Recommended to run Windows on Mac

[CarlC]

I am waiting for my new MacBook to ship. Should I allocate some of the hard drive or partition before I start using it for Windows? If I will eventually need Windows? I am not sure if I need it so I may wait. Right now, Photoshop CS3 would be what I am thinking but frankly I have not used it for a year, LR3 does everything I need normally.

Would Parallels Desktop be the recommendation? Anyother reason to wait is I am not sure which way to go.

--
Just an amateur
http://www.moosehead.smugmug.com

 

[admwright]

If you are not sure you will need to use Windows then one of the virtulisation programs would be the way to go. Paralles and Fusion cost money, VirtualBox is free.
--
All the best
Andrew W.

 

[Chester S Parks]

I switched from Parallels to VMWare Fussion. I like it better. See:

http://tidbits.com/article/12498

 

[Tom_N]

Unless you are going to be running Windows games or applications that like to poke around at the hardware, it's more convenient to run Windows in a virtual machine.

If you do want to set up dual booting, I get the impression that Boot Camp should allow you to repartition your hard drive at any time, without losing your Mac files, provided that you have enough free disk space. You might, however, want to ensure that you have a full and current backup of your drive before running Boot Camp, so as not to tempt fate.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3777

 

[ajcook]

The only reason I can see to bother with a Windows installation is if there are specific applications on Windows that you must run which have no viable Mac equivalent.

I suspect you'll be far happier running a native version of Photoshop than a Windows version - the native version will integrate better with the rest of the system.

I assumed I'd need Windows software when I switched - then recently realised I no longer had VMWare installed, and hadn't missed it. I suspect it got uninstalled a couple of years ago.

 

[Alpha Doug]

If you think you would ever need Photoshop, now would be a very good time to upgrade to CS5 (if you talk with Adobe Sales, they will let you do a "cross grade" to the Mac version for the same upgrade price as usual). If you let it slide until CS6 comes out, you will have to buy the full version.

I would work real hard on not having to install Windows. It just complicates things unless you need it for something specific. Also eats up a lot of disk space.

--
Only my opinion. It's worth what you paid for it. Your mileage may vary! ;-}

http://www.dougwigton.com/

 

[Corkcampbell]

your Windows using Parallels? I am using the trial of Parallels 7 now and need to use my Apple Bluetooth Keyboard with Windows (for teaching), but don't have my keyboard with me now so I can't test it. The article you referenced earlier made some comment about not being able to use Bluetooth.

 

[pdxrunner]

your Windows using Parallels? I am using the trial of Parallels 7 now and need to use my Apple Bluetooth Keyboard with Windows

I simultaneously use bluetooth keyboard, magic pad, and mouse on my MBP. They all work seamlessly in Windows 7 running in a Parallels VM. The keyboard and magic pad are Apple, the mouse is a Targus, model AMB09US. I have separate bluetooth keyboards at home and work and the MBP switches between them without any problems.

I develop and test software on the Windows VM (and sometimes a Linux VM) for work, so the virtual machine configurations do get a workout. Never had an issue with the peripherals.

I'm currently running Snow Leopard and upgraded to Parallels 7 yesterday.

 

[CarlC]

Thank you the link was a good read.
--
Just an amateur
http://www.moosehead.smugmug.com

 

[CarlC]

Thank you, I had not thought of this... My use would never justify the full price. I question the upgrade price but really hate to let it go just in case someday given more time I may use it more.

Yes based on all the post and a visit to the apple store today I am going to wait on setting up something for windows products.

--
Just an amateur
http://www.moosehead.smugmug.com

 

[Corkcampbell]

will test my Lion/W7 setup today. Because this is an important issue for many users, I'm assuming that I just misread the article that said Bluetooth is a problem with Parallels/Win7.

 

[f8BeThereToo]

A bluetooth keyboard works fine with VMWare Fusion, Windows 7 and Snow Leopard. I haven't tested it with Lion.

The linked TidBITS article is well worth reading. The high cost of keeping Parrallels up-to-date vs. Fusion upgrade fees was a real eye opener for me:

"If you had purchased Parallels 1.0 for full retail price and bought every upgrade thereafter, you would have paid a total of $559.91 to date (not counting the cost of Parallels Mobile, if you purchased that too).

So a Fusion owner who bought the original release at full retail price and every subsequent upgrade would have paid only $169.97 to date, a mere 30 percent of what a Parallels owner would have paid. Moreover, Fusion’s new license agreement says that, except for commercial and educational settings, one license is good for all the Macs you own or control; the Parallels license requires you to buy a separate copy for each Mac."

Fusion is often available at a discount for $40-$50 and there are usually cross-grade specials too.

 

[tonyjr]

I have windows on my MBP but not on desktop . There are a few programs out there that don't run on a mac . [ for me a key cutting program and a couple of small engine programs - lawnmowers , paint sprayers , generators ]
--
1st it's a hobby
7D gripped XTI gripped
Canon - efs 10-22 , 17-55 , ef 18-55 IS
EF 28-90 , 28 @ 2.8 , 50 @1.8 , 28-135 IS
L's 35-350 , 70-200 MK II IS
Quantaray lens 70-300 macro
Sigma 135 - 400
2X III , Life Size converter
KSM filters for all
kenko auto tubes , EF 25

 

[Corkcampbell]

before, but my question was about Lion. Since posting, I have tried Parallels and the keyboard (Win7) with no luck. My support questions to them haven't been answered yet, but I assume that they are very busy.

I just finished downloading the new VMware 4.0, so will try it later today - it's after 3:00 AM!

Both of these are trial versions; I have no idea if I can have both on my computer at the same time (not open, just available). Parallels works great, except for the Bluetooth situation, and it is only $29.

 

[graybalanced]

Both of these are trial versions; I have no idea if I can have both on my computer at the same time (not open, just available).

It is not a problem because virtualization software is basically an application, and the virtual machine is a document. So having Parallels, Fusion, and VirtualBox sitting on your hard drive is no different than having Photoshop, iPhoto, and Picasa sitting on your hard drive: they are three apps that do the same general thing but don't get in each others' way.

Each app can handle multiple "virtual machines," and each of those is like a document file, so again, being a mere document file, it does not interfere with the system or other virtualization apps. In fact you can sometimes open a virtual machine document in another virtualizer and convert it. I think I converted a Parallels VM for use in VirtualBox.

If you want to get technical about it, some virtualizers do install extensions at the kernel level, which always has the potential to interfere with everything, but luckily VM software has matured in the last few years and they are not as messy as they once were.

 

[Corkcampbell]

no text

 

[Greg Eddinger]

When Intel first appeared on a Mac I installed Parallels and XP to run Qimage Pro and Win Exploder. Unfortunately I work in the Real Estate industry and the MLS is built on an Exploder 6.0 or newer only system. I ditched Qimage Pro after Doug made some good points as about with the newer software that I already had that I wasn't really missing much. Yes the sizing for prints in Qimage. As far as the MlS I have found that if needed to use Exploder there are wine downloads that will accomplish that.
I have not brought any Win stuff onto my computer since my last OS upgrade.
Bye Bye MS.
--
Gregory Eddinger
Those that believe they can, CAN, because they BELIEVE!