MacWorld is reporting that the Parallels software, which allows Apple users to have Windows or Linux run in a virtualized environment, will support Chrome OS. At CeBIT this week in Germany they have been even showing off a machine that is running their latest version, Parallels 5 with Chrome OS. I haven’t been able to find a video but when I do I will post it here.

This is news but at the same time it isn’t. That’s because its already a known commodity that Parallels works with Chrome OS on a Mac, as instructions but the website Cult of Mac showed in mid-January how to run Chrome OS successfully in Parallels. But with that being said, since this is something that the company can show off at CeBIT, making it known that they officially stand behind supporting Chrome OS, there is a bit of significance here.

Still, one must keep in mind that the portable computer products with which Google is planning to put Chrome OS on doesn’t directly compete with Apple. That’s because devices like the iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone do not support Parallels other than the less-powerful Parallels Mobile Remote free application from the App Store. So unless Apple is planning on putting out a netbook or smartbook with Mac OS X on it, this seems like more of a tool for those application developers who use Mac hardware with OS X rather than the typical user.

To all the Mac fans out there: have hope. This is a high-quality post from Cultofmac on using Parallels to VM Chrome OS. Parallels seems to be the virtualization software that is more focused on the Mac market than any other OS that’s out there. Many users have had concerns that they cannot run Chrome OS because they use Apple products, but this post shows that is not always the case! I don’t know if it is possible to run Chrome OS directly off of a USB drive in Mac, so please post on the forum so we know.

Anyways, you can find the tutorial right here.

Enjoy!