Windows Environment on Mac

Cavallino · 16 Nov 2010 at 21:23

Ok so continuing my journey into the realm of the unknown, could anyone shed any light on whats the best way to run Windows on a Mac? (I.e. I have heard of some emulation/virtual machine type software) Or is dual booting a better way to go?

Generall speaking for what main reasons do people revert to Windows on a Mac?

Also which version would you go for ? XP? Vista? 7?

These questions are probably blatantly obvious to most on here but please be gentle

TriedandTested · 16 Nov 2010 at 21:47

Parallels 6. Windows 7.

Cavallino · 16 Nov 2010 at 21:53

WeOwnTheSky said:
Parallels 6. Windows 7.

Do I need to buy Windows 7 separately? Or does Parallels come with the OS?
(I have a spare Windows 7 Professional which is quite lucky!)

Thanks btw

AtticusFinch · 16 Nov 2010 at 21:56

Bootcamp's built in and free you can install windows and boot into either. Parallels if you want to switch between the two OSs on the fly.

Cavallino · 16 Nov 2010 at 22:10

Presumably an on the fly OS would be resource consuming? I.e. Parallels runs slower than Bootcamp?

AtticusFinch · 16 Nov 2010 at 22:44

Not noticeably slower on the newest machines really. I use bootcamp if I do need to switch as restarting the machine doesn't take long anyway.

knowledge123 · 17 Nov 2010 at 00:28

Some good discussion here. What are you planning to use it for?

Cavallino · 17 Nov 2010 at 09:12

Well tbh, nothing specific, but it would be nice to fall back on a familiar environment?

It would be nice to play some games which are not possible on the Mac? (How does parallels et al cope with this?)

Thanks

iraiguana · 17 Nov 2010 at 12:45

If it is for games then bootcamp is the only sensible option.

TheMagicPirate · 17 Nov 2010 at 13:56

I used to use bootcamp but gradually found myself using it less and less as time went on.

Recently I wanted to do somw work and Word for Mac is utter tripe so I looked at Parallels and its great for running windows programs in thier own windows.

Phrozenpenguin · 17 Nov 2010 at 16:20

I use VMWare Fusion 3 daily, have for over two years, with both windows XP and windows 7. No complaints (except I can't put 8gb RAM in my Macbook).

tabs · 17 Nov 2010 at 16:53

I will be getting an iMac 27", would i need the 32 or 64bit version of windows 7?

keogh · 17 Nov 2010 at 17:07

I'd recommend VMWare Fusion over Parallels anyday as well, only because last time I used Parallels it just BSODed on boot after installing WIndows, I did the exact same install on VMWare and it worked a treat. I think VMWare has more to offer also, although I'm not sure what Parallels has changed since.

Cavallino · 17 Nov 2010 at 17:35

Presumably VMware is a virtual environment (not a bootup OS)?

iraiguana · 17 Nov 2010 at 18:37

Bootcamp is the only bootable environment alternative to OSX.

Parallels and VMWare are both virtual environments.

If you are expecting good performance from your windows for games or similar use boot camp.

If it is for small low intensive tasks then use a VE.

Cavallino · 17 Nov 2010 at 19:11

Thanks all.

Can I ask in terms of gaming, what kind of performance defecit one should expect from using a virtual vs bootable environment for the same hardware?

E.g. say using an emulator of some kind and also say playing a non intensive 3D game. I dont know something like, one of the Lego adventure games?

J1nxy · 18 Nov 2010 at 08:00

Cavallino said:
Thanks all.

Can I ask in terms of gaming, what kind of performance defecit one should expect from using a virtual vs bootable environment for the same hardware?

E.g. say using an emulator of some kind and also say playing a non intensive 3D game. I dont know something like, one of the Lego adventure games?

If your looking at playing games then you'd boot into the Boot Camp windows environment but with both Fusion and Parallels you can also startup your Boot Camp install as a Virtual Machine.

Vonhelmet · 18 Nov 2010 at 09:11

Parallels has stopped my wife whining about my having bought a Mac, so for me it was definitely money well spent.

Phrozenpenguin · 18 Nov 2010 at 09:55

VMWare is a virtual machine environment. I don't do games, but do do some heavy number crunching on my machine (in Windows, virtualised), and it copes fine. Sure, it might be slightly quicker in bootcamp, but the convenience of being able to switch between OS on the fly is worth much more to me.

I run x86 Windows OS, as thats what I have, and I don't have enough memory or prgrams to take advantage of x64. VMWare fusion will support both.