/year PER COMPUTER you want to access! Especially since it doesn’t seem to allow you to transfer files from the session host to your iPad.

    Anyhow, all of these apps turning into subscription services makes me frown. Really glad I grabbed LogMeIn Ignition back when it was flat $30, which grandfathered me into the updated $130 (yikes!) version. Now it’s either that or you get nickel and dimed to death with the free version…

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