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software to run windows on MBP?

S

sunrobby

macrumors regular
Original poster
Hi, anyone can give suggestion about any good software to run Windows XP on MBP? I prefer the one like Parallels, so its running virtually on a virtual machine not like boot camp (many problems with boot camp as far as i know). And wonder if there's some freeware for software like Parallels 🙂
 
Theres Q, but its slower than Parallels as it uses emulation still (virtualisation is in the works) It is free though however 🙂

http://www.kberg.ch/q/

edit: well.. free-ish, if you find it useful your encouraged to donate.
 
Thanks Malcster, i've downloaded it but havent try it. But it's only 4.8 MB? have you try this? Is it a good program?
 
sunrobby said:
Thanks Malcster, i've downloaded it but havent try it. But it's only 4.8 MB? have you try this? Is it a good program?
Click to expand...

Ive not tried it as i use Parallels, but it does work reasonably well apparently (especially for free!) its faster than Microsofts Virtual PC at any rate, check the forums on the Q website for guides on how to set it up with XP etc.. Its not quite as straightforward as Parallels i think..

The unstable build is the faster altho it is not necessarily as solid.
 
What problems with boot camp?

Mines ran perfectly ever since it was installed?
 
i've read in many forums that people have problems with their boot camp, and also in the news, i can't remember where i read those though. and according to the news, apple takes no responsibility because its still beta. However, i dont wanna have some screen when i boot up that ask me whether i want to boot mac os or windows (the boot camp works like this, isnt it?). I just like to have somekind like virtual machine, cause i dont really often use the windows.
 
It really depends what you want to do with Windows, if you want to play games then your going to have to use Boot Camp, there are no other options, Q or Parallels will not do graphics acceleration or decent enough video performance (currently)

If however you only need it for apps, Word, Excel etc then Parallels will do you fine, maybe Q too depending on its performance (ive not tried it)

Incidentally, Parallels really is worth the preorder price of $39.. the latest beta is superb and its only going to get better/more features.

I have used Boot Camp with no problems at all not even a hiccup, it removed fine too when i was done with it, you dont get a boot screen with it, you choose what OS you want to boot into using Sys Prefs. (you can hold down a button and choose an OS at startup but thats optional & transparent otherwise)
 
Malcster said:
It really depends what you want to do with Windows, if you want to play games then your going to have to use Boot Camp, there are no other options, Q or Parallels will not do graphics acceleration or decent enough video performance (currently)

If however you only need it for apps, Word, Excel etc then Parallels will do you fine, maybe Q too depending on its performance (ive not tried it)

Incidentally, Parallels really is worth the preorder price of $39.. the latest beta is superb and its only going to get better/more features.

I have used Boot Camp with no problems at all not even a hiccup, it removed fine too when i was done with it, you dont get a boot screen with it, you choose what OS you want to boot into using Sys Prefs. (you can hold down a button and choose an OS at startup but thats optional & transparent otherwise)
Click to expand...


Well, i only need it for my office's needs. The application my office use is windows compatible only, and it wont need graphics acceleration.. so guess Paralles/Q will be sufficient. I dont like windows.. but my office make me need to install it on my Mac..
 
sunrobby said:
The application my office use is windows compatible only, and it wont need graphics acceleration.
Click to expand...
If the app is simple enough, you might even be able to get it to work on Darwine or you have a better shot with Crossover Office when it finally shows up for the Mac. Neither of those require a full on Windows installation unlike Parallels/Q/Boot Camp.

B
 
Thats not the way bootcamp works. You select which operating system boots when you turn the computer on. You only get the selection screen when you hold down the "OPTION" key after powering on the unit.


sunrobby said:
However, i dont wanna have some screen when i boot up that ask me whether i want to boot mac os or windows (the boot camp works like this, isnt it?)..
Click to expand...
 
ilkevinli said:
Thats not the way bootcamp works. You select which operating system boots when you turn the computer on. You only get the selection screen when you hold down the "OPTION" key after powering on the unit.
Click to expand...
Quite true. You can also use the control panel/system preferences widgets to prompt a default boot into the other OS.

B
 
balamw said:
If the app is simple enough, you might even be able to get it to work on Darwine or you have a better shot with Crossover Office when it finally shows up for the Mac. Neither of those require a full on Windows installation unlike Parallels/Q/Boot Camp.

B
Click to expand...

Thanks, darwine looks good. but actually i have microsoft office for mac already. the reason why i want to install windows on my mac is because my jobs need use an application that can be installed in windows only
 
balamw said:
Quite true. You can also use the control panel/system preferences widgets to prompt a default boot into the other OS.

B
Click to expand...

so the boot menu only appear if i hold down the option key? if i dont do anything, by default it'll go into osx? and i can choose the default boot in system preferences what default os to boot? and if my default is osx and i wanna go into windows, i need to hold down the option key when the machine boot so that the boot menu appears and then i choose windows?

Thanks 🙂
 
Yes.
It will automatically boot into OS X if thats the OS you set as the default.
Yes.
Yes.



sunrobby said:
so the boot menu only appear if i hold down the option key? if i dont do anything, by default it'll go into osx? and i can choose the default boot in system preferences what default os to boot? and if my default is osx and i wanna go into windows, i need to hold down the option key when the machine boot so that the boot menu appears and then i choose windows?

Thanks 🙂
Click to expand...
 
sunrobby said:
Thanks, darwine looks good. but actually i have microsoft office for mac already. the reason why i want to install windows on my mac is because my jobs need use an application that can be installed in windows only
Click to expand...
Just for the record. Crossover Office from CodeWeavers is an extended version of Wine that supports complex Windows apps like MS Office and currently runs on Linux. They have said in the past that they intend to have an OS X version available "soon" based on Darwine.

B
 
There's also Guest PC, but I'm leaning towards Parallels, running the trial now. I also loaded XP thru Bootcamp. My idea of the ideal OS setup. What would be really wild would be a virtualizer to run OS X from XP on a Mac...
 
zac4mac said:
There's also Guest PC, but I'm leaning towards Parallels, running the trial now. I also loaded XP thru Bootcamp. My idea of the ideal OS setup. What would be really wild would be a virtualizer to run OS X from XP on a Mac...
Click to expand...
Isn't Guest PC still PPC only? If so it'll be super-duper slow on a MBP.

Many think Boot Camp is "beta" just because what will actually be in Leopard will be far more user friendly, e.g. allowing "fast OS switching" or something like that. I guess we'll find out more at WWDC in August.

B
 
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