Determining appropriate Windows 7 partition size

[daleyellin]

I am a relatively new "Mac convert" -- approx 3 months. I have a MacBook Pro 13", 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM, 250GB Internal HD, two 500GB external drives and I am running OS X 10.6.2. Bootcamp is ver 3.0.1.

I am preparing to install Windows 7 so I can utilize a few of my old Windows program. The Windows programs will, most probably, be limited to Micorsoft Office Outlook, ActiveSync, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Premier Elements. What would be a recommended, or optimal, Windows partition size to accommodate the mentioned programs and still give me some "spare" space if I decide to add a couple of more Windows programs to the list.

My goal is to stay in the Mac environment for everything I can and only use Windows for those task/programs I haven't been able to find a way to do on the Mac.

Thanks, in advance.

Dale Yellin

 

[Sheeds]

There are Mac versions of Microsoft office, and Adobe products, but they're costly.

I think that you'll need no more than 30GB, though it depends on the files you'll be creating as well, with Premiere you'll be using some hefty files. If I were you, I'd go for a partition of around 32GB.

 

[Habitus]

I am a relatively new "Mac convert" -- approx 3 months. I have a MacBook Pro 13", 2.53GHz, 4GB RAM, 250GB Internal HD, two 500GB external drives and I am running OS X 10.6.2. Bootcamp is ver 3.0.1.

I am preparing to install Windows 7 so I can utilize a few of my old Windows program. The Windows programs will, most probably, be limited to Micorsoft Office Outlook, ActiveSync, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Premier Elements. What would be a recommended, or optimal, Windows partition size to accommodate the mentioned programs and still give me some "spare" space if I decide to add a couple of more Windows programs to the list.

My goal is to stay in the Mac environment for everything I can and only use Windows for those task/programs I haven't been able to find a way to do on the Mac.

Thanks, in advance.

Dale Yellin

Welcome to the Apple fam and congrats on your new MBP; excellent choice!

I suggest 40GB for the partition. Enough room for basic windows usage without compromising the remaining space for the Mac OS.

Good luck,

Habitus

 

[daleyellin]

Thanks for the recommendations. Before I saw your replies, I went ahead and set up the partition at 50 gig. However, I'm finding, now that I'm getting more familiar with the Mac, that I'm not venturing over to Windows as much as I thought I would. I have Office for Mac and plan on getting Mac versions of Photoshop or Photoshop elements. Other than Premiere and Office Outlook (used to sync my PDA) I'm pretty much totally on the Mac side.

That said, I'm considering changing the partition size to something in line with your recommendations and reinstalling Windows 7. Since I'm not running much on the Windows side it wouldn't be that big a task.

Thanks, again.

Dale