Parallels announced the availability of the new Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac today. Parallels Desktop 5 allows you to run Windows 7 or Linux next to your Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

According to performance research conducted by Crimson Consulting Group, Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac performs 22% faster than the nearest Windows-on-Mac competitor in standard productivity testing of Windows 7 64-bit on a MacBook Pro. In addition, version 5 is up to 300% faster for virtual machine operations than the previous version. For 3D and graphics performance, tested under the industry standard 3Dmark 2006 Professional test suite the new version performs up to 7 times better.
There are more than 70 new features in Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac, many of which give users the flexibility to work in the way they want.
Users can choose how much or little Windows they want to see, from running Windows in Full Screen mode where Windows completely covers the Mac user interface to the new Crystal view mode which makes Windows completely disappear.
Users can even get a Mac-like experience in their Windows applications, using the intuitive Apple Trackpad Gestures technology to pinch, swipe, and rotate as they do in Mac applications.
Parallels Desktop 5 for Mac sells on Amazon.com for $79.99.