Using a MBP along with a Windows Desktop

Unbreakable

Unbreakable

Unbreakable

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Does anyone use a macbook pro and a windows desktop? Im looking at getting a new laptop soon and quite fancy trying out a mac for a change.

Are there any disadvantages to using one when my main machine is a PC?
Can you transfer file types between both machines with out having to using windows on the MBP? Files I would most likely transfer would be Documents and media.
 
Yes, me.

File transfers are fine. Macs suck a bit with network shares, but it will work. I prefer FAT formatted memory sticks personally.

It's the perfect setup for me. I have a Windows desktop for when I need the horsepower (buying a Mac Pro is not an option) and I have a quality laptop to use with a great battery. Best of both worlds.
 
Well the one PC in our house (my sons gaming PC) plays very well with all the other Apple computers in the house.

Documents, media and so on work fine and thanks to Steam on OSX I can even play against my son on Team Fortress 2

Unlike the poster above I find more trouble getting WindowS to play ball with network shares but I've never yet had any real problems with shares.
 
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Another MBP/iMac and PC home user here. File transfer no problem. The reason I keep the pc is couple of the program I use are pc only. Yes I know I can run Parallel and all that.
 
I have a Windows desktop but it's sitting in the corner of the room not plugged in to anything :)

Media isn't a problem. All you need to know is Perian, Flip4Mac, and VLC as a fallback.
 
theheyes said:
File transfers are fine. Macs suck a bit with network shares, but it will work. I prefer FAT formatted memory sticks personally.
Click to expand...

I was considering a MacBook, but it hadn't occurred to me that OS X wouldn't write to an NTFS partition. For someone who'd be transferring lots of data using an external drive, that has to be a bit of a nuisance :(
 
How to Install Windows Vista on Mac

Obviously there are many reasons to use Windows application or file on Mac. For those who just switch from Windows Vista to Mac, chances are you want keep some of your favorite Windows software, use Windows-only devices or open some important Windows files on your Mac. The guide below offers two ways to install and run Windows Vista on Mac.

Actually, Apple allows you to install Windows Vista on Mac with built-in utility called Boot Camp. Before proceeding, here are some important things you need to know:
1. Mac OS X version 10.5 or later (the latest version of Mac OS X is strongly recommended).
2. Use only 32-bit versions of Windows Vista, unless you have a Mac Pro or a MacBook Pro introduced in early 2008 or later, you can use a 64-bit version of Windows Vista.
3. Let along the overwhelming installation process, you need to reboot the Mac every time you want to use the Windows application or open a windows file.

Although this is free, many Mac users find boot camp a bad idea. For a hassle-free experience, check below method. It’s not free, but it is well worth the money for the time and trouble saved.
Windows Desktop for Mac lets you install
Windows vista for Mac OS X easily and run Windows Vista without rebooting. You can seamlessly run Windows applications on Mac, side-by-side with Mac applications on the dock, and drag-and-drop your files between operating systems. Below is the guide on how to install the Windows Vista on Mac.

Step 1: Download and install Windows Desktop for Mac.

Step 2: Open Parallels Desktop and you will see the Welcome window that will help you start working. Choose New Windows Installation or any other option according to your need.

welcome-window.jpg


Step 3: When the Create New Virtual Machine window pops up, insert Windows Vista installation disc or specify the source of the image of installation files and click Continue.

create-new-vm.jpg


Step 4: Your operating system will be detected automatically, and choose Express Installation offered. And you will need to provide: the Windows product key, a user name and password.

product-key.jpg


Step 5: Choose the level of integration between your Windows and Mac OS applications and files. You can choose one of the ways of working with your Windows applications.

integration.jpg


Step 6: Set your virtual machine name and location or just use the default.

name-and-location.jpg


Step 7: When finished, click Create.
 
Someone in this thread works for Parallels, methinks! ;)

I have a MBP which plays well with my Windows domain at home. Shares can be an issue with OS X. I find OS X is not as user friendly [and slightly dumber than] Windows when it comes to managing them. It is a small issue though.

I like using my MBP so much I run Windows 7 through Parallels. Makes it much easier to do my job [Windows admin] without needing to switch to a PC all the time. As has been posted, I see having Windows and OS X as a best of both worlds situation.
 
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