Did a search and found it too convoluted to answer my question. I am thinking in terms of games, NOT an install of windows if that is possible. What are the benefits of parallels and what are the drawbacks; objectively? What can be run with parallels? I am totally ignorant of this software and needing clarification. New to Mac.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Parallels- What Is This?
- Thread starter macro
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Parallels (and VMWare's Fusion) are a breed of software known as Virtual Machines. That is, they are software that pretends to be hardware. This is nice because it allows you to install and run a full copy of Windows (or Linux or BSD or whatever) directly inside Mac OS X.
That said, a virtual machine without an operating system will act the same way a computer without an operating system will. So, if you're interested in running games in Parallels, you'll need a operating system on which to run them, and my guess is you'll want Windows.
Hope that helps.
That said, a virtual machine without an operating system will act the same way a computer without an operating system will. So, if you're interested in running games in Parallels, you'll need a operating system on which to run them, and my guess is you'll want Windows.
Hope that helps.
Not really . . .
Boot Camp is a way of running Windows natively on a mac. That is, you are running the windows operating system on the mac hardware.
Parallels and Fusion are, as they said above, software that imitates hardware. Using those applications, Windows thinks the software is the computer on which it is running.
If you are interested in running windows for gaming, you'll get much better results running boot camp than you will a virtual machine.
Sorry, I have been remiss in getting back to this thread. The reason I went back to Mac after all these years was to get out of the Windows problems.
I suppose that Windows will run well on a Mac Pro if it is not directed to the internet. I certainly don't want Windows to screw up my investment on the Mac.
What are the general problems should I make the inane decision, my fault if I do, to run Windows on the Mac Pro yet keep Windows off the internet?
Is the Windows a problem by itself or is the majority of its problems the garbage of the internet?
I would like to have access to some adventure games but not to the crap of the 'net which occurs with Windows.
Just not sure what to do. I would have to buy a Windows OS to do this at any rate. My Windows are all manufacturers software.
I suppose that Windows will run well on a Mac Pro if it is not directed to the internet. I certainly don't want Windows to screw up my investment on the Mac.
What are the general problems should I make the inane decision, my fault if I do, to run Windows on the Mac Pro yet keep Windows off the internet?
Is the Windows a problem by itself or is the majority of its problems the garbage of the internet?
I would like to have access to some adventure games but not to the crap of the 'net which occurs with Windows.
Just not sure what to do. I would have to buy a Windows OS to do this at any rate. My Windows are all manufacturers software.
Windows is not as bad as some people claim. If you're careful about what you do and download, you won't have a problem. It is very hard to just go to a website now and get a virus without any user intervention.
If you install Windows on your Mac, you will be fine. Just be careful and don't browse the 'net a lot on the Windows side if you are that worried about it. But I would leave the Internet connection running so Windows can update itself.
Also, since you're going to be gaming, get XP. It uses less resources than Vista. Unless you want DirectX 10, then you'll have no choice but to use Vista.
If you install Windows on your Mac, you will be fine. Just be careful and don't browse the 'net a lot on the Windows side if you are that worried about it. But I would leave the Internet connection running so Windows can update itself.
Also, since you're going to be gaming, get XP. It uses less resources than Vista. Unless you want DirectX 10, then you'll have no choice but to use Vista.