Need a program similar to bootcamp to run windows apps on mac

My dad wants to run some windows programs on his mac WITHOUT running bootcamp and installing windows fully on his mac. He just wants to be able to run programs like Microsoft Access, Libronics bible software etc.

Any software that will let you do this?

 

I believe Boot Camp was the only one you didn't have to pay for, although that has changed now- you have to buy Leopard to get BootCamp now. You might be able to search around and find the Boot Camp beta from August(i think that was the last free version) for download.
The only downside to bootcamp is that you must have a copy of Windows to install, and whenever you want to use those programs you must restart into Windows. The good thing about this however is that you are running Windows natively or as close to it as possible.

Now if your dad is willing to pay to run his programs, there is a program called "Parallels" which im fairly sure allows you to run windows programs while in OS X.

I understand where he is coming from, I have a MacBook Pro, and am unwilling to pay the 80 dollars or so for the programs.
I hope this was helpful.

 

Parallels

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallels_Desktop_for_Mac

 

i looked at parallels, but as far as i could see, it required you install windows. are you sure i'm wrong about htis and that you don't have to?

 

VM Ware is another good one. Check the Windows on a Mac Guide in the Apple foum.
EDIT: Here's bootcamp From August.
I doubt it would work though. I'd use VM Ware.

 

to clarify on the BootCamp. You now have to purchase Leopard Mac OS to attain BootCamp. Mac has removed the download for the free BootCamp beta from their website.
I could not find the latest version for download, however i did find the 2nd to last release of the Boot Camp free Beta from June. If you are interested, just remember you need a Windows install disc and serial, here it is.
http://www.soft32.com/Download/Free/Apple_Boot_Camp/4-200398-1.html

 

im not entirely sure about Parallels, as when i had to make my decision i simply saw that i had to pay for Parallels and Boot Camp was free at the time, and I had an available windows install. So i very well may be wrong about that.

 

Guys, I think he's asking for something else. He wants a solution that doesn't require Windows at all (i.e. like WINE).

I assume that's why neither Boot Camp or Parallels or VMware Fusion suits his needs.

The closest thing to what you're looking for is something like this:

http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/

This is something that allows you to run SOME Windows apps on your Mac (or Linux) without having a Windows install.

You can check the compatability list here though, as not all Windows apps work with this solution:

http://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/

For example, it sounds like only Access from Office 2000 is supported.

Honestly, you are probably more likely than not going to need to use a solution like Parallels or VMware Fusion and actually have Windows installed so that you can run these apps. Both of these solutions allow you to run the Windows apps fairly seamlessly, making it seem like they are running alongside your OS X apps.

-Zadillo

 

Yes thanks. So does VMware and Parallels do that? Can it run a windows app on a mac without installed windows XP???


just want to be sure

 

Nope. VMware Fusion and Parallels essentially let you run Windows inside a "virtual machine" on your Mac, which essentially allows you to run Windows apps alongside your OS X apps (and both feature functionality to make Windows apps appear to be running as apps alongside your OS X apps, rather than having to view everything inside a window).

That CrossOver program is the only thing you'll really find that can run Windows apps without having Windows, but as you'll see, the compatibility list rules out a number of apps (i.e. Access 2000 only, not Access 2003).

Depending on your needs, CrossOver might do the trick, but you'll have a much smoother experience with VMware or Parallels and Windows XP.

Is the reason he wants a solution without installing Windows related to cost, or something else? If it is just that he doesn't want to have to see the full Windows/etc. Parallels or VMware Fusion should still do the trick. You essentially can use them to run the Windows apps, but Windows itself is sort of "hidden", like this:

http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/features/coherence/

or this:

http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/

-Zadillo

 

welcome to world of mac ownership.

i'm not slamming OSX, i'm just saying there's a reason people keep harping on about "lack of software" for Macs. if you really need to run MS Office Apps and 3rd party apps designed for windows, you should get a windows box.

 

Well, it all depends on what exactly his needs are.

If he primarily likes his Mac and OS X, but does still want to run a handful of Windows apps, Parallels or VMware Fusion makes that perfectly feasible.

So yes, if all you need/want to run is Windows apps, then a Windows box makes sense.

But assuming his dad likes OS X and most of his Mac native apps, then a solution that lets him continue doing that while running a few Windows apps alongside his Mac apps presents the best of both worlds.

-Zadillo

 

i totally agree. i guess, for me, it boils down to, if the guy wants to run Office on his Mac, then go buy Office for Mac.

Macs run Office

 

Yes, although he mentioned that his dad wants to use Access in particular, and that is one of the apps that MS doesn't make a Mac native version of.

-Zadillo

 

Thanks Zadillo, I think you're the only guy who was ACTUALLY read my post properly.

My dad doesn't want to run windows for a very good reason, it just is a mess half the time, it can crash, it ALWAYS is presenting some problem, the list goes on.

He greatly prefers Macs. He already has MF office on his mac, but again, MF doesn't HAVE access available for mac. He wants to completely switch to macs but still be able to do the few things that mac's don't generally do, like program with access.

ok? he doens't want XP, for a good reason. My sister just had a system file delete itself, she was using XP. Networking is a mess with XP, not with Macs. just stuff like that.

 

Gotcha.

Based on this though, I think the Parallels or VMware Fusion + Windows XP is still going to be the best way to go.

The nice thing about using these solutions actually is that they do help you avoid some of the kinds of problems you mentioned. Everything runs in the virtual machine, so there isn't a likelihood of anything affecting OS X.

The big benefit you get though is that these solutions do allow you to run the full range of Windows apps your father would want to run, and they do it in such a way that it is fairly seamless (you can do things like store a Windows app icon in the OS X dock, and when you launch the app, it launches in its own window, so you don't really even have to see the Windows environment).

CrossOver just isn't going to be able to do the trick (as I mentioned, for example, it only lets you run Access 2000, not Access 2003).

-Zadillo