Whether you're a freelance developer or a graphic designer, chances are that you regularly find yourself in situations where you have to multitask and switch between different programs quite often. This is not only time-consuming but also prone to error. Virtual desktops aim to solve this problem by creating a separate workspace on your computer's desktop for every program that has been launched.
What is a virtual desktop?
Virtual desktops function like real desktops that can run various applications independent of each other. They are preconfigured images of applications and operating systems whose desktop environments are separated from the devices used to access them.
Users can access the virtual desktop from any endpoint device, which can be a laptop, PC, smartphone or tablet. The provider installs client software on the endpoint device so the user can interact with the software or applications on the virtual desktop.
How to choose the best software
There are many virtual desktop providers on the market, and each claiming to be the best in the field. You may get confused when shopping for the best virtual desktop for Mac, especially if you are new in the field.
With the right information, choosing virtual desktop software for Mac shouldn't be a big deal. Here is what to look for in a virtual desktop for Mac, so you get the best suited for your needs:
Ease of use
One of the best-selling points of macOS is its user-friendliness. As a result, it is not surprising that many Mac users prefer software as easy to use as their operating system. In this category, you should consider who the end-user of the software will be.
This is especially important because high levels of user-friendliness often come with a compromise in advanced features. This means that a skilled user can benefit more from less user-friendly software with more features.
Features and functionality
Features are the main reason anyone buys software, so they should be a top priority when choosing a good virtual desktop for your business. Almost every virtual desktop software comes with a unique set of features. This makes it easier for you to choose your virtual desktop software depending on your personal preference or the tasks you want to perform with the software.
Some virtual desktop software offers advanced features like bidirectional copy-paste, but they come at a price. In that case, it would not be necessary for you to pay for the advanced features if you don't need them.
Operating systems supported
It's pretty challenging to find a Windows virtual desktop Mac users enjoy. This is because most of them lack features and restrict you to Windows only. The whole point of using a virtual desktop is to use whatever operating system you need.
This is why you should consider software like Parallels that supports multiple operating systems on your Mac. It is also made with Mac users solely in mind, making it a great virtual desktop Mac users can use effortlessly.
Hardware
Some virtual desktops are quite heavy on system requirements. You should make sure that your Mac can handle the specific one you want to purchase. If in doubt, any Mac that has 8GB of RAM can run almost any virtual desktop software effortlessly.
Price
There's no ideal price that you should pay for virtual desktop software. What you pay should instead be determined by the number of features the software offers. For example, virtual desktops with multiple OS support and advanced features like bidirectional copypasting, should cost slightly more than the basic ones that only mirror your operating system.
An extra tip, though, is to pay for a more extended subscription to enjoy discounts if you plan to use the virtual desktop for a long time.
Conclusion
Virtual desktops increase both the productivity and the aesthetics of any workstation. Using the simple steps above, you can get the best virtual desktop software for your Mac. Parallels Desktop meets all the requirements of efficient virtual desktop software. You can try it today.