PARALLELS or BOOTCAMP?

[silvestri]

I am going to be getting my MBP within the week (in transit as we speak) and I am wondering which is a better program to run Windows?

 

[Eidorian]

I am wondering which is a better program to run Windows?

Either

What do you plan to do?

 

[bunger]

Don't forget to throw VMWare's Fusion into the mix.

Seriously though... if you are going to run straight windows more than half of the time, then I would recommend running Windows under boot camp; otherwise, virtualize it under Parallels or Fusion.

B

 

[ccalleri]

I've been in the same boat .. I've decided to use Parallels. It's a lot easier to install/uninstall for one .. access to files across both platforms are easy .. drag and drop! However, if you use bootcamp ... your windows will run a lot better/faster!

 

[DaveF]

Both.

Parallels for using Windows applications within OS X.

Bootcamp for full speed, games, and greater stability.

 

[Father Jack]

Both.

Parallels for using Windows applications within OS X.

Bootcamp for full speed, games, and greater stability.

I totally agree, if you play games Bootcamp is a must.

If like me you aren't a gamer, then Parallel Desktop is IMO definitely the better option ...

 

[Cromulent]

Why not use both? Parallels can use the boot camp partition so you only need to install Windows once.

 

[quackattack]

Why not use both? Parallels can use the boot camp partition so you only need to install Windows once.

Wow! I didn't realize you could do this!

Can anyone expand on this? Are there any disadvantages to doing it this way? I am assuming changes made in Windows will show up on both bootcamp and parallels? Seems like the ideal solution.

 

[Cromulent]

Wow! I didn't realize you could do this!

Can anyone expand on this? Are there any disadvantages to doing it this way? I am assuming changes made in Windows will show up on both bootcamp and parallels? Seems like the ideal solution.

You just install Windows as normal via Boot Camp and then once that is all setup and working run Parallels and use the Boot Camp option. It will then use your Boot Camp installation to run Windows from within OS X.

This way you get the speed advantage of being able to use Boot Camp and the convienence of Paralells. This also works in VMware Fusion as well if I remember correctly.