Would you recommend parrallels or boot camp

Question

Would you recommend Parrells or boot camp for using Windows on and MacBook Pro.

Answer 1

Depends upon your needs.
Virtual machine software w/Windows. Runs Windows in a window on OS X.
Pros:
A: More convenient, easier to revert to earlier "snapshots" of the entire OS state, as many as you need.
B: Switch back and forth between Windows and OS X quickly.
C: Great for low demand programs most people use.
D: More stable and less hassle, vm software takes all the work out.
E: Malware/pr0n attack, just flush the whole OS and revert to a earlier version.
F: Doesn't require space hogging drive partitioning
G: Run other versions of Windows, even Linux, all at the same time as long as you have the memory.
Cons:
A: A performance hit especially if your hardware is weak or you have a demanding program(s).
B: 3D games run about 1/5th the performance of native boot.
Bootcamped Windows
Pros:
A: full hardware access and performance
Cons:
A: A hassle to set up, even though Apple assists a lot, Windows doesn't help.
B: Drivers for the hardware come from Apple.
C: Having to reboot to use it.
D: Malware attack, your dumping Windows and reinstalling.
E: Must dedicate a set space for Windows to use on the drive (aka partition)
F: Must hold option key to boot into either OS. Only one can be set as the default boot OS.
G: Can only run Windows 7 64 bit, although tweaks perhaps can run others.
Both:
Some VM software will take the previous Bootcamp install and make a virtual machine out of it to run in OS X.
So for day to day use of Windows for low key programs you use the vm, and for 3D games and other heavy performance you direct boot.
If you keep the Bootcamp Windows off the Internet and accessing shared files, emails etc from other Windows, don't install crap in there and keep it virgin as possible, it will be fine and malware free.
Leave all the risk behavior on the vm Windows, that way you can flush it quickly.
Microsoft validation works fine in either as it's all the same hardware.
Virtual machine software choices: VmFusion, Parallels, free VirtualBox.