I will be in the same situation in a week's time, getting a MBA 11 with the need to run some Windows programs, also in fact trying to run Word 2003 (for Windows) on the Mac. I have read some recommondations of using Cross Over for this. You don't mention this option. Do you have some experience with it? And, about Wineskin: Is this easy to use and to install? Are there differences (pro and con) between these different ways of running Windows?
Crossover uses the technology of Wineskin but is a commercial software offering. (Wineskin is open source and free)
I didn't mention Crossover because I have limited experience using it. It is geared toward those who aren't technical and so I was stumbling and fumbling over trying to figure out what they expected of their target audience so that I could "go with the flow". They do seem to have an active forum where issues are discussed.
Office 2003 has a "silver" rating for running in Crossover. As to what specifically isn't functioning properly wasn't clear but it does seem to work.
There is a trial version of Crossover so I recommend installing it and then installing the software you intend to use with it... kick the tires and see if it will work for you. If it does, then buy the license.
IMO, if a Windows application can run under Crossover or Wineskin then that is the preferred way to go.
With that approach, you don't need a Windows license. The storage footprint is much lower than having Windows installed (even a minimally functional install). Crossover/Wineskin will use less RAM than running Windows in a virtual machine.
One does need to be a bit technical to configure Wineskin. The very nice thing about it is that it creates a standalone executable that can simply be copied to another Mac and run without any fuss... just double-click the icon.
Of course it is highly dependent upon one's needs and the apps in question, so don't be surprised to see recommendations that go counter what I just wrote.
