Partitioning questions with windows

Question

i want install windows on my mbp so i can run solidworks and other programs that aren't compatible with mac os. i would also install microsoft office for windows. my question is if i'm booted in mac os could i access the files saved in windows partition (like solidworks files, office files, etc)? not that i need to open them or anything but if i wanted to put them on a USB or move them somewhere, could i do that?

Answer 1

You can also run Windows concurrently with OS X as an alternative to Boot Camp's dual boot setup.
Virtualization for OS X:
     1. Parallels Desktop for Mac and Windows XP, Vista Business,
         Vista Ultimate, or Windows 7.  Parallels is software
         virtualization that enables running Windows concurrently
         with OS X.
     2. VM Fusion and Windows XP, Vista Business, Vista Ultimate,
         or Windows 7.  VM Fusion is software virtualization that
         enables running Windows concurrently with OS X.
     3. VirtualBox is an Open Source freeware virtual machine such
         as VM Fusion and Parallels that was developed by Solaris.
         It is not as fully developed for the Mac as Parallels and VM
         Fusion.
Note that VirtualBox, Parallels, and VM Fusion can also run other operating systems such as Linux, Unix, OS/2, Solaris, etc.  There are performance differences between dual-boot systems and virtualization.  The latter tend to be a little slower (not much) and do not provide the video performance of the dual-boot system. See MacTech Labs- Virtualization Benchmarks, January 2013 | MacTech for comparisons of Boot Camp, Parallels, and VM Fusion. Benchmarks of all of the above can be found in Benchmarking Parallels, Fusion, and VirtualBox Against Boot Camp - The Mac Observer.