For my purposes, should I install Boot Camp or Parallels?

I have a three year old iMac running Mavericks with 8 gigs of RAM. I want to take a class that teaches 3D design using 3ds Max. If I do I'm going to need to use a Windows platform to run the software. Never having used either one, would I be better off using Boot Camp or Parallels? Also, I haven't used Windows since I had Vista installed on a Dell laptop, which was a major proponent for my switch over to a large Mac. But I hated Vista!!! Now I believe they're up to Windows 8. Is Windows 8 better than 7?

Windows 7 is better than windows 8 for many reasons but either are workable. I prefer parallels when I need windows (in fact I don't have a bootcamp partition) because I like to have access to my mail, calendar, iTunes, ... If your application will work with parallels then I would go parallels+win7. It won't be as fast as bootcamp but since it is a class, maybe speed isn't your top concern.
win7 cost money
parallels cost money
bootcamp is free
good luck.

Similar Messages

Should I Use Boot Camp or Parallels for use of a Windows Desktop?

I am migrating from a PC to a Mac; I want to take advantage of having a Windows desktop to run some apps until i buy Mac equivalent software;
I have Tiger, but am installing Leopard this weekend;
Should I Use Boot Camp or Parallels for use of a Windows Desktop?
I am tempted by not having to reboot, but i don't want my mac to slow down?
I am a photographer and use Photoshop and other graphics intensive programs.

Hi,
to achieve full computing power while in Windows you have to use BootCamp and for Photoshop and other apps of that caliber in Windows its the best.
For apps less demanding using Parallels (VMWare Fusion) is sufficient enough and the slight downgrade in speed is negligible.
You should however (if not already done) max out the RAM of your Mac.
Regards
Stefan

Installing Boot Camp after Parallels

I have installed Parallels 4.0 but I need to install Boot Camp (to be able to watch iPlayer via my XBox). Is it safe to just install Boot Camp using my Windows XP disc (I have plenty of hard disc space) or do I have to uninstall Parallels and reinstall it later ?

blueinsmoke wrote:
Thanks for the re-assurance Fortuny ! One follow-on question if I may (and apologies for my total ignorance). Will installing XP again on the same machine really cause the automatic loss of XP on the Parallels partition ?
Hi,
yes it will.
Due to the fact that you run the same XP license twice on 'different hardware components' (once native with BootCamp and once virtualized with Parallels), XP thinks that you are running it on two different computers.
The link I gave is meant to compensate that, but I myself haven't tried it.
Regards
Stefan

Installing Snow Leopard but also Boot Camp or Parallels

I have a 2006 MacBook (Intel, core duo) and have a 320 gb HD, 2 gb RAM, running 10.5.8.
I'd like to install Snow Leopard but also would like to partition my HD and install Boot Camp (or Parallels 4.x - I have that version, fully paid etc. but not version 5 of Parallels. Or should I move to Parallels 5 if I move to Snow Leopard?)
I have a full bootable backup (2) on FW400 LaCie External HD's. I have the SL Original DVD.
What is the best way to do this? At present I have 60 gb free space (about 20% of the 297 gb formatted total space available).
Thanks for any comments! Oh, yes - I'm anticipating a new MacBook Pro 13" any time now (Thought the new ones would be out by now!) - Well it will come with SL installed; and I will order one with a 500 gb HD (or larger if available then). Can I migrate my current MB data and files to the new MacBook using migration assistant? But what if I want a partition for BootCamp and Windows (XP likely as I have that)--? Should I partition the new MBP HD first (can I partition it without erasing everything?
Best regards,
Steve Schulte
Sunday 14 March 2010

Frankly, were you to run Parallels 5 you should have more RAM installed, but your model cannot support more than the 2 GBs you have installed now. You would be better off running Windows via Boot Camp on that machine. However, the new computer will have 4 GBs of RAM installed so it is better suited to running Windows via Parallels. And, yes, if you run Snow Leopard you need Parallels 5.x both for compatibility and performance reasons.
Open Boot Camp Assistant and click on the wide button on the left to print out the documentation. Read it carefully before using Boot Camp Assistant. Yes, you partition the drive without erasing it, but you can only have one Windows and one OS X partition on the same drive. Otherwise it makes no difference when you use Boot Camp.
Your XP must be a retail installer with SP2 and only the 32-bit version. You cannot use an OEM installer that came with another computer.

Install boot camp before mountain lion?

hi guys,
just taken delivery of shiny new iMac
should I install boot camp before I upgrade to Mountain Lion or should it not make any difference?
thanks !!

Would be curious if ML's Boot Camp Assistant downloads newer or better or even if the download goes smoother - getting the drivers has been headache for most.
Installers will fragment free space high and low is the only downside, so in that regard, even new, might want to partition it first and foremost.
But then use BCA under ML for drivers.

Cannot install Boot Camp 3.2 upgrade for Windows 7 64 bit

I recently installed Windows 7 64 bit on my macbook. I also installed Boot Camp 3.0.1 after Windows 7 installation, however, WiFi did not work. Therefore, I needed to upgrade to the latest Boot Camp 3.2. However, when I tried to install Boot Camp 3.2 upgrade for Windows 7 74 bit, I got an error message saying that I needed Boot Camp 3.1 installed first. I CANNOT find Boot Camp 3.1 upgrade for Windows 7 64 bit on Apple website at all. Can someone please help me on this? Is there a way to get the complete Boot Camp 3.2 package that can simply be installed on version 3.0.1??

here is the link to bootcamp 3.1 for windows 7 64 bit http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1336 .. and no there is no package that can be applied to the windows side to go from 3.0.1 to 3.2

I have a Macbook Pro 1,2 (2008) running OS 10.6.8 and trying to install Boot Camp but don't have original disk for drivers. What to do?

I have a MacBook Pro 1,2 (2008) running OS 10.6.8 and trying to install boot camp with windows xp and don't have my original disk for drivers. What do I need to do?

Call Applecare and ask them to send you a replacement set. The will charge you a nominal fee for shipping and handling.
Allan

Install boot camp update for Trackpad on windows 8.1

Hello Participants,
i want to use my trackpad on a windows 8.1 computer.
I´ m searching a guide for install boot camp 5.1 Update on windows 8.1. I ´m in Germany.
Greetings and thank you

Hallo Rudegar,
i installed the bloototh 4.0 by "sitecom" USB adapter
below are the bootcamp drivers,
i installed wireless trackpad 64 and also Multitouch trackpad drivers,
it doesen´t work
greetings

How to create extra partitions for windows 7 after installing boot camp

hello
i am pretty new at imac so bare with me and i really need help.
IMAC
OS X version 10.9.5 ( i think its os X mavericks ??)
iMac 21. inch , Late 2013
iMac model identifier iMac 14,1
i installed boot camp windows 7 and it works perfectly, after i tried to create two partition using disk utility for windows 7 (ms-dos) format because i really want to separate my files on other partition instead of everything on Boot Camp drive. after i restart choosing windows OS i cannot go back to windows 7.
i hold option on the keyboard but does not show window 7 so i went back to Apple ox s , found my boot camp hd on the desktop with files in it. checked boot camp assistance showing
" The startup disk must be formatted as a single Mac OS Extended (Journaled) volume or already partitioned by Boot Camp Assistant for installing Windows. "
i read alot of article about but i don't seem to understand much about
i understand alot of people created these kind of topics
please if someone can help me solve this problem again
i only want an apple os , boot camp for windows 7 and 2 extra partitions for storage , my hard drive is 1TB
thank you

Last login: Mon Feb 16 16:11:46 on console
YLFs-iMac:~ ylf$ diskutil list
/dev/disk0
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:      GUID_partition_scheme                        *1.0 TB     disk0
   1:                        EFI EFI                     209.7 MB   disk0s1
   2:                  Apple_HFS Macintosh HD            999.3 GB   disk0s2
   3:                 Apple_Boot Recovery HD             650.0 MB   disk0s4
/dev/disk1
   #:                       TYPE NAME                    SIZE       IDENTIFIER
   0:     FDisk_partition_scheme                        *8.0 GB     disk1
   1:                 DOS_FAT_32 WININSTALL              8.0 GB     disk1s1
YLFs-iMac:~ ylf$ diskutil cs list
No CoreStorage logical volume groups found
YLFs-iMac:~ ylf$ sudo gpt -vv -r show /dev/disk0
Password:
gpt show: /dev/disk0: mediasize=1000204886016; sectorsize=512; blocks=1953525168
gpt show: /dev/disk0: PMBR at sector 0
gpt show: /dev/disk0: Pri GPT at sector 1
gpt show: /dev/disk0: Sec GPT at sector 1953525167
       start        size index contents
           0           1         PMBR
           1           1         Pri GPT header
           2          32         Pri GPT table
          34           6
          40      409600      1 GPT part - C12A7328-F81F-11D2-BA4B-00A0C93EC93B
      409640 1951845952      2 GPT part - 48465300-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC
1952255592     1269536      3 GPT part - 426F6F74-0000-11AA-AA11-00306543ECAC
1953525128           7
1953525135          32         Sec GPT table
1953525167           1         Sec GPT header
YLFs-iMac:~ ylf$
Also i do not have boot camp installed yet because like i said, it messed up my boot camp after i created the partition thats why i removed boot camp, right now i only have APPLE OS

Can I install boot camp on my computer, but install all my PC games for it on an external hardrive?

I have a new Mac, but I want to install boot camp on it. However, I would only really be using it for gaming.
On another post, someone said that you could not install boot camp entirely onto an external hardrive. As boot camp would only be for gaming, then could I install all my games (when I'm given the option to chose the file of where to install) onto an external drive which is correctly formatted? (what is the format too?)
Thank you

Thunderbolt storage is a great idea. OS X can run off one and yes you can create an NTFS drive or partition.
One person I thought said Tb was possible but may have taken a system image restore to get there, only one, and not 'documented' to say how to.

Unable to install Boot Camp Drivers for Windows

Mac Pro (2) 3.2 Xeon quads
Mac OS 10.5.2
Boot Camp side - Windows XP pro x64 w/SP2
Step 3 listed in the instructions for setting up Boot Camp is to Install the Boot Camp drivers for Windows. At this point Windows recognizes my Mac Install disk 1. I get the following message: "the installer encountered errors before Boot Camp could be configured. To retry these operations at a later time, please run the installer again." I am not sure if I needed to do something to install the Service Pack 2? My firmware is at MP31.006C.B02 and 1.25f4. When I checked for the latest firmware, it returned a message that it was not necessary.
Maybe the XP pro x64 is not compatible?
Barry in St. Louis

I did install windows xp sp2 32 bit on my macbook pro 2.2 GB and I'm getting the same ...
When trying to install boot camp drivers, a message came up saying:
Boot Camp requires that your computer is running Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista.
The only option it gave me was to click the "OK" button. When I clicked OK , another message came up saying:
Boot Camp Installer completed. The install encountered errors before Boot Camp could be configured. To retry these operations at a later time, please run the installer again. Click "finish" to exit installer. I am running a brand new full retail version of windows xp service pack 2. Applecare will not help blaming Microsoft and of course Microsoft is blaming Apple. What a bunch of useless crap!! Can anyone help??

Disk partition for install Boot Camp

Hi there
Finally yesterday i get my iMac 20, but with 10.4.10 installed. Now i want to install Boot Camp to install WindowsXP.
My question: I really need to make a partition to install Windows on a disk and the MacOSX in the other partition ???

junihh wrote:
Thanks XNAV for your answer but i better get Parallels, because i love the option that i can use the windows from PC as independent window, like a Mac window.
Thanks again.
LATE post - for those who come after:
Boot Camp REQUIRES a single, JOURNALLED HFS+ partition (created after midnight on a full moon's wane...*grin*...It's very Particular...) as a starting point - so you better give it one.
In response to junihh's other point: Parallels can be told to use the BootCamp partition as it's very own HDD so, my suggestion would be (as I happen to agree with you): DO IT that way and get the best of all worlds... you can STILL can use the windows from PC as independent window, like a Mac window.
DISCLAIMER:
: I've been in this Industry a loong time. I know a lot of people... I will always disclaim/note any pecuniary interest(s) which I know of (or remember) that're *closely relevant* BUT, MY advice will always be based on whether I'd recommend to Product or Company to a good friend -never- on $ or other considerations (I may dislike a bloke intensely but his Company may put out great software. If it does, I'll commend it to you)
-simple example: I have some Apple shares. I could even own soft MircoSoft shares.. or other companies... I Don't manage all that and couldn't tell you so I'm not going to Iist them. with over 35 years in, in a very Busy Oz-based career in everything from Mainframes to Micros, I've encountered just about everyone some time *grin* - some grrls n Boys I knew way back are VIPs running multnationals... many, I've lost track of. You can trust the statement above: my integrity has never been for sale (any offers ? :]) If the product's good, I'll say so - for -that- reason. (I think I'll put this Epic in my profile and simply POINT to it... :))

I erased my windows partition using disk utility then realized I should have used boot camp, because now I can't resize the original partition and seem to be stuck with a ghost unusable space. Boot Camp now doesn't give me the option to install or re

I erased my windows partition using disk utility then realized I should have used boot camp, because now I can't resize the original partition and seem to be stuck with a ghost unusable space. Boot Camp now doesn't give me the option to install or remove windows partition.

Hi, Ralph,
The problem is that I did erase the partition, using disk utility, but I can't go back to my original disk size pre-partition, as disk utility won't let me do it and gives the message "Couldn’t modify partition map because file system verification failed." When I try to use Boot Camp Assistant it won't let me select the third option to remove windows.

How to install Boot Camp on a MacBook Pro 2011

Well I bought a new MacBook Pro and I have constantly been trying to install Boot Camp.
When I open Boot Camp it shows me the Introduction, then it asks me if I would like to install the Lastest Windows Supports Software From Apple, and if I would like to Install Windows 7. I tick both boxes and then another page opens.
It asks me if I would like to install it to a DVD or CD, or if I would like to install it to an external hard drive. Now, I have tried both of these, and they both show a page asking me how much space I would like to be Mac space, and Windows space. After I've chosen how much I would like, I click install. After about 30 seconds, a message pops up saying the installer disk could not be found, please insert the installer disk and wait a few seconds, and the click install again.
I have done this many times, and that same message pops up. Please, if any of you people out there have the solution for me it would be gratefully apreciated.
Thanks.

No, it doesn't. You have to purchase the Windows 7 installer. Windows is not included with the computer. Did you discuss the matter with someone when you bought your computer? If you did they should have told you that you would need to buy Windows 7. If you had asked while you were purchasing the computer then you could have paid for Windows at the time and had it installed for you.

Can't Install Boot Camp 3.0 on 64-bit Windows 7 system

I have 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate running on HD#2 on a Mac Pro 2,1 system (2006). I've installed the Boot Camp 2.0 drivers after I installed Windows, I forget why I needed them, maybe for an old Apple keyboard.
Anyway, I can't install Boot Camp 3.0 from the Snow Leopard DVD - the installation runs to completion, but generates various error messages, one of which says that Boot Camp 3.0 64-bit can't be installed on this system.
I really need 3.1 now because my Magic Mouse won't work, and I can't sync Mobile Me.
Is there a fix or a workaround to upgrade Boot Camp on this system? Should I use Windows Uninstall to get rid of Boot Camp 2.0 first?
If it matters, Windows 7 is the upgrade version from Vista Ultimate.

http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/
Click on "Downloads", (underneath the big hard drive icon), scroll down a bit and there is a link for "Boot Camp:Upgrading to Windows 7" and another link for Version 3.1 which you need for 64 bit to work right after 10.6.4(?). I would just try downloading the Boot Camp 64bit 3.1 file and try that first if you already have Window's 64 bit installed.
Don't forget you need a WIRED keyboard AND mouse if you need to reinstall Window's.
Here's another link that is all over the place on which machines and which Windows works and what doesn't...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1846
Hope that helped.....

For my purposes, should I install Boot Camp or Parallels?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for