New Mac User: Where do I buy Windows 7 for installation on Mac under Parallels?
I just got my son a 27" iMac. I would like him to be able to run Windows 7 on it. I have a couple of questions.
1. It appears that I can run boot camp or parallels. It seems to me that I want to run parallels so I can run windows and osx side by side versus bootcamp which requires that I boot the machine to either win 7 or osx. Is this correct?
2. How stable is parallels for gaming? For example, can I run World of Warcraft, Visual Studio 2010 and MS Office under parallels and if so, is there a significant performance penalty?
3. Probably the most important question is: where do I get a copy of Windows 7? Can I simply go down to the nearest big-box computer / electronics store and buy a shrink-wrapped version of Win 7?
I'm an MSDN member with a Microsoft Action Pack subscription that comes with all sorts of MS tools and applications including Win 7 and Office. Can I install these under parallels?
Can I run Win 7 Ultimate on parallels? How about Win 2008 server R2?
Finaly, can I install both Win 7 and Windows 2008 Server R2 under parallels and have them all run (W7, 2008 and osx) at the same time? This is for testing purposes only so performance is not all that important as I will rarely run all at the same time.
Thanks!
1. It appears that I can run boot camp or parallels. It seems to me that I want to run parallels so I can run windows and osx side by side versus bootcamp which requires that I boot the machine to either win 7 or osx. Is this correct?
2. How stable is parallels for gaming? For example, can I run World of Warcraft, Visual Studio 2010 and MS Office under parallels and if so, is there a significant performance penalty?
3. Probably the most important question is: where do I get a copy of Windows 7? Can I simply go down to the nearest big-box computer / electronics store and buy a shrink-wrapped version of Win 7?
I'm an MSDN member with a Microsoft Action Pack subscription that comes with all sorts of MS tools and applications including Win 7 and Office. Can I install these under parallels?
Can I run Win 7 Ultimate on parallels? How about Win 2008 server R2?
Finaly, can I install both Win 7 and Windows 2008 Server R2 under parallels and have them all run (W7, 2008 and osx) at the same time? This is for testing purposes only so performance is not all that important as I will rarely run all at the same time.
Thanks!
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Andrew
For you final question, you can run multiple operating systems under parallels. This is an easy to use interface which I have found to be an excellent way of running both systems alongside each other
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Another thought, I checked because I wondered whether 32 or 64 bit would run better and Parallels recommends 64 for better performance and future expandability. The PDF I linked to contains a list of both, just FYI.
Ironically, I run a Win 7 machine, but I have OSX Snow Leopard on VMware, lol.
Ironically, I run a Win 7 machine, but I have OSX Snow Leopard on VMware, lol.
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the SSS above should be SSD - iPhone typing :/
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I think I'll go with the bootcamp + parallels. I'll use one of the Win 7 licenses that came with my MS Action Pack. I'd love to do the SSD thing but it's not in the budget right now. Pehaps SSDs will be common place and even built in to systems you can get at the big box computer stores.
Many thanks guys!
Many thanks guys!