Vmware

Hi all, ok i got a 2gb macbook and plan on installing windows xp home ed very soon. I plan on using vmware fusion to run windows.

I was curious, how much should i devote to windows and also, would there be any reason why i should install windows in bootcamp and vmware?

I don't game and plan on using it mostly for some internet browsing and microsoft office.

I was deciding b/t vmware and parallels but think i have decided on the former.

 

Then why install Windows at all? Most of the reasons anyone is installing Windows is due to gaming or very specific business needs that OS X can't fulfill.
Microsoft Office is designed for OS X as well. The newer version will be out later this year but until then you can use the free NeoOffice.
Before you waste precious disk space google search for software that you have used on Windows for an OS X equivalent.

Many people coming from Windows only think that Mac OS X is a just a toy OS to play with and you can't do anything else on it but run iTunes.

 

Well i am using this laptop for med school and i like the windows, i still use windows desktop and would like to install it on my laptop. I have got macoffice for free but i prefer windows version and will be using word/powerpoint alot in med school and prefer the windows version.

 

I also see no reason for you to install Windows. OS X can do all of the things you described.

 

Also, i think that one of the schools programs is only compatible w/windows, which is what one of the students told me b/c he has a mac. I just want to have everything covered in case.

 

Wow, that's surprising, sounds like you spent money on the Mac just for it's looks. Microsoft even states that the Mac Office suite is better than the Windows version. The GUI is better and it has "Mac Only" features.

 

I didn't buy it for looks, i actually really like the macbook. This is my first notebook, ive been a lifelong desktop/pc user but decided to make the switch for my first notebook and its a great deal for students. I am practically broke and will be for a while during school and so am keeping my pc desktop, when i have the funds i plan on ditching it for a mac, but as of now can't afford to due that w/tuition and all.

 

Office 2004 sucks compared to the PC versions, especially since it isn't a Universal Binary. I'm still wondering why Microsoft didn't bother updating it as a UB, or isn't trying harder to get 2008 to market. Hell, they should have released 2007 for Mac and Windows at the same time.

I sometimes find myself rebooting (with Boot Camp) to go use Office 2003 or 2007 on my Windows installation...so I can't say I blame the original poster.

 

I guess im just more familiar w/microsoft windows powerpoint...but im sure after a little bit ill be fine w/the macoffice.

But, i would really appreciate it if someone could answer my original question.

I really like the versatility of being able to use both.

 

Thats another thing, im really waiting for 2008 but i start school next week its not out yet.

 

Well, to each his own for your purchasing reasons although I apologize, I didn't understand a word you wrote. You said you didn't buy the Macbook for looks but you are not going to use OS X, I think? You bought one of the more expensive notebooks in the industry but you said you were broke? Now you want to spend more money on Vmware Fusion so you can avoid using the Macbook for what it was designed for? Well, I'm not getting your concerns but if you want a recommendation on what to use I would recommend installing Windows on bootcamp so you can save some cash.

 

if you get microsoft office 2004 for mac, you can use power point, microsoft word, and excel.

it works just fine.

 

I use the os x alot and plan on using it, i just would like to have the ability to use the windows as well. Well, with the student discounts the macbook cost me around $1200, which isn't too bad and i feel this one will hold up a lot longer than some of the pc's i was looking at. Im not looking at avoiding using the mac, im not sure where u got that, i like the mac os-x and use/plan to use that a majority of the time, but i just wanted to be able to use the windows when i have to run the program thats windows specific at my med school...they have a contract w/dell and i didn't want one of those.. Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks for the recommendation by the way.

 

Well, to answer your original question, I don't think it'll be necessary for you to have Parallels or VMware or Boot Camp, but if you're sure that some of the applications you need to use will need Windows then of course you'll need to boot into Windows then. I'd suggest you go with Boot Camp, because you won't need to spend money on VMware or Parallels (Boot Camp is free) because I know you're broke . Also, with Boot Camp you won't need to spend as much system resources as Parallels and VMware would.

So my suggestion is go Boot Camp if you must need Windows for an application. You can run your Mac as a PC at school and run it as a Mac in the other times.

 

Awesome, thank u very much. How much of my drive would u recommend partitioning for boot camp?

 

It depends how much you think you'll need. How many applications will you need on Windows? Will you have lots of files and media that you must have on the Windows side? You have a MacBook, how large is the hard drive of it?

Leave all your media (music, videos, photos) on the Mac side. No sense duplicating the media onto the Windows partition, it'll just take up space.

 

Ya all my music and stuff im gonna keep on the mac. I got a 120gb hard drive.
I will prolly have office, windows media player and not much else.