Windows on a MAC

[DuckRyder]

Has anyone done this using Parallels Desktop and if so is it possible to boot into Windows as well as run a Windows Program from within OS-X Lion?

I know that you can do it either way, but my question is can you do it both ways?

[Racer Z]

I'm not a Mac guy, but I did own a Mac laptop for a while. It used an Intel chip and the Panther OS. I could boot to Windows Vista. I already owned Vista and the rest of the stuff was pre-installed with Panther.

The key here is that this particular Mac used the Intel chips, not the Motorola chips that Mac usually uses.

That's all I know about that.

[robroy]

Good day Robert,

I think I know what you're asking here. This is the concept of being able to boot your Mac in to Windows (without Parallels), and at another time, being able to boot OS X, start Parallels, and start that exact same Windows instance (not a separate instance) from within Parallels. That's it, right?

I've seen people do this with Windows and VMware Workstation a number of times, and it worked fine for them.

I've never used Parallels though so I'm not sure if it can do it or not.

Robroy

[DuckRyder]

Yeah, I think that is what I am asking.

VM Ware is also mentioned, Parallels (PD) is a bit easier to find...

So Kat got a MAC and the photo program we use does not have a MAC version, considering a competitor program which comes in a MAC version or using PD or VMWare to run Windows and the program.

I guess my question is is the installation different to run it from boot vs from within OS-X, Honestly I doubt she would ever boot into Windows anyway, but I am just trying to cover the bases... It will cost a bit more to do the Windows thing (basically PD and the Photo programs cost the same, so it will cost whatever Windows cost more). From what I understand you can set it up so that the program is on the MAC dock and clicking on it automatically opens Windows and runs it?

[flyboy71]

Ive never used it either but know a few folks who do and say they love it for what it is. It runs Windows as a virtual machine under the OS-X environment. Since I got my MacBook Pro a few months ago I havent even considered Windows. Seeing all the problems we have at work with Windows for me it would be like going back to a typewriter. Im surprised how many programs are available for Mac now compared to the past. Thats kinda why I finally made the decision. Well that and having to virus scan every other day for some malware crap after my kids were on my Win laptop. Theres my

[Racer Z]

I'm sure that things have changed since I had my MacBookPro with Panther and Vista. They didn't call it Parallels then either. But I could do exactly what you described.

The installation of both OS's was the same no matter what I wanted to do later. I had to install OS X before I could install Windows.
I didn't use OS X much because all the software I normally used was only available for Windows.
Running both OS's at the same time was possible, but each OS suffered from it; system resources was consumed by each running OS.

Sharing of information between the two OS's was limited, very limited. To share any information I had to save it to a file then switch to the other OS. Windows cannot (could not then) recognize a Mac partition. Mac can recognize a Windows partition, but .... there was some glitch with it ... I can't remember clearly now ... I think Mac had to build the Windows partition in order for Mac to work with it, but Windows could not work with a Mac built partition. When I flushed the system and started over, I let Windows build the Windows partition then Windows worked correctly but Mac could not read the Windows partition.

Building a third small DOS partition would be an option, but I did not try that. Both OS's can read a Windows made DOS partition (Fat 32).

Personally, I think:
If you want to run Windows stuff, just get a Windows machine. If you want a Mac, get Mac software that does what you want. They are both good machines, but it's kind of like putting a Chevy motor in a Ford. Why bother?

[DuckRyder]

I certainly agree that a program that can run natively within OS-X is the way to go if we can find one.

If not I'll give PD (or perhaps VM Ware) a shot...

http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#windowsmac

[Racer Z]

The video shows some improvements over how things worked when I had Panther and Vista. The basic install is the same with Boot Camp, but Parallels is new. VM Ware has been around forever and makes good stuff. What some people overlook here is that not only will you be running two OS's simultaneously, but now your adding yet a third major program, Parallels, and you haven't even started the application(s) you want yet. System performance will be sluggish.

You do have the option to boot into Windows without running OS X and/or Parallels. At that point it will perform just like any other Windows computer. There is nothing wrong with a Mac, or the Mac OS and applications. Does somebody make a Mac application to do your job? That would be the way to go.

[stephen44]

Boot Camp is Apple's software tool for converting your Mac into a dual-boot computer. It's part of OS 10.5 Leopard, and you'll need your Leopard installer DVD to use it.

here is a link http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2344661,00.asp

and here discusses this vs. Parallels http://www.macworld.com/article/1163964 ... _camp.html

Hope this helps

[DuckRyder]

We use a Corel photo program:

PaintShop Pro X4 Ultimate

Which does not have a MAC version.

It looks like options are:

Aperture 3

Photoshop Elements 10

The Corel program has a lot of special brushes that Kat likes to use (Like dewrinkle ) that I'm not sure are available in either of the other programs. Elements does have a trial so if it will do what she wants that is probably what we will do.

I'm not real concerned about slowing the MAC appreciably it is a quad core i7 and is blazing fast, I mean it is amazing really...

Edit: Thanks stephen good link...!

Edit 2: Boot Camp comes with OS-X Lion and Lion does not come with an installer DVD, it uses internet recovery - which does work (I know because they tell you you can run migration assistant after set up, but they don't tell you that you cannot merge the accounts, but that is another subject) You can buy a recovery USB key or create your own.

[Racer Z]

This seems like a good time to tell a short story.

I've been doing IBM, PC, DOS and Windows for 20+++ years now with little exposure to Macs. One day I found a complete Mac system next to a garbage can. Took it home and it worked. A few day later I found another Mac, this time it was just the computer. A few days later I bought a Mac at the thrift store.

After a bit of learning, I found that they all worked, but more importantly, they were all the same family of Mac, Power PC (the early grey box units). After a while my knowledge of these Power PC's grew to where I knew that each computer had it's strong points and weak points. So I took all three apart down to the chip level and put them back together in a different order. I used all of the best parts to build one better, faster computer.

The point I'm coming to is this: The first time I turned on this "better" Mac, it worked. I did not need to reboot three times. I did not have to answer 20 questions. I did not need to reset any jumpers on the main board. I did not need to insert the OS disk. Whatever changes needed to be done, Mac did on the fly without interruption. I have never, ever been able to do that with a DOS or Windows machine.

[Racer Z]

We use a Corel photo program:

Which does not have a MAC version.

I'm not real concerned about slowing the MAC appreciably it is a quad core i7 and is blazing fast, I mean it is amazing really...

I use Paintshop Pro, an early version before Corel bought Jasc. A really good paint program. I've tried many a demo, but never found anything that would use to replace Paintshop Pro with.

The i7 is an Intel chip and you will be able to boot directly into Windows, bypassing OS X and Parallels.

Keep in mind that as computers get faster, the software manufactures make their programs busier, so you don't end up with all this "extra" horsepower that it seems we should.