Dual Boot Macs

[lightwrangler]

Is anyone out there is running a dual boot and specifically XP on their Macs?

I just ordered a MacBook for running around on location. I have a good 20" iMac at my home office for image processing so I passed on the larger and heavier MacBook Pro in favour of size and weight. It will come with 4 gb of RAM, a 2.2 ghz processor and a 250 HD.

Because of some of the software (non photographic) that I want to play with is Windows based, I am going to do the dual boot thingie on this machine. Anyone have any experience going dual boot, or with any particular software?

I'd appreciate any input or observations.
Cheers,
Adrian

[Tom V]

Adrian,

No experience yet, but soon. I just bought Parallels (for running Windows on a Mac, at the same time as Mac OS), Windows XP, and Quickbooks for Windows. I hope to install it all over the weekend and get it running.

[lightwrangler]

thanks Tom,

Let me know how it goes, I was looking at Parallels and at Fusion
http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/

they look like the same sort of thing .... still haven't made a choice, but I have time

Adrian

[Tom V]

I bought this version of Windows XP for $90 from Amazon. A large portion of the reviewers reported that it worked just fine with Parallels (I think there were some Fusion users too).

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Windows-System-Builders-Version/dp/B000JTFVME/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

I have installed Parallels, Windows XP, and an anti-virus security program. I then commenced updating the security program (95 updates), and then I used Windows updater to update Windows. The first thing it updated was Windows Updater itself (14 items), and then Active X updates, and then 89 updates to Windows... now it is updating Explorer....

Now I am installing Quickbooks Pro 2008...

... 3 hours later: Done. It all seems to be working fine.

The computer has 4 GB of Ram (cost $101.01 at OWC), but Windows only seems to be recognizing 500mb of ram. I wonder if I can boost that?

[easternherp]

Adrian,

I use VMWARE Fusion on my iMac and it runs XP Pro well. I don't have a separate partition so it is a bit slower. With the new Leopard OS you can partition the drive and you can install and run as a PC rather than using emulating software. The downside is that you can't see the mac volume but it does work quicker. Fusion will also see the windows partition if you go down that route and works a bit quicker.

On the whole no problems. I was using Fusion during it's beta stage and it has come a long way since then and in my opinion is better than parallels.

[lightwrangler]

Thanks Tom, Andrew ... this is helpful

Tom I don't know why windows can't see your ram .... perhaps a PC head might shine some light on that.

Cheers,
Adrian

[proberts]

Is anyone out there is running a dual boot and specifically XP on their Macs?

I just ordered a MacBook for running around on location. I have a good 20" iMac at my home office for image processing so I passed on the larger and heavier MacBook Pro in favour of size and weight. It will come with 4 gb of RAM, a 2.2 ghz processor and a 250 HD.

Because of some of the software (non photographic) that I want to play with is Windows based, I am going to do the dual boot thingie on this machine. Anyone have any experience going dual boot, or with any particular software?

I'd appreciate any input or observations.
Cheers,
Adrian

I've been running Parallels for well over a year, and recommend it. Due to the malcode issues with Windows, I'd be wary of running it in dual-boot with direct access to the main hard drive. The only thing you'll have issues with is raw graphics performance, like if you're playing a FPS game.

Paul

[lightwrangler]

Thanks Paul, I am not planning to do much gaming, I need to work with some accounting and presentation software. But I will also be experimenting with theatre lighting control software. I plan to partition the HD so that the Windows and Macs sides will be separated. Thanks for the input on parallels.

[proberts]

Thanks Paul, I am not planning to do much gaming, I need to work with some accounting and presentation software. But I will also be experimenting with theatre lighting control software. I plan to partition the HD so that the Windows and Macs sides will be separated. Thanks for the input on parallels.

While Parallels will run with Windows in a partition, it's much, much handier to have Windows in a virtual hard drive, that way you can save it off from time to time and restore back if you get hit with anything. In Parallels or VMWare, Windows only has access to the virtual device, so let's say a boot sector virus hits you- it'll infect the virtual hard drive, just go back to another copy and you're back in business- but if you're dual-booting, then you suddenly have a real problem, as the OS can hit the actual hard drive, partition table, etc.

Paul

[lightwrangler]

Thanks for the info Paul, I am just starting to understand what goes on with a dual boot set up. Due to the fact that I have been a Mac user for many years I must admit that I only pay passing attention to viruses, something that it would appear I must change. Partitioning the drive seems not to be the solution I once thought it was.

I have found a site with some useful info, reports and reviews;
http://macwindows.com/

Still studying,
Adrian

[proberts]

Thanks for the info Paul, I am just starting to understand what goes on with a dual boot set up. Due to the fact that I have been a Mac user for many years I must admit that I only pay passing attention to viruses, something that it would appear I must change. Partitioning the drive seems not to be the solution I once thought it was.


Let me know if you want to discuss things, I can spare some time.


I have found a site with some useful info, reports and reviews;
http://macwindows.com/

Still studying,
Adrian

What a difficult site to read!

Paul

[lightwrangler]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the offer, I may well take you up on it. I haven't yet taken possession of my new Mac .... been tied up at work for the past 4 days and it's been snowing like mad up here - which makes getting around much slower. I will most likely have a few questions ... I really appreciate the offer of help, thanks.

Cheers,
Adrian

[proberts]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the offer, I may well take you up on it. I haven't yet taken possession of my new Mac .... been tied up at work for the past 4 days and it's been snowing like mad up here - which makes getting around much slower. I will most likely have a few questions ... I really appreciate the offer of help, thanks.

Cheers,
Adrian

PM'd you my contact info.

Paul