main image 0d178cf9d5fedfc60ed0f56901319bbf
Just ahead of Black Friday 2012, StackSocial has launched their Mac Utility Bundle which includes 5 Mac Apps for $59.99. The total retail value for the included apps are $245. The apps include

- Parallels Desktop 8 ($80) - Run Windows on your Mac
- Snagit ($50) - Record screen videos
- VirusBarrier X6 ($50) - Virus protection
- MacOptimizer ($29) - Disk utility
- Rubbernet ($36) - Monitor network-enabled apps

The $59.99 price represents a discount on full price of Parallels Desktop 8, but also includes these other apps. Meanwhile, Parallels seems to be offering their own discount to the same $59.99 but on their one app alone.

MacRumors is an affiliate partner of StackSocial.

Top Rated Comments

blevins321 Avatar
172 months ago
He didn't say Parallels 7, he said Windows 7.
Picture is Parallels 7.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Colpeas Avatar
172 months ago
As with all such bundles, it contains only one useful app.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iSee Avatar
172 months ago
Oh, ok, so: Parallels 8 for $60. Not too bad.



I bought Parallels yesterday from Newegg. It came on a thumb drive WITHOUT AN ACTIVATION CODE. I called Parallels emailed them my receipt and it wasn't good enough. It took me fifty minutes on the phone to get
an activation code.
I installed it and am trying to install WIN 7 from a disk image as I bought it on line. This is said to be okay and its been 75 minutes and it is still trying to install. Something is wrong but after 25 minutes on hold they say give me your telephone and we will call U back.
This company disrespects it customers and the software has not improved since Parallels 4 years ago.
I would avoid this product like the plague.:mad:

Your activation problems are with Newegg, not Parallels -- think rationally for even one second and you can see that. Geeze, I'm not a big Parallels fan, but your criticism is wholly misdirected in this case. And, by the way, a disk image should work fine. But given your lack of critical thinking skills, I'd be willing to bet this is user error. God only know who you "bought" that windows 7 disk image from. (I'm thinking from microsoft.com.ru).
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blevins321 Avatar
172 months ago
I bought Parallels yesterday from Newegg. It came on a thumb drive WITHOUT AN ACTIVATION CODE. I called Parallels emailed them my receipt and it wasn't good enough. It took me fifty minutes on the phone to get
an activation code.
I installed it and am trying to install WIN 7 from a disk image as I bought it on line. This is said to be okay and its been 75 minutes and it is still trying to install. Something is wrong but after 25 minutes on hold they say give me your telephone and we will call U back.
This company disrespects it customers and the software has not improved since Parallels 4 years ago.
I would avoid this product like the plague.:mad:
You bought Parallels 7 yesterday with one day shipping from Newegg? 8 has been out for a few months...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SteelWheel Avatar
172 months ago
I'm reasonably certain that "palmharbor" is using Parallels 7 as well; Parallels 8 has "built-in" (= certified to be legit downloads) guest OSes. I was just looking at a review of this in one of the Mac magazines the other day. IIRC, a user can easily get a copy of Windows 7 or 8, the "off-the-shelf" version of the latest Ubuntu distro, Chrome OS (although: Why?), Android, or Mountain Lion from your recovery partition, as a part of the process of installing Parallels itself. Why bother installing a separately purchased version of Windows? All you really need is the license key. It's been a while since I've installed Windows on a machine, but in general, you just enter the license key at the prompt. I'm not even sure why Parallels customer support is supposed to be your first resort on a problem installing Windows. If I had that problem, I'd be calling Redmond, I think..
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
msandersen Avatar
172 months ago
Parallels---------Virtual Box
Snagit------------Built in with QT or an app like Jing
VirusBarrier-----ClamXav
MacOptimizer----Onyx
Rubbernet--------PrivateEye

Not sure why one would pay for these when the ones I listed are FREE alternatives
1. As people mentioned, Virtual Box is not a match for Parallels.
2. I'm not interested in AV, though I have the free Sophos AV for on-demand scanning of downloaded or suspect files, I don't care of always-on scanning if I can help it like we need for our PCs; it may yet come to that in the future, but we're not there yet thankfully.
But seriously, ClamXav? It's the worst of the lot, sadly. You can argue it is worse than no AV, since it gives you a false sense of security, esp on the Mac, as it doesn't really do Mac viruses. I deliberately downloaded a copy of the iWork trojan to test against when it came out, which is a long time ago now, and to this day Clam fails to detect it. All other AVs I've tested, inc on the PC, detect it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
iOS 26 Home Feature

Apple Gives Final Warning to Home App Users

Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching. In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...